Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies

Environmental Audit Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 31 Mar 2022 Closed: 1 Nov 2023 Parliament page
This inquiry will examine the Government’s policies for securing energy supplies and accelerating the transition from fossil fuels. Read the call for evidence for more detail about the inquiry.
25 Recommendations
21 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
6 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
23 Mar
2023
Report published
23 Mar
2023
Correspondence
5 Jan
2023
Report published
5 Jan
2023
Correspondence
5 Jan
2023
Correspondence
3 Nov
2022
Correspondence
12 Oct
2022
Oral evidence
12 Oct
2022
Correspondence
12 Oct
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
7 Sep
2022
Oral evidence
7 Sep
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
20 Jul
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
12 Oct 2022
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Panel 1
Jonathan Mills · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Vicky Dawe · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
7 Sep 2022
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Andy Samuel · North Sea Transition Authority Dr Corinna Abesser · British Geological Survey Dr Nina Skorupska CBE · The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) Dr Ryan Law · Geothermal Engineering Ltd Gareth Farr · The Coal Authority Hedvig Ljungerud · North Sea Transition Authority
20 Jul 2022
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Panel 1
David Bunch · Shell Linda Cook · Harbour Energy Louise Kingham CBE · BP plc Tessa Khan · Uplift
22 Jun 2022
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Charles McAllister · UK Onshore Oil and Gas Dale Vince OBE · Ecotricity Graham Kellas · Wood Mackenzie Jake Rigg · National Grid Electricity System Operator Sonya Boodoo · Rystad Energy
8 Jun 2022
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Dr Steve Pye · UCL Energy Institute Lisa Fischer · E3G Michael Lewis · E.ON UK Paul Spence · EDF Energy Silje Ask Lundberg · Oil Change International Will Webster · Offshore Energies UK
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and s… HC 109 5 Jan 2023 46 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
12 results
Clear
7 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
There are, however, significant gaps in the Strategy.
There are, however, significant gaps in the Strategy. It is in essence an energy supply strategy, with much of its focus on electricity generation and oil and gas supply. To deliver genuine energy security, the strategy should have placed far … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees energy efficiency is crucial and highlights measures in the British Energy Security Strategy to improve energy efficiency in homes, businesses, and transport, including a 15% reduction target by 2030 and investments in various efficiency measures.
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10 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
The Government must first act to increase the funding of schemes that are already in...
The Government must first act to increase the funding of schemes that are already in place and have a proven track record of effective delivery. The £1 billion of further funding that the Government has provided to the Energy Company … Read more
Government Response
The Government states it is investing £6.6 billion this Parliament on clean heat and improving energy efficiency in buildings and highlights existing schemes like ECO, HUG, and LAD to support low-income households. They plan to launch the new ECO+ scheme in spring 2023 worth £1 billion over three years.
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14 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
We welcome the new interim target set by the Government in the Autumn Statement to...
We welcome the new interim target set by the Government in the Autumn Statement to reduce energy demand in this country by 15% by 2030. This goes some way to plugging the gap in the Energy Security Strategy which did … Read more
Government Response
The government states that existing plans are expected to deliver around half of the new ambition to reduce the UK’s energy consumption by 15% by 2030 and highlights £6.6 billion already being spent this Parliament.
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16 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
The Energy Efficiency Taskforce announced in November 2022, if appropriately resourced and commissioned, has the...
The Energy Efficiency Taskforce announced in November 2022, if appropriately resourced and commissioned, has the potential to make a significant practical contribution to policy implementation. In our view it would be well placed to advise Ministers in the Departments for … Read more
Government Response
The Energy Efficiency Taskforce will advise ministers on delivering the government’s ambition to reduce total UK energy demand by 15% from 2021 levels by 2030, across domestic and commercial buildings and industrial processes, working within existing funding envelopes and policy parameters.
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26 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
Despite the UK’s heavy dependence on oil for transport, and transport’s status as the highest...
Despite the UK’s heavy dependence on oil for transport, and transport’s status as the highest emitting sector, it is barely mentioned in the British Energy Security Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies 85 Strategy and was … Read more
Government Response
The government states that decarbonising transport is a priority and references the Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) published in 2021 that sets the sector on an ambitious path to net zero by 2050.
