Recent geopolitical activity has highlighted the importance of energy sovereignty by exposing vulnerabilities in Europe’s energy infrastructure. With an energy cost crisis, the spotlight is once again on how we achieve affordable and reliable energy security – gas, renewables…? With clients active in both sectors, we see the value of both, and the truth is, it is not renewables instead of gas; it is renewables and gas. Energy security depends upon an all-energy approach.
The value and importance of sustainable energy is well understood, but the reality is the UK, like many countries, does not have enough sustainable energy sources to meet its total energy needs on demand. As a result, gas-based generation plays an important backup role in ensuring energy security, particularly at times when intermittent supplies like wind and solar output is low.
Whilst exciting moves are being made to bolster our renewable energy capacity in the UK – the UK’s first geothermal power plant was turned on in February in Cornwall to generate electricity for 10,000 homes, building capacity takes time. As a result, prominent renewable energy leaders in the UK have recently voiced their support for more North Sea oil and gas production to bridge the gap and help meet current energy demand, as it is arguably much more sustainable to use local energy sources where possible than import over long distances – to quote the new chief executive of RenewableUK, Tara Singh, “there’s no point shipping gas from the other side of the world when we have it here.”
An all-energy approach is the way forward.
