Cold Snap Leaves Britain with Alarming Gas Shortage

[Social Media]

 

Britain is facing a critical gas shortage, with less than a week's worth of supplies remaining in storage. The country's largest gas supplier, Centrica, has sounded the alarm following a harsh winter and the cessation of Russian gas pipelines through Ukraine. 

 

"The ongoing colder-than-usual conditions in the UK combined with the end of Russian gas pipeline supplies through Ukraine on December 31, 2024, has meant that gas inventory levels across the UK are down," a Centrica spokesman said. He further explained, "As of January 9, 2025, UK storage sites are 26 per cent lower than last year's inventory at the same time, leaving them around half full. This means the UK has less than a week of gas demand in store."

 

This situation has been exacerbated by an early winter onset and persistently high gas prices, which have hampered efforts to replenish storage levels during the festive season. Despite the alarming figures, a No 10 spokesman reassured the public: "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. 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."

 

However, the UK is not alone in this predicament. European gas storage levels have also dipped, now at 69 per cent capacity compared to 84 per cent the previous year. The UK's "highly limited" storage capacity makes it particularly vulnerable, as a few cold days can severely deplete reserves.

 

Natasha Fielding of Argus Media highlighted the challenge: "The UK has other options besides storage to draw in more supply over cold spells, so we do not have a security of supply scare on our hands… The real issue is that UK gas must be priced at a premium to the EU to attract higher imports, and the EU itself has a tight supply-demand balance right now."

 

Chris O’Shea, Centrica’s chief executive, emphasized the importance of energy storage: "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. We are an outlier from the rest of Europe when it comes to the role of storage in our energy system and we are now seeing the implications of that."

 

The coldest night in 15 years was recorded in Altnaharra, a hamlet in Sutherland, where temperatures plummeted to minus 14.5C. This was the coldest January night since 2010 when temperatures dropped below minus 15C multiple times, including minus 22.3C on January 8 in the same area. More freezing temperatures are anticipated in the coming days, further straining the UK's gas reserves.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-01-13

 

 

 

[impulse]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

"The ongoing colder-than-usual conditions in the UK combined with the end of Russian gas pipeline supplies through Ukraine on December 31, 2024, has meant that gas inventory levels across the UK are down," a Centrica spokesman said. He further explained, "As of January 9, 2025, UK storage sites are 26 per cent lower than last year's inventory at the same time, leaving them around half full. This means the UK has less than a week of gas demand in store."

 

What happened to "hottest year in history"?

 

It's comforting to know that when it gets really cold, they can crank up those solar panels and those wind turbines.

 

 

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

What happened to "hottest year in history"?

 

 

It cooled off.

[JonnyF]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

The coldest night in 15 years was recorded in Altnaharra, a hamlet in Sutherland, where temperatures plummeted to minus 14.5C. This was the coldest January night since 2010 when temperatures dropped below minus 15C multiple times, including minus 22.3C on January 8 in the same area.

 

Global warming again I see. 😄

 

Lucky we've made ourselves so reliant on foreign sources of energy. Got to get to net zero!

 

At least the pensioners won't be using much now the fuel allowance has been removed. Every cloud...

 

 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

50 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

What happened to "hottest year in history"?

 

It's comforting to know that when it gets really cold, they can crank up those solar panels and those wind turbines.

 

 

"It's comforting to know that when it gets really cold, they can crank up those solar panels and those wind turbines."

 

Yes indeed, problem solved!!😆

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'

[actonion]

Not enough Water in Summer, not enough Gas in Winter,  not enough Drainage when it Rains...

[Denim]

I can't worry about this. Too cold here in Petchabun to worry about gas shortages in the UK. Only 13 degrees C this morning at 6.00 am.    I was up in the night throwing an extra blanket on the bed. All made worse by wife going for a pee then getting back in the sack and trying to warm her hands on my wedding tackle. The horror , the horror.  To think, I was looking forward to this but am now down with the flu as well. Be careful what you wish for.

[Thingamabob]

Amazing that the UK has been blessed with abundant coal, oil and gas resources, enough both for domestic consumption and for export, but chooses not to use them. Others look at us and scratch their heads in disbelief and puzzlement.

[Eaglekott]

3 hours ago, impulse said:

What happened to "hottest year in history"?

That was so 2024...