Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Renewable Energy

Tuesday 15 July 2025 · 2 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

  • Helen Maguire highlighted the importance of cold chain logistics for food and medicines, mentioning Sunswap's innovative solar and battery-powered refrigeration solution.
  • Dave Robertson raised concerns about a business in his constituency being unable to proceed with a solar installation due to insufficient export capacity.
  • The government responded by stating they are examining the regulatory landscape to support such innovative projects and offered to meet with Robertson to discuss the issue further.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Helen Maguire Lib Dem Epsom and Ewell
Climate Energy
Context

Over 50% of the UK's food and £2.7 billion in lifesaving medicines depend on cold chain logistics, facing soaring energy costs and grid instability. Sunswap in Epsom and Ewell is pioneering solar-powered refrigeration to cut emissions while ensuring supply chain resilience.

Question

Over 50% of our food and £2.7 billion in lifesaving medicines depend on the cold chain, but operators face soaring energy costs and growing grid instability. In Epsom and Ewell, Sunswap is pioneering battery and solar-powered refrigeration, which cuts emissions while protecting vital supply chains. Will the Minister commit to targeted support for renewable energy innovators like Sunswap, whose technology can strengthen both sustainability and national resilience?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)

The hon. Lady is right that we have an enormous amount of innovation in this space and real potential to meet our future needs, not just as a result of the pathway that we have outlined, but through innovative solutions like the one she mentioned, which provide specific support to targeted industries. I am happy to look further into her proposals, and at the funding available for innovation. If she wants to write to me with any details, I will happily follow up.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific funding or detailed action but offered to review proposals.

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Q2 Dave Robertson Lab Lichfield
Climate Energy
Context

A business in Fradley, Lichfield is planning to install millions of watts of solar on its roof. However, due to insufficient export capacity at the site, the project cannot proceed despite meeting only a fraction of its energy needs.

Question

A business in the village of Fradley in my constituency has a plan to put millions of watts of solar on the roof of its businesses. Unfortunately, it cannot proceed with that application, because there is not sufficient export capacity on the site. It would never export a watt of that electricity, which would meet only a fraction of its energy needs. Will the Minister meet me, so that we can discuss how we can make regulatory changes to support projects like this one?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Michael Shanks)

My hon. Friend makes a point that others have raised. We are looking in granular detail at how the system works to ensure that the regulatory landscape allows such opportunities to be taken. I am very happy to meet him to discuss this further. We are taking a detailed look at every single aspect of the system, so that communities, businesses and others can benefit from being able to export power to the grid. That will help the country with its energy needs and deliver a benefit for local communities.

Answered
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