Department for Energy Security & Net Zero IFF Research
WH: SHF Wave 3 Knowledge Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 26th March 2026
A2 Supply Chain Capacity and Capability Survey
Will there be clear guidance for contractors completing the A2 form via the IFF survey?
Yes, IFF will provide a question by question guidance breakdown for contractors in order ensure the survey is as clear and easy to understand as possible.
A3 Residents Survey
When will the resident survey be shared with GRs?
The provisional resident survey questions will be made available to GR from the 19th of September, see the annex of the detailed guidance.
We already have a resident questionnaire in place and are worried about how our response rate will be impacted if we have two surveys being sent to residents. How do we resolve this?
In order to maximise response rates, we suggest combining the two surveys. You will need to ensure that the existing resident survey includes all the questions from the A3 survey and that questions are worded exactly as stated in A3.
How many survey responses will we need to collect for the A3 requirement?
We have detailed guidance notes about representative and proportional sample sizes which you can refer to, please see section 7.2. The IFF Evaluation Support Team can also share tips to help boost response, so please contact your liaison for further assistance.
We will be collecting a wealth of data as part of the A3 survey, what GDPR requirements do we need to consider?
Compliance with GDPR legislation is a vital part of conducting survey research. For more detail on GDPR guidance, please see section 3.2 of the overall guidance document.
There is a requirement to collect demographic data, what advice can you provide on how to minimise bias when collecting household information?
Minimising bias is essential to ensure data is accurate, representative and fair. The correct way to approach this is detailed in section 7.2 of the overall guidance document.
What guidance does IFF Research offer on the ethical considerations and justification for collecting data on protected characteristics?
Collecting data on 'protected characteristics' is a sensitive but necessary task. A summary of what a good ethical framework for collecting data on protected characteristics has been provided here:
  • A documented, clear, and compelling purpose/rationale for data collection.
  • A strong legal basis and documented compliance with all relevant data protection laws.
  • Open and transparent communication with data subjects.
  • Voluntary and informed consent (where appropriate).
  • Strict security and data minimisation protocols.
  • A commitment to a 'prefer not to say' option.
  • Regular review of the data collection process and its outcomes to ensure it is achieving its purpose without causing harm.
The legal basis for processing personal data as part of WH:SHF Wave 3 is 'public task', that is the processing is necessary for performance of a task carried out in the public interest.
Will IFF Research/Technopolis (or DESNZ representatives) directly contact residents for the A3 survey?
No, it will be up to GRs to contact residents directly and then provide anonymised data to IFF Research.
Will the resident questionnaire be available in multiple languages?
The questionnaire is currently only available in English. If you have any specific language requirements please raise this with your liaison in your one-to-one meeting.
General
Have the questions in the A1 and A2 forms been checked to ensure they are understandable for all?
Yes, a cognitive test was undertaken on the A1 form, to ensure that the form was understandable and that GRs would be able to respond to all the required data fields. To help make the forms as easy to complete as possible, we have created specific guidance documents for the A1 and A2 forms.
Have you undertaken assessments to ensure compliance with GDPR?
We have worked with our Data Protection Officer to review GDPR implications and ensure compliance. We will share guidance to help GRs ensure their self-conducted evaluation activities are also compliant, see section 3.2 of the detailed guidance.