Can the UK Become Energy Self-Sufficient?

Our reliance on fossil fuels is becoming an increasingly sore subject. Scientists, researchers and environmental campaigners continue to stress the importance of renewables such as tide, wind, and solar energies in order to curb long-term negative effects on the natural environment.

In December 2014, fracking (a technique involving the extraction of shale gas from rock, also known as hydraulic fracturing) has been championed by the coalition government as means of economic growth and energy security for the UK.

If you’d like to know more about fracking, we’ve discussed it with Chris Faulkner, CEO of the Breitling Energy Corporation, a man known internationally as the ‘Frack Master’ due to his outspoken advocacy of shale gas extraction and in depth-knowledge of the process. You can find out his views in: Is Fracking the Way Forward? An Interview with Chris Faulkner. There is however strong opposition, but we will have to wait to see if protesting can stop fracking? Or even make a dent?

As well as Prime Minister David Cameron announcing that the UK is “going out all for shale”, the government have also revealed the country’s first ‘national shale gas colleges’ - specialist colleges offering training for the shale gas industry. Coupled with chemicals manufacturing giant, Ineos’ plans to invest £640m in the UK fracking industry