Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Decarbonisation: Off-grid Properties

Tuesday 16 April 2024 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government offers grants of 7,500 for heat pump installation and 5,000 for biomass boiler installation under the boiler upgrade scheme.
  • Government plans to issue a consultation on promoting renewable liquid fuels for heating in September.
  • Government provides funding to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions through various schemes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve Double Con
Climate Energy
Context

The question arises from concerns over the support provided by the Government for off-grid properties in the UK that are seeking to decarbonise their heating systems.

Question

What steps she is taking to support off-grid properties to decarbonise. I am concerned about the lack of support these properties receive, especially as they cannot connect to grid-based energy solutions and need alternative methods for reducing carbon emissions.

Answer from Amanda Solloway

The Government offer grants of £7,500 to those wanting to install a heat pump, or £5,000 to install a biomass boiler, under the boiler upgrade scheme. Support for energy efficiency upgrades and low-carbon heat is also available through our help to heat schemes.

Answered
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Q2 Steve Double Con
Climate Energy
Context

Cornwall has a large number of off-grid properties, and there is potential to decarbonise their heating through the use of renewable liquid heating fuel. However, there have been delays in launching a consultation on promoting this fuel.

Question

Cornwall has a very large number of off-grid properties. One way they can decarbonise their heating is through the use of renewable liquid heating fuel. Last year, the Government said there would be a consultation on promoting and supporting the use of that fuel in the coming months. However, in response to a recent written question it was suggested that it would not be launched until at least September this year. Will the Government bring forward the consultation as soon as possible, so we can help people to decarbonise through the use of renewable fuels?

Answer from Amanda Solloway

The Government recognise the potential for renewable liquid fuels to play a role in decarbonising heat where heat pumps are unsuitable, and we are working at pace to develop a consultation that will explore that role in more detail. We will be issuing a consultation in September, in line with commitments made by Ministers during parliamentary debates on the Energy Act 2023.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Government did not commit to bringing forward the consultation as requested, but reiterated their commitment to issuing it in September.

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Q3 Jonathan Edwards PC
Climate Energy Environment
Context

There is a cheaper alternative to heat pumps for decarbonising heating systems in off-grid properties, namely the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which can be converted into existing fuel systems at relatively low cost and time.

Question

I support the cause of the hon. Member for St Austell and Newquay (Steve Double). The transition to hydrotreated vegetable oil is far cheaper than heat pumps; we are talking about a conversion that can be done in an hour for about £500. I urge the Government to proceed on that with haste.

Answer from Amanda Solloway

It is important to note that we are taking this matter incredibly seriously. We are also providing funding to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions through the energy company obligation, the home upgrade grant and the social housing decarbonisation fund.

Not addressed: The specific ask for expedited measures on hydrotreated vegetable oil was not addressed. The answer focused on other funding schemes without addressing HVO.

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