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27 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
The best way to reduce the UK’s future exposure to volatility in the price of...
The best way to reduce the UK’s future exposure to volatility in the price of oil is to reduce oil consumption. The rapid growth in electric car sales is encouraging, but it will take many years to replace petrol and … Read more
Government Response
The government states that decarbonising transport and reducing its contribution to climate change is a priority, referencing the Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) published in 2021. They will continue to consider options, including those put forward by the IEA, and mention existing commitments and initiatives such as phasing out the sale of new non-zero emission vehicles and supporting active travel.
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34 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
Sectoral involvement in drafting a deal of this nature is normal.
Sectoral involvement in drafting a deal of this nature is normal. It also makes sense for the industry to be involved in the monitoring and governance of a voluntary deal. However, we are concerned that the targets and accountability arrangements … Read more
Government Response
The government believes the current approach to targets and accountability arrangements in the North Sea Transition Deal is appropriate, citing a decline in upstream GHG emissions and actions taken by the NSTA to hold industry accountable.
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35 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
To date the NSTA has not published the names of those operators lagging behind in...
To date the NSTA has not published the names of those operators lagging behind in reducing their production emissions. This prevents investors, shareholders and other interested parties from being able to appraise the performance of individual companies against their net … Read more
Government Response
The NSTA reports domestic production emission data at an aggregated level and has published asset level domestic production emission information in publicly available dashboards; the government supports this approach.
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38 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
Oil and gas companies must accelerate their efforts to electrify offshore platforms, stop flaring and...
Oil and gas companies must accelerate their efforts to electrify offshore platforms, stop flaring and address methane leakage. We recommend that all oil and gas companies involved in extraction of fossil fuels from areas within the UK’s jurisdiction report annually … Read more
Government Response
The government responded that the NSTA already reports domestic production emission data via its annual Emissions Monitoring Report and has published asset level domestic production emission information in publicly available dashboards.
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39 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
We are disappointed to observe that only two electrification projects are expected to be commissioned...
We are disappointed to observe that only two electrification projects are expected to be commissioned by 2027. During the development phase of a new project the NSTA approves Concept Select and Field Development Plans. We recommend that the regulator uses … Read more
Government Response
The NSTA states it already has net zero considerations embedded throughout the project lifecycle and uses the FDP process to incentivise low carbon power solutions.
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40 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
The routine flaring of unwanted fossil gas must be banned outright, as it has been...
The routine flaring of unwanted fossil gas must be banned outright, as it has been by Norway since 1971. We recommend that the Government introduces an amendment to the Energy Bill to provide for a total prohibition on flaring from … Read more
Government Response
The government stated it already has ambitious plans to end routine flaring and venting, has signed up to The World Bank Zero Routine Flaring initiative, and the NSTA expects flaring and venting emissions to be at the lowest possible levels.
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41 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report - Accelerating the tran…
It is encouraging that the North Sea Transition Authority is in the process of issuing...
It is encouraging that the North Sea Transition Authority is in the process of issuing licences to CCUS projects in the UK. We support the North Sea Transition Deal’s intention to drive forward the deployment of this technology which will … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that its £1 billion CCS Infrastructure Fund and the £240mn Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, along with work on enduring business models and revenue support, will provide industry with the certainty required to deploy CCUS at pace and at scale and that the Energy Security Bill brings forward provisions to establish CO2 transport and storage, industrial carbon capture and low carbon hydrogen business models.
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Government Response AI assessment · 45 of 25 classified
Accepted 12
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 20
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 5
Total 25 recs + 21 conclusions
Correspondence 6 letters
23 Mar 2023 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, regarding the Government response to the Committee's report on Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies, dated 23 March 2023
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5 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, dated 22 November 2022
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5 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, dated 9 November 2022
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3 Nov 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Climate, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, relating to the 12th October 2022 oral evidence session, dated 31 October 2022
Parliament page
12 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from the North Sea Transition Authority Chief Executive, relating to issues raised at the 7 September 2022 oral evidence session, dated 23 September 2022
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20 Jul 2022 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, relating to his withdrawal as a witness from the 20 July Accelerating the transition from fossil fuels and securing energy supplies evidence session, dated 20 July 2022
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