- Centrica increases storage capacity at UK’s largest gas facility
- Rough site plays crucial role in boosting national resilience
- Gas storage at Rough to heat 2.4 million homes during winter
The Rough site is not a “silver bullet,” but it plays a crucial role in boosting the nation’s resilience and providing confidence during the chilly months, according to the chief executive of the company.
Centrica has increased storage capacity at the United Kingdom’s largest gas storage facility in preparation for the upcoming winter.
The Rough site, located 18 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire in the North Sea, was mothballed in 2017 but reactivated in 2018 with the capacity to store approximately 30 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas.
British Gas’s parent company claims it has now increased this to 54 billion bcf.
The facility now stores fifty percent of all petroleum in the United Kingdom.
According to the company, it will contain enough gas to heat 2,4 million homes during the winter.
Chris O’Shea, chief executive officer of Centrica, stated, “The resilience of the United Kingdom’s energy system must be substantially enhanced.
“We are pleased to contribute to the expansion of the United Kingdom’s gas storage capacity”.
Rough does not guarantee energy security, but it boosts capacity and supply confidence in winter.
“Rough can help our energy system by storing natural gas when there is a surplus and producing this gas when the country needs it during cold snaps and periods of peak demand.”
Following a drop in wholesale gas prices, Ofgem’s energy price cap will be lowered on Saturday, lowering household energy prices.
National Grid announced this week that it will not use coal-fired backup power during winter.
As the energy market suffered from the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014, five contingency units were available.
They were heated multiple times and utilized in March when a chilly snap affected wind generation.
However, they will not be accessible in the future due to the government’s initiative to combat climate change.
The National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (ESO) calls the 2022 demand flexibility service (DFS) “prudent to maintain”.
The program, which was implemented for the first time in January following a succession of tests and false alarms, pays volunteer households to turn off their major appliances during periods of peak demand.
