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Decarbonising the power sector

Inquiry

In October 2021 the Government set a target to decarbonise the power sector by 2035, subject to security of supply. But demand for electricity is expected to increase significantly in that timeframe as other sectors, such as transport and heating in buildings, switch to electricity to reduce emissions.

Decarbonising in these circumstances will require the Government to manage a range of complex challenges, including ensuring the right mix of technologies, attracting investment in new generation energy, and modernising energy networks.

This inquiry is based on the National Audit Office (NAO) investigation into decarbonising the power sector. The Committee will question senior officials at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy on how it is set up to achieve power sector decarbonisation while maintaining security of electricity supply and affordability for consumers and taxpayers. The Committee’s inquiry will include:

  • government’s vision for a decarbonised power sector;
  • government’s understanding of what is required to achieve a resilient and decarbonised power sector; and
  • how government recognises and is managing risks to resilience and affordability in a decarbonised power sector.

If you have evidence on these issues please submit it here by Monday 13 March 2023.

Please have a look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note the Committee cannot accept as evidence material that has been published elsewhere.

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Monday 13 March 2023.

Reports, special reports and government responses

View all reports and responses
Fifty-Ninth Report - Decarbonising the power sector
Inquiry Decarbonising the power sector
HC 1003
Report
Response to this report
Correspondence from Jeremy Pocklington CB, Permanent Secretary, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, re update on the timing of recommendations the committee made related to the Department’s work to decarbonise the power sector, dated 21 December 2023
Correspondence
Response to this report
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifty-ninth report from Session 2022-23
HC 1003
Government Response
Correspondence from James Armstrong, Managing Partner, Bluefield Partners LLP, re Bluefield Partners LLP submission to Public Accounts Committee inquiry, dated 28 June 2023
Inquiry Decarbonising the power sector
Correspondence
Correspondence from Jeremy Pocklington CB, Permanent Secretary, re follow up questions eaised at the Public Accounts Committee on the NAO Office report on Decarbonising the Power Sector, dated March 2023
Inquiry Decarbonising the power sector
Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

View all oral evidence transcripts
23 March 2023
Inquiry Decarbonising the power sector
Witnesses Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Oral Evidence
Community Windpower Limited (DPS0035)
UK100 (DPS0034)
Mr John Simmons (Visiting Lecturer at Hertfordshire Business School - University of Hertfordshire) (DPS0001)

Contact us

  • Email: pubaccom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 8480 (strictly media enquiries only – contact us via our email for general enquiries)
  • Address: Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA