The government has raced to quash blackout concerns amid concerningly low gas storage levels (Image: Getty)
British Gas owner Centrica warned on Friday that the UK has less than a week’s supply at its largest storage site.
The government has raced to ease blackout fears after UK gas storage hit “concerningly low” levels, stressing Britain won’t run out of supplies any time soon as temperatures plunge.
It comes after high demand for gas-fired power stations and cold weather ploughed through the UK’s reserves.
But Downing Street has insisted there is no need to worry about supplies running dry this winter despite the UK’s heavy reliance on the energy source for home heating. Gas is also vital for much of the UK’s electricity generation.
A Number 10 spokesperson said: “We are confident we will have a sufficient gas supply and electricity capacity to meet demand this winter, due to our diverse and resilient energy system.
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Centrica’s Rough storage site was closed in 2017 (Image: Getty)
“We speak regularly with the national energy system operator to monitor our energy security and ensure they have all tools at their disposal if needed to secure our supply.
“Our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 will replace our dependency on unstable fossil fuel markets with clean, homegrown power controlled in Britain, which is the best way to protect billpayers and boost our energy independence.”
Reports the UK has been on the verge of an energy blackout are “not true”, the spokesman added.
On Thursday, stocks at UK gas storage sites were 26% lower than the same period last year, leaving them around half full, according to Centrica.
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Gas inventory levels have been pressured by cold weather conditions and the end of Russian gas pipeline supplies through at the end of last month.
Centira’s CEO Chris O’Shea said in a statement, “Energy storage is what keeps the lights on and homes warm when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow, so investing in our storage capacity makes perfect economic sense.
“We need to think of storage as a very valuable insurance policy. Like any insurance policy, it may not always be needed, but having more capacity helps protect against worst-case scenarios.”
Britain’s largest gas storage site, Centrica-owned Rough, was closed in 2017.
Gas inventory levels have been pressured by cold weather conditions and the end of Russian gas pipeline supplies through at the end of last month.
Centira’s CEO Chris O’Shea said in a statement, “Energy storage is what keeps the lights on and homes warm when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow, so investing in our storage capacity makes perfect economic sense.
“We need to think of storage as a very valuable insurance policy. Like any insurance policy, it may not always be needed, but having more capacity helps protect against worst-case scenarios.”
Britain’s largest gas storage site, Centrica-owned Rough, was closed in 2017.