A stark warning has been issued about the United Kingdom's precarious gas security, with the nation urged to boost domestic production or face damaging shortages and price volatility.
The Looming Threat to Energy Security
Professor John Underhill, University Director for Energy Transition at the University of Aberdeen's Interdisciplinary Institute, has highlighted a critical report from the National Energy System Operator (Neso). The report, which details significant risks to the UK's gas supply security, underscores a vulnerability that has brought the country perilously close to running out of gas in the past. In March 2013, the UK was within mere hours of depleting its gas reserves, a scenario that could repeat without decisive action.
The UK's dependence on gas is profound. Approximately 85% of the nation's 30 million homes use gas for heating and cooking, making a rapid transition away from the fuel unrealistic. Furthermore, gas plays an indispensable role in electricity generation, providing more than half of the base load power on cold, windless, and dark days when renewable output is low.
Domestic Production vs. Costly Imports
The professor outlines two divergent paths for the UK. The first is to encourage responsible production from existing gas fields in UK waters, securing a homegrown supply. The second, and far less desirable, option is to increase reliance on expensive imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from countries like Qatar and the United States.
This imported gas carries a heavier carbon footprint and exposes British consumers to the risk of international price spikes, which ultimately lead to higher household bills. Key infrastructure, such as the Ormen Lange gas field and the Langeled pipeline, are also singled out as critical potential points of failure in the supply chain.
A Call for Government Incentives
To secure domestic sources, Professor Underhill argues the government must create a supportive investment environment for the energy sector. While the introduction of transitional energy certificates is a positive step, he identifies the removal of the windfall tax as an obvious and necessary additional measure.
He fears that without this fiscal change, vital investment in UK gas exploration and production will not materialise. This would leave the country exposed to the very supply shortages that Neso has flagged, undermining both national security and economic stability during the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels.
