Gas system in transition: security of supply
This consultation is open for responses
Respond to this consultationSummary
DESNZ proposes policy actions to maintain gas system security during energy transition, including infrastructure capacity requirements, resilience measures, and commercial model changes for LNG terminals, interconnectors, and storage. The consultation covers maintaining peak-day capacity and ensuring infrastructure remains commercially viable as gas demand declines. This follows the June 2025 commitment to public engagement on gas system transition.
Why it matters
Gas security measures treat the symptoms of intermittent renewable generation rather than addressing the fundamental supply-demand matching problem. As such, these policies socialise the costs of maintaining backup capacity across all gas users while the electricity system creates the need for that backup.
Key facts
- •Three-point plan covers decarbonisation acceleration, gas system adaptation, and supply-demand balancing
- •Focuses on LNG terminals, interconnectors, and storage infrastructure
- •Great Britain only - Northern Ireland excluded due to devolved energy policy
- •Peak-day capacity requirements identified as continuing need during transition
Areas affected
Related programmes
Memo
This consultation is inviting views and supporting evidence on our assessment of the priorities for gas security of supply during the transition, and the associated challenges facing the gas sector. It sets out a range of proposed policy actions that we are considering in order to protect our gas security in the years ahead. We committed to a programme of public engagement on the gas system’s transition in the [June 2025 update to market](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/midstream-gas-system-update-to-the-market/midstream-gas-system-update-to-the-market). This consultation is the first step in this programme of work. This represents a significant milestone in our commitment to shape a gas system that provides energy security for decades to come. It covers: * our understanding of the changing patterns of gas supply and demand and how we expect these to evolve during the energy transition, including the continuing need for peak-day capacity * our three-point plan for gas security of supply, which includes: 1. accelerating decarbonisation to secure energy for the long term 2. taking the necessary steps to ensure the gas system and market can adapt to continue providing baseload gas supply and insurance for low probability, high stress events 3. continuing to work with National Gas and NESO to monitor our security of supply and utilising the range of tools available to continue to match supply and demand, to balance the system on a daily basis now and for years to come * our three priorities to ensure the gas system and market can adapt to provide supply in a range of scenarios: 1. maintaining sufficient infrastructure capacity 2. maintaining sufficient infrastructure resilience 3. a commercial model that supports effective infrastructure operation * the current picture of our midstream gas infrastructure (LNG, interconnectors, storage) and a range of government policy actions that could be taken to ensure we have sufficient infrastructure to provide gas whenever and wherever it is needed * further government policy actions designed to ensure a commercial model that works, both in terms of ensuring the commercial viability of existing infrastructure operators and exploring how regulatory and market-based changes could support the UK’s continued attractiveness to land gas imports. The territorial extent of this consultation is Great Britain only given energy policy is devolved to Northern Ireland and they have an independently operated gas system. However, given Northern Ireland’s reliance on gas supplies from Great Britain, we are committed to working closely with them on the issues outlined in this consultation.