The UK has a responsibility to deliver an effective net zero strategy. This Energy Bill provided a chance to ensure that the Government’s own climate commitments could be met. Some parts of the Bill are welcome, but as it stands, it presents us with many missed opportunities. The Liberal Democrats fully support the establishment of the independent systems operator, and I am pleased that the Government have finally listened and given Ofgem a net zero duty. However, I am disappointed that the Government removed sensible amendments in Committee, such as the amendment to ban new coalmines, and I strongly support new clause 2.
Let me now focus on the Liberal Democrats’ new clauses 11, 12, 15, 24 and 28. The aim of new clause 28 is to ban fracking permanently. Fracked fuel is a fossil fuel; it hardens our reliance on expensive gas, and it flies in the face of our net zero commitments. The Government’s own experts have said that the seismic activity caused by hydraulic fracking is not safe. It is incomprehensible that the Government ever considered lifting the ban, and it caused huge anxiety among communities across the country. That must never happen again.
Last year, Shell forcibly installed prepayment meters in more than 4,000 homes, while making £32 billion in profits. Those on prepayment meters typically spent about £130 a year more than direct debit customers. Why are so many vulnerable people forced into this? The Government must support my new clause 15 to prohibit the installation of new prepayment meters unless consumers explicitly request them.
Solar is one of the cheapest forms of energy, and again it is incomprehensible that this Government do not give it the support that it deserves. The Climate Change Committee says that UK solar power deployment is significantly behind the Government’s target of 70 GW by 2035. The smart export guarantee should incentivise households to invest in solar panels by allowing them to sell the excess electricity produced back to the grid. However, under the current system it will take householders decades to break even and this will not incentivise solar investment. Our Liberal Democrat new clause 11 aims to enhance the reward under the smart export guarantee.
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Renewable energy production must benefit the communities where it is based. Community energy projects have the potential to power 2.2 million homes and save 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 every year. However, the barriers to becoming a licensed supplier mean that community energy projects currently cannot sell directly to local customers. The amendment to establish local
energy supply agreed in the other place would have rectified this. Why did the Government remove that important amendment?
On my last amendment, we need to reduce more than just carbon emissions to fight global warming. Methane has 80 times the warming effect of CO2 and accounts for 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The UK signed the global pledge to cut methane levels by 30% but the Government have shown little interest in meeting this. Flaring happens during oil and gas extraction when methane and other hydrocarbons are burned. Venting is the release of uncombusted methane and other hydrocarbons. The International Energy Agency says that UK oil and gas operators could reduce methane emissions by 72% through tackling flaring, venting and leaking.
New clause 12 would prohibit the flaring and venting of methane by oil and gas installations. It would require monthly leak detection and repair inspections to reduce fugitive methane emissions; a measurement, reporting and verification process to quantify methane emissions; and all equipment to be updated to alternative zero or low-emission and low-maintenance versions. My new clause has cross-party support. I thank all Members who have supported it and the Clean Air Task Force for helping to develop it, and I urge all Members of the House to support it.