Government confirms role of gas in decarbonisation strategy

The announcement forms part of the government’s Gas Generation Strategy, which includes consultation on new tax incentives for shale gas and the creation of a single Office for Unconventional Gas.

New gas-fired power stations will need to be built over the next two decades to replace retiring coal, older gas and nuclear power stations.

Gas will also be required to support a low-carbon electricity sector, providing the flexibility to balance out increasing amounts of wind and nuclear energy.

In a statement, secretary of state Edward Davey said: ‘We have always said that gas will have a significant role in our electricity mix over the next two decades.

‘Gas will provide a cleaner source of energy than coal, and will ensure we can keep the lights on as increasing amounts of wind and nuclear come online through the 2020s.

‘The strategy we set out… follows extensive consultation and is consistent with meeting our legislated carbon budgets and with significant decarbonisation of the power sector.’