Doubts emerge of UK government’s “dash for gas” energy policy

The use of natural gas in electricity generation in the UK may be forced to decline in the next 30 years, according to a report by the UK Energy Research Centre which will make grim reading for the Conservative government.

As the BBC points out, the news comes as the Conservative government look to focus on gas and nuclear powered generation to meet energy needs for years to come, while phasing out coal fired power stations.

The researchers found that without Carbon Capture and Storage technology, gas would have to fall to 10% of the UK energy mix in order to meet emissions targets.

In his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor George Osborne announced the government was scrapping a
£1bn CCS competition to cut costs, much to the dismay of the energy sector.

The report also suggests that the government’s energy policy is deterring investment in gas, and challenged the government’s suggestion that gas could act as a bridging fuel to a low carbon energy system.