The Energy Security has set out a plan to boost gas power capacity through widening existing laws requiring new gas plans to be built ‘Net Zero ready’ and able to convert to alternatives, and for them to run less frequently as the country rolls out other low-carbon tech.

The government wants to build new gas-fired power stations to boost energy security as part of the second consultation on the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA). It is expected the country’s existing gas facilities will be extended where practical and new capacity will be built to replace plants that need to be retired.

H2 View understands that despite the share of electricity coming from renewables rising from 7% in 2010 to almost half today, “they aren’t a failsafe” according to the government.

Energy Security Secretary, Claire Coutinho, has said that without gas backing up renewables, “we [UK] face the genuine prospect of blackouts.”

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, claimed “we’re already halfway there,” as greenhouse gas emissions are 50% lower than in 1990.

“But we need to reach our 2035 goals in a sustainable way that doesn’t leave people without energy on a cloudy, windless day,” added the Prime Minister.

Jon Butterworth, CEO at National Gas, welcomed the government’s announcement, stating it will “advance the electricity market arrangements review (REMA) in consultation with industry.”

“Getting this right will play a critical role in our journey to Net Zero and help create a diverse, decarbonised energy system. In order to deliver a Net Zero power system, we must develop flexible power technologies including hydrogen, and gas with carbon capture and storage.”

Although, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, Chair of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, admitted it was disappointing to see the government use fossil fuels as a “stop gap.”

The Baroness said, “We await to see full detail of the REMA consultation as it emerges. However, it is disappointing that the government seems to be focused on fossil fuels as a stop gap and not long duration energy storage (LDES) as a secure solution.

“A strategic reserve of hydrogen as a means of low-carbon LDES would insulate the UK against dependence on volatile gas prices whilst allowing it to continue decarbonising the electricity system.

“We should be building this now rather than designing in delay by expecting the market to deliver fossil fuelled plants that [will] hardly be used and will rapidly become stranded assets.”