Gas imports for power ‘could more than halve by 2030’

The Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan will more than halve gas imports by 2030 for power generation, according to new analysis.

However, the report by think-tank Ember warns that transport and home heating remain “highly exposed” to energy imports.

It said transport fuels, currently 40% imported, cost the average UK household more than electricity or gas.

“Reducing oil consumption through electrification represents a significant opportunity to cut energy bills and import reliance. For heating, by 2030 a heat pump will be 85% less reliant on imports, compared to a gas boiler,” it points out.

The report also identifies biomass is the UK’s third largest fuel import, with production only able to meet 5% of wood pellet demand

“Biomass power generation is almost entirely reliant on imports of wood pellets, which means generators are exposed to price rises, as witnessed during the energy crisis when wood pellet prices increased by over a third, and remain well above the pre-crisis average,” it said.