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Solar Power and Wind Power

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 24 April 2026UIN 127931

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the amount of backup generation capacity required to support a) wind and b) solar electricity generation.

Answered by Michael Shanks

The Capacity Market is government’s main tool for ensuring continued security of electricity supply in Great Britain. It is technology neutral and provides incentives for all forms of capacity, including generation, storage, consumer-led flexibility and interconnection to be on the system to deliver when needed.

The volume of capacity procured through the Capacity Market is set based on advice from National Energy System Operator (NESO) in their annual Electricity Capacity Report. Through the Capacity Market we have secured a total of 57.4 GW for the coming winter, meaning we can have confidence that we will have sufficient capacity available to deliver electricity when needed.

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