Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

The complainant made a request to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) for information about the Redcar Hydrogen Village Trial. DESNZ refused to provide the information on the grounds that it engaged regulation 12(4)(b) (manifestly unreasonable) of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that DESNZ was entitled to rely on regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR to refuse the request. He also finds that DESNZ complied with regulation 9(1) of the EIR (advice and assistance). However, DESNZ breached regulations 5(2) and 14(2) of the EIR by failing to respond to the request within 20 working days. The Commissioner does not require DESNZ to take any steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.