Britain Nearing End of Natural Gas Self Sufficiency as Outlined in New Edition of Utility Market Report

• 

The UK is currently facing uncertainty about its future energy supplies with the possibility of a potentially grave energy crisis

London (PRWEB) November 21, 2006 –-

The future of Britain’s natural gas supplies and estimated contribution of renewable energy as Britain closes down coal and nuclear plants is outlined in the recently released third edition of the British Utility Report by ABS Energy Research.

“The UK is currently facing uncertainty about its future energy supplies with the possibility of a potentially grave energy crisis,” says Euan Blauvelt of ABS Energy Research. “The potential danger should not be underestimated.”

A comprehensive energy overview is detailed in The British Utility Markets Report Ed 3 2006. Some of the key points outlined in the report are:

• More than a third of the country’s aging base load coal-fired and nuclear generating capacity is set to be decommissioned in the next fifteen to twenty years. Up till now, the government has claimed that this will be replaced with natural gas and renewable energy, plus imports of electricity from France, depending on the market. The government has now changed its tune and opted for nuclear power. With a discredited prime minister on his way out and bitter infighting about the succession parlysing decision making, who knows what will happen?
• Although Britain is apparently to be dependent on natural gas, it is reaching the end of self-sufficiency in gas and is now a net importer. The industry is investing heavily in new pipelines to import gas from Norway and the Netherlands in addition to Russian piped gas, with new storage facilities for piped gas, and LNG terminals are being built.
• In renewable energy, hydropower contributes less than 5% of generating capacity in Britain and the principal renewable energy will be wind power. But wind cannot provide base load power because it is intermittent and its capacity credit will be small, at penetration currently being proposed, perhaps 2,000-3,000 MW out of the 30,000 MW which will be required to keep the nation’s lights on.
• Gas prices are spiralling. The largest exporter, Russia, owns a quarter of the world’s gas. Russia is flexing its muscles ominously and is talking of a gas version of OPEC. How costly and how secure gas will be are looming questions.

In The British Utility Markets Report Ed 3 2006, companies can gain insight into the future of energy in the UK and can understand how to position their businesses in this changing and unpredictable market.

ABS Energy Research British Utility Markets Report

British Utility Markets Report

British Utility Markets

Water and waste market/sector/industry

Electricity market/sector/industry

Gas market/sector/industry

To purchase the new edition of the British Utility Markets report, please contact info @ absenergyresearch.com, call +44(0) 20 8432 6378 or visit http://www.absenergyresearch.com

About ABS Energy Research

ABS Energy Research is a London-based market research company providing up to date information and analysis of worldwide energy markets, including electricity, natural gas, coal, renewable energy and water and waste. ABS Energy Research produces large scale, state-of-the-industry reports and is also available to create detailed reports on a company by company basis.

Media Contact:

Melany Krangle

Phone +44 (0) 20 8432 6378

###

PDF Print