Oral QuestionDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zero

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of methane harvested from landfill sites on energy security.

Tabled: 18 March 2026Answered: 24 March 2026

Asked by

Sarah Hall

Labour (Co-op)Warrington South

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Answer from Hansard

The Minister for Energy (Michael Shanks)

Methane harvested from landfill sites enables the generation of around 2.5 TWh a year, which is around 1% of the UK’s electricity. Many of those assets receive a subsidy through the renewables obligation, which expires in 2027. That generation has a supportive, but limited, effect on energy security. Given the high impact of methane, my Department and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are considering long-term solutions to landfill gas methane capture and appropriate transitional arrangements.