The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It was established on 7 February 2023 by a cabinet reshuffle under the Rishi Sunak premiership. The new department took on the energy policy responsibilities of the former Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 7 February 2023 |
| Preceding Department |
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| Type | UK Government Department |
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | 3-8 Whitehall Place, London |
| Secretary of State responsible |
|
| Department executives |
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| Child agencies |
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| Website | gov |
The department's first Secretary of State was Grant Shapps; he was previously the final Secretary of State at BEIS. The current secretary is Ed Miliband.
The department is scrutinised by the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee.
History
The department was established on 7 February 2023.
The creation of the new department was described by Downing Street as an opportunity to "focus on giving the UK cheaper, cleaner, more secure sources of energy – cutting bills, cutting emissions, and cutting dependence on international energy supplies."
The London School of Economics's Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment welcomed the creation of the new department saying that it "signalled a commitment to delivering net zero" and "showed that MPs on the right of the Conservative Party have failed to win the argument for weakening climate policy." However, the LSE warned that the new department would have to "persuade other departments and the Treasury to accelerate action on cutting greenhouse gas emissions across the economy outside the energy sector" to be effective.
Responsibilities
The department's immediate priorities were outlined by the Prime Minister as follows:
- To maintain energy supplies, particularly during the winter.
- To reduce energy bills and lower inflation.
- To ensure the UK is on track to meet its legally binding carbon budgets and Net Zero commitments.
- To speed up significantly the delivery of network infrastructure and green energy.
- To improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, businesses and public sector buildings.
- To deliver a new Energy Bill by the end of the Parliament.
Ministers
DESNZ ministers are as follows, with cabinet members in bold:
| Minister | Portrait | Office | Portfolio
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Ed Miliband MP | Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero | Overall responsibility for the department. | |
| Patrick Vallance, Baron Vallance of Balham | Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear | Nuclear; fusion; science and innovation for climate and energy; AI in the energy sector | |
| Michael Shanks MP | Minister of State for Energy | Great British Energy; renewables and biomass; energy systems, the grid and networks; energy market reform including Review of Electricity Market Arrangements; North Sea transition; energy security, resilience and preparedness. | |
| Alan Whitehead | Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero | Biomethane; tidal; geothermal; individual planning decisions; all departmental business in the House of Lords | |
| Katie White MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Climate | International climate and energy policy; international climate finance; carbon budgets; Net Zero strategy; trade, Net Zero investment and supply chains; science and innovation for climate and energy; nuclear fusion; citizen engagement. | |
| Martin McCluskey MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Consumers | Warm Homes Plan; fuel poverty; energy consumer issues, including pre-payment meters (PPMs), Ofgem consumer elements, the energy price cap and smart meters; domestic energy efficiency and demand reduction; public sector decarbonisation; clean heat, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme; heat networks. | |
| Chris McDonald MP | Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry | Office For Clean Energy Jobs; green jobs and skills; green growth sectors; energy sector supply chains; energy infrastructure investments; industrial decarbonisation and emissions trading, including fuel switching; carbon leakage; industrial energy bills Held jointly with the Department for Business and Trade |
See also
- Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy – preceding body from 2016 to 2023.
- Department of Energy and Climate Change – similar body from 2008 to 2016.
- Department of Energy – historic body with similar responsibilities from 1974 to 1992.
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