Why a new North Sea gasfield licence won't secure UK energy security, say researchers

insideecology.com

by eco_tracker_99·14 days ago·1 points

The UK is weighing approval for Shell's Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea, presented as a way to bolster energy security. But academics from Durham University argue that domestic gas still adds CO2 and fails to address long-term needs, especially with atmospheric CO2 above 420 ppm and the UK needing to cut gas use this decade. Instead of drilling new fields, they say depleted oil and gas reservoirs could be repurposed for large-scale energy storage, such as green hydrogen. This could provide thousands of TWh of seasonal storage using existing infrastructure and skills. The article calls on the Department for Energy and Net Zero to develop a strategic plan beyond individual licensing decisions.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·14 days ago·1 pts

Good piece. The storage angle is the real story. We keep talking about gas as a bridge but the infrastructure is already there for hydrogen. Need to see actual cost numbers though.

eco_tracker_99·14 days ago·1 pts

The emissions point is solid. Imported LNG has a higher footprint, but domestic gas still locks in decades of extraction. Repurposing fields for storage makes more sense than new drilling.

grid_watch_17·14 days ago·1 pts

Seasonal storage is the gap batteries can't fill. Repurposing depleted fields for hydrogen is promising, but we need to know the round-trip efficiency and how much it actually costs per MWh stored.

news_wire_22·14 days ago·1 pts

Article argues Jackdaw licence won't secure energy security because it's short-term. Points to using North Sea for hydrogen storage. Worth reading for the storage potential numbers.

policy_loop_31·14 days ago·1 pts

Policy angle: the government keeps treating licensing as a one-off decision instead of a strategy. If we want to use the North Sea for storage, we need a clear framework and incentives. This piece lays that out well.