A leading energy technology adviser has stated that the UK needs to build new gas-fired power plants to avoid rising electricity costs for consumers. Jon Saltmarsh, Chief Technology Officer at Energy Systems Catapult, the government-backed organisation focused on advancing clean energy, indicated that the UK would continue relying on gas through the 2050s.
That view is echoed by an upcoming report asserting that gas will remain a central pillar of the country's energy security for decades and should not be overlooked in planning. Kathryn Porter, founder of energy consultancy Watt-Logic and author of the report, called for a thorough reassessment of UK energy policy, noting that a growing dependence on imports was leaving the country more exposed to developments beyond its borders, while the push toward net zero had steered Britain toward greater reliance on intermittent wind and solar generation.
Reliable alternative power sources are required to fill the gap whenever renewable generation from wind and solar is unavailable. Renewable options such as battery systems, extended-duration storage technologies, and hydrogen offer the prospect of low-emission backup electricity generation. Saltmarsh noted that considerable technological and economic obstacles remained before these approaches could operate at the scale required to serve as reliable backup systems.
Grid-scale batteries are presently able to store enough power to cover a matter of hours, falling well short of the multi-day or multi-week energy gaps that extended spells of calm, overcast weather can create. Saltmarsh stated that no transformative battery technology appeared imminent, with gas — whether conventional, biomethane derived from agricultural waste, or hydrogen — representing the most viable path forward over the longer term.
Wind output from Britain's turbines fell by 95 per cent over the course of a single day, highlighting the variability inherent in renewable energy supply. According to a review of official National Energy System Operator data by trade body Future Energy Networks, the drop represented the steepest 24-hour decline in wind generation recorded across a 17-year dataset.
By the following afternoon on 13 September, electricity generation from wind had fallen to 1.1GW, down from 21.2GW around midday the previous day. Gas output climbed from 2.3GW to 10.9GW — a rise of 384 per cent — as wind generation fell away, partially offsetting the shortfall. Natural gas surpassed wind power in the overnight period, holding its position as the dominant energy source through to early afternoon the next day.
Saltmarsh noted that the period of reduced wind output had set a record, though one likely to be surpassed repeatedly as wind generation capacity continues to grow. Wind levels eased, and while the infrastructure handled the conditions adequately, questions remain about its capacity to do so going forward.
A substantial number of fuelling stations were constructed to meet the rapid expansion in natural gas demand. Most plants are projected to operate through the 2030s and 2040s, though Saltmarsh noted that as gas-fired stations are increasingly expected to serve a standby function rather than operate continuously, the country could find itself dependent on older infrastructure instead of commissioning new capacity to replace it.
Saltmarsh cautioned that neglecting investment in gas power infrastructure now risked accumulating long-term difficulties, with upward pressure on upkeep costs ultimately passed on to energy customers. "There is a need for backup capacity in some form, and a question remains over whether companies will be motivated to construct new gas-generating facilities or simply continue maintaining existing ones — a situation one observer likened to running an ageing vehicle that becomes increasingly unreliable," he said.
"The work involves financial outlay, and components tend to increase in price over time, meaning repair work carries a higher price tag, while any rise in upkeep expenditure is likely to be reflected in household bills," Saltmarsh added. "For an industry, incremental annual payments are more manageable than funding an entirely new refuelling infrastructure, though this arrangement places the financial burden on consumers."
Saltmarsh also noted that sustaining dependable energy sources carried its own justification given the volatility of the current geopolitical landscape. He expressed concern about the outlook, and said the question of when construction on these projects would actually take place remained open.
Energy analyst Kathryn Porter has argued that natural gas will remain part of the energy mix regardless of policymakers' preferences. Porter also advocated for expanded North Sea output to help reduce household energy costs, and argued that planning should reflect the energy infrastructure the country is likely to have rather than an idealised version of it. Lower-priced domestic natural gas has the potential to replace liquefied natural gas brought into Britain aboard tankers from overseas.
Parliament is currently reviewing how the UK would maintain electricity supply during periods of low renewable output. The Lords' Environment and Climate Change Committee convened testimony from scientists, meteorologists, and energy specialists regarding "Dunkelflaute" — extended spells of reduced wind and solar activity that can lead to notable drops in renewable power output. The panel is examining the likely frequency and potential severity of such periods, as well as the options available to address any resulting gaps in electricity supply.
The Future Energy Networks chief executive, James Earl, urged government ministers to acknowledge the ongoing value of the UK's gas network infrastructure. He noted that natural gas had maintained Britain's electricity supply earlier that month, with output rising by nearly 400 per cent within a single day to compensate for a historically low period of wind power generation. Such fluctuations are projected to intensify as wind energy capacity expands across Britain, Earl said, highlighting the continued role of the gas network as a key piece of national infrastructure.
The contribution of gas distribution infrastructure to national energy supply may expand further over the coming decades, according to some analysts. Policymakers and oversight bodies are being called upon to acknowledge and support that function, those analysts said.
