UK gas ‘must completely decarbonize’ to hit climate goals

As if current UK energy policy wasn’t already full of subsidies, more are now demanded to play around with the gas supply, in pursuit of deluded climate policies.

Total decarbonisation of UK gas is vital in the next three decades if the country is to meet its emissions reduction targets.

That’s the conclusion of a report published today by independent, liberal conservative think-tank Bright Blue, reports PEI.

The study assesses how to decarbonize gas in the UK by increasing the supply of low carbon gases and by reducing demand for gas in the heat sector.

It also calls for new government investment and incentives for decarbonization to be an urgent priority for regulator Ofgem in its next price control framework for gas from April 2021.

Wilf Lytton, Bright Blue senior researcher and co-author of the report, said: “UK gas must be completely decarbonised during the coming three decades if this country is to meet its current and likely future legal emissions reduction target.

“But existing gas regulations that were designed decades ago, and a lack of investment and incentives, are hampering deeper decarbonization. Now, with time running out, the government and Ofgem should approach the task of decarbonizing gas with the same fervour as it has applied to delivering low carbon and affordable electricity.

“It is an urgent priority to ensure that Ofgem’s next price control framework from April 2021 includes stronger incentives and greater investment to support deeper decarbonization.

In particular, Lytton said that Ofgem should introduce a new low-carbon gas obligation. “This will enable the UK to decarbonize the gas network at the lowest possible cost, without distorting the market and removing the need to subsidise alternatives to natural gas.”

Bright Blue wants to see incentives and requirements for gas suppliers to deliver a steadily-increasing proportion of low carbon gases into the energy mix – including biomethane, bioSNG and hydrogen.

It says the proportion of low carbon gas injected into the gas network, and the trajectory for this over time, should be consistent with meeting the UK’s current and likely greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

Compliance with, and implementation of, this new ‘low carbon gas obligation’ would be overseen by Ofgem.

Continued here.