National Grid warns UK could run out of gas today

Posted on 1 Mar 2018 by Jonny Williamson

The National Grid has issued a warning that the UK could be unable to meet demand today if extra supply is not forthcoming.


The National Grid has issued a warning that the UK could be unable to meet gas demand today -image courtesy of Depositphotos.

The National Grid has reported: “The national gas demand today is high and due to the extreme weather conditions, there have been gas supply losses overnight.

“At 5.45am this morning we issued a ‘Gas Deficit Warning’ to the market.

“This is an indication to the market that we’d like more gas to be made available to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the national gas network.

“We are in communication with industry partners and are closely monitoring the situation.”

Forecast showed a shortfall across the day of 49.5m cubic metres (mcm) below the country’s projected need of 395.7mcm. The gas deficit warning aims to fill that gap, which has since narrowed to 35.2mcm.

The National Grid has stated, that this lack of supply is unlikely to affect domestic users but if no further supplies are sent to the UK then industrial users could be impacted.

Wholesale gas prices, within-day, rocketed by 74% following the warning which urges suppliers to make more gas available.

As reported, as well as the rise in demand, supply has also suffered from numerous problems which include a pipeline outage in the Netherlands, constraints in Norway and technical issues at British facilities such as the North Morecambe Barrow terminal.

Get insights like this delivered straight to your inbox

5 Digital Briefings | 5 Front-of-Mind Topics | 5 Days a Week

  • Monday: Manufacturing Innovation
  • Tuesday: Manufacturing Leadership
  • Wednesday: Digital Transformation
  • Thursday: Industrial Automation
  • Friday: Industrial Internet

Sign up for free here.