You read that right, could extracting gas from its own shores and seas actually reduce the global CO2 emissions of the UK?
A new report from Gneiss Energy reveals that scaling down domestic gas production in favour of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) is actually significantly increasing carbon emissions.
The study finds that depending on the scenario, this shift could add more than eight million tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere annually.
Over the past decade, UK gas production from the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) has been steadily declining due to policy decisions discouraging new investment.
As a result, the country has become increasingly reliant on imported gas from Norway and LNG from sources like the US, Qatar and Algeria.
However, LNG is far more carbon-intensive than domestically produced gas due to the emissions associated with liquefaction, transportation and re-gasification.
Jon Fitzpatrick, Managing Director of Gneiss Energy, highlights the contradiction in current policy: “At a time of climate crisis and increasing global uncertainty, it would make far more sense from an economic, environmental, social and strategic perspective to support and ramp up UK domestic gas production than relying on imported gas from overseas.”
The study models various scenarios, from full domestic production to a 50% UKCS reduction, with the shortfall made up by LNG and Norway imports.
The “UK Sunset” scenario would result in global CO2 emissions increasing by three million tonnes per year, while full LNG reliance could push that number to 8.5 million tonnes.
The report suggests that rather than relying on LNG, the UK should invest in its own gas infrastructure, including the electrification of gas fields—an approach already being pursued by Norway.
