NESO’s Future of Energy Scenarios report
Future Energy Networks (FEN) responds to the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) Future of Energy Scenarios report
Responding to the FES report, FEN CEO James Earl said:
“Building on a diverse and growing evidence base, NESO’s Future of Energy Scenarios report reinforces how Britain’s gas networks have a crucial role to play in accelerating our journey to Clean Power by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050.
“It is crystal clear that we need to use every tool in the box if we are to meet our ambitious national climate targets, including our world class gas infrastructure.
“In each of its pathways to Net Zero, NESO outlines a clear and rapidly evolving role for green gases, with a particular emphasis on significantly scaling-up biomethane volumes. Embracing gases such as hydrogen and biomethane will enable us to decarbonise quicker while bolstering energy security, driving economic growth and minimising disruption to people’s lives.”
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Notes
Biomethane
With all Net Zero compliant scenarios showing that the UK will need gas to 2050 and beyond, biomethane offers a scalable solution to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions, lessen the reliance on imported gas and insulate the UK from future energy price shocks.
Biomethane is a green gas produced from organic waste, such as food waste, agricultural residues, and sewage sludge, through a process called anaerobic digestion. This process captures methane, a potent greenhouse gas, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
Biomethane is a carbon neutral gas that is molecularly identical to fossil gas, meaning that no changes are required to the gas grid, boilers or power stations.
There are currently 130 biomethane sites connected to the gas grid with the capacity to heat close to one million homes; almost certainly a greater number than are currently heated by heat pumps.
While a further 27 connections are planned, we need to significantly increase biomethane production to make a significant difference. Only 2.5% of the UK’s available organic farm waste is used to create biomethane.
By diversifying the renewable energy mix to include more green gas, the energy system becomes more robust and more likely to meet climate targets. With only limited policy support, the UK could deliver 30 TWh by 2030 and up to 120 TWh by 2050.
Hydrogen
The UK, with abundant supplies of wind power, could be a world leader in green hydrogen production. Green hydrogen can be used in our industries, as a feedstock in industrial processes to generate power, as a blend with natural gas, and to store energy over the long term.
- Much of British industry relies on gas and can’t easily electrify hence why many are exploring hydrogen as a feasible alternative.
- Our members are playing a key role in the roll-out of hydrogen. For example, through Project Union, National Gas has ambitious plans to deliver a core hydrogen network across Britain. This would effectively act as a ‘hydrogen motorway’, taking hydrogen to where it needs to be, across the whole of Great Britain, ensuring that all parts of the country can directly benefit from the hydrogen economy.
- As a home-grown fuel, hydrogen has a key role to play in reducing our exposure to volatile international markets and reinforce the security of our energy supply.
A report entitled ‘Accelerating Progress Towards 2030s Carbon Budget’ was published earlier this year by FEN. It outlines what the gas networks are currently doing to support decarbonisation and importantly highlights realistic and deliverable measures which could help cut the carbon budget deficit in buildings and industry by a quarter in 2035. Read the report here.
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