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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harry Harpham on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many days of gas supply are available from the gas storage facilities.

Andrea Leadsom

The UK has a high level of gas security, provided through our diverse range of gas supplies, including domestic production, pipeline imports from Norway and mainland EU, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from global markets and storage. It is therefore misleading to talk about gas storage in terms of ‘days available’ because of this mix. Both physical system constraints and market processes mean storage could only be one part of the overall gas mix on any winter’s day.

Total gas infrastructure in GB can currently deliver around 700 million cubic meters a day, which is more than double average winter daily demand. Average winter demand is 290 million cubic meters a day and while storage amounts fluctuate, it is currently around 3500 million cubic meters.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harry Harpham on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether developers of carbon capture and storage projects can access funding through the Levy Control Framework.

Andrea Leadsom

Generators who meet the requirements set out in the Contracts for Difference (Definition of Eligible Generator) Regulations 2014 are eligible for a Contract for Difference, funded through the Levy Control Framework. Contracts for Difference for CCS are awarded on direction of the Secretary of State. Whether or not the Secretary of State would consider awarding a CfDs to a specific project would be subject to the circumstances at the time, including factors such as the value for money and affordability of a project and competing demands on available budgets.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harry Harpham on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which coal-fired power stations her Department expects to close before 2020.

Andrea Leadsom

Decisions to close power stations are taken by their owners based on market conditions. The owners of Longannet, Lynemouth and Ferrybridge have announced their intention to stop generating by March 2016. The owners of Eggborough (2GW) have announced they may close by March 2016. Following the European Commission’s approval of state aid in December 2015 followed by its sale, EPH are converting Lynemouth to biomass. We expect this process to take about 18 months.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harry Harpham on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the total cost to the public purse had been of developing carbon capture and storage technology.

Andrea Leadsom

The Government continues to view CCS as having a potential role in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s power and industrial sectors and has invested over £222 million since 2011 in developing carbon capture and storage technology, including approximately £130 million through our support to new technologies and research to help develop new capture technologies to reduce costs. The latest investment includes £1.7 million for three innovative CCS technologies awarded through Energy Entrepreneurs Fund and £2.5 million to identify suitable CO₂ stores in the North and Irish Seas.

Government has also supported industry to complete detailed engineering and design work on CCS project proposals to determine their cost and feasibility, ensuring that knowledge gained is made freely available to benefit future CCS projects and aid research and development in CCS technology.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harry Harpham on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the cost to the public purse was of developing proposals for a new carbon capture and storage project at Peterhead.

Andrea Leadsom

The Government continues to view CCS as having a potential role in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s power and industrial sectors and we are engaging closely with the Peterhead developer and wider CCS industry. The Department has paid £28.5 million between 2011/12 and November 2015 on developing proposals for a new carbon capture and storage project at Peterhead. This included the investment in Front End Engineering and Design work to determine the cost and feasibility of the project, independent professional technical, legal, financial and commercial advice and civil service staff.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harry Harpham on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the cost to the public purse was of developing proposals for a new carbon capture and storage project in Yorkshire.

Andrea Leadsom

The Government continues to view CCS as having a potential role in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s power and industrial sectors and we are engaging closely with the White Rose developer and wider CCS industry. The Department has paid around £31 million between 2011/12 and November 2015 on developing proposals for the White Rose carbon capture and storage project in Yorkshire. This included the investment in Front End Engineering and Design to determine the cost and feasibility of the project, independent professional technical, legal, financial and commercial advice and civil service staff.