Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Gas-fired Power Stations

Tuesday 6 January 2026 · 4 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions addressed concerns over reliance on unabated gas power stations beyond 2030.
  • The importance of renewable energy for domestic energy security and cost savings was emphasized.
  • Community input into planning processes for gas-fired power stations was acknowledged as crucial.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Collins Lab Worcester
Climate Energy
Context

The National Energy System Operator’s clean power 2030 plan relies on unabated gas power stations without a clear decarbonisation path beyond 2030. There is an opportunity to set long-term goals for the wider integrated energy system, including hydrogen-fired combined cycle gas turbine generation and large-scale salt cavern energy storage.

Question

The National Energy System Operator’s clean power 2030 plan relies on unabated gas power stations without a clear decarbonisation path beyond 8 years. The forthcoming hydrogen strategy presents an opportunity to set long-term goals for the wider integrated energy system, including hydrogen-fired combined cycle gas turbine generation and large-scale salt cavern energy storage at scale. Will that strategy include a quantified pathway with delivery milestones for transitioning dispatchable power, and will NESO be required to incorporate that pathway into its planning?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

My hon. Friend asks an important question. In our 2030 clean power plan, we talk precisely about the importance of low-carbon dispatchable power as a way forward. I am really proud of what is happening with our carbon capture and storage plans and Net Zero Teesside. Additionally, it will be an important part of our forthcoming hydrogen strategy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not provide specific delivery milestones or timelines for transitioning dispatchable power generation towards cleaner technologies like hydrogen-fired combined cycle gas turbines and large-scale salt cavern energy storage as requested.

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Q2 Polly Billington Lab East Thanet
Climate Energy
Context

Current global instability, such as in Ukraine and Venezuela, highlights the importance of having domestic energy security. Investing in renewables is seen as a solution to both cost concerns and security issues.

Question

Current global instability, from Ukraine to Venezuela, has shown the vital importance of having domestic energy security. Does the Secretary of State agree that investing in renewables will help with both security and cost, particularly because they are cheaper to build and operate, as well as providing us with vital energy security in an uncertain world?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

My hon. Friend is right. The figures that came out from NESO over Christmas show that we had extra renewable power in 2025 equivalent to powering 2 million homes; that is 2 million homes that will not be powered by imported gas. That gives us the price stability that we never had under the previous Government. The fundamental lesson at a time of geopolitical instability is that home-grown clean power is what gives us the certainty we need.

Answered
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Q3 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Climate Energy
Context

According to Government figures, output from new solar projects costs around £41 per megawatt-hour compared with roughly £140 per megawatt-hour for the lifespan costs of new gas power. This highlights the economic benefits of renewable energy.

Question

According to Government figures, output from new solar projects costs around £41 per megawatt-hour compared with roughly £140 per megawatt-hour for the lifespan costs of new gas power. I know the Secretary of State agrees with me and RenewableUK that clean energy remains the energy with the lowest cost, but how do we ensure that the British public agree with us?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

The hon. Lady has just done a good job of highlighting the importance of this matter, and she gets to the crucial point. The Opposition parties that reject solar, onshore wind and offshore wind are rejecting cheap, clean, home-grown power for the British people, which we on the Government Benches are in favour of.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not provide a specific communication strategy to ensure public agreement with the cost-efficiency benefits of renewable energy compared to gas-fired power stations.

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Q4 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Energy
Context

Ensuring that communities have a voice in the planning process for major projects is important. This is especially relevant to discussions about the formation of policies concerning gas-fired power stations.

Question

Not only is cost important when it comes to looking at gas-fired power stations; it is also important to ensure that communities have an input into the planning process. Has that been central to the formation of any policy on gas-fired power stations? Has he had the opportunity to share those thoughts and that information with the Northern Ireland Assembly, which wishes to look at the possibilities for Northern Ireland?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)

We have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive on a range of issues. On the hon. Gentleman’s point about nationally significant projects, it is absolutely right that communities have input into these questions. Certainly in the case of home-grown low-carbon power, we want communities to see the benefit, because by hosting infrastructure, including low-carbon infrastructure, communities are doing a service to the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not provide specific details on community input in policy formation concerning gas-fired power stations or his discussions with the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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