Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Land Use: Renewable Energy Generation

Monday 4 December 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Greg Smith asked about recent discussions on land use for renewable energy generation with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
  • Greg Smith questioned the efficiency of solar panel land use compared to small modular reactors, suggesting solar energy requires significantly more land.
  • Jim Shannon inquired about the disparity in contracts for difference scheme between mainland UK and Northern Ireland, seeking the Minister's influence to address the issue.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Climate Environment
Context

There is ongoing debate about the efficiency and impact of using land for solar panels versus small modular reactors in meeting UK's energy needs. The question arises from discussions on balancing renewable energy deployment with protecting farmland.

Question

What recent discussions has he had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the use of land for renewable energy generation?

Answer from Lee Rowley

The Government have a framework in place that supports the deployment of renewable energy technologies. This is balanced by national planning policy, which protects farmland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific recent discussions or agreements were not detailed

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Q2 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Energy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Current usage data indicates that solar panels require significantly more land area per unit energy output than small modular reactors, raising concerns about the efficiency and impact on agricultural land.

Question

On current usage, 2,000 acres of solar panels are required to power around 50,000 homes, whereas a small modular reactor requires just two football pitches and powers 1 million homes. Does my hon. Friend agree that solar is a highly inefficient land use, and can he confirm that the provision to protect land used in food production remains in the new national planning policy framework?

Answer from Lee Rowley

We will be publishing more on the NPPF shortly. We need a variety of different energy sources to support the UK's future energy needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific confirmation regarding protections for agricultural land was not provided

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Energy
Context

There is a known disparity in the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, which provides financial support to renewable energy projects. The issue affects Northern Ireland's ability to access equal funding opportunities compared to other parts of the UK.

Question

As the Minister knows, there is a disparity between the contracts for difference scheme for the mainland and what exists for Northern Ireland. I have made overtures to the Minister responsible to see whether we can get that changed, but that has not happened yet. Will the Minister use his influence to make sure that we in Northern Ireland are treated equally with everybody else in the United Kingdom?

Answer from Lee Rowley

The hon. Gentleman might like to write or speak separately on this issue, and either I or my colleagues will be happy to respond.

Not addressed: Specific commitment or timeline for addressing the disparity was not given

How: Suggests Alternative Communication Methods

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