Ministers have acknowledged that Britain will require substantial quantities of gas in coming years even as the country pursues energy transition, raising questions about how future supplies will be secured. Officials warned that the country risks running out of gas by the 2030s without adequate planning.
About 24 million UK households depend on gas connections, primarily for heating. Though overall annual gas consumption is declining, demand during peak winter periods remains as high as historically recorded levels. Last year gas accounted for roughly a third of the UK's total energy needs.
The slow pace of heat pump adoption has complicated the transition away from gas. Without solutions to either accelerate that transition or secure alternative gas supplies, Britain faces a potential supply shortfall in the coming decade.