On 6th December 2023, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) published an update to the Energy Security Plan, looking at the future role that gas storage and other sources of flexibility can play in gas security. The updated guidance:
- Presents an updated picture on gas security of supply and demand, summarising key findings from analysis undertaken since the Energy Security Plan was published in March 2023.
- Explores the future role that flexible sources of gas supply might play in gas security over the medium to long term, and the associated policy considerations for HMG.
By 2050, it observes that most gas use will likely involve CCS, with industry and any hydrogen production accounting for baseline gas demand. A greater number of periods of peak gas demand are expected, coinciding with times of low renewable generation, which can be met by increased system flexibility provided by geological storage, LNG and interconnectors.
A call for evidence is expected to be issued in the coming months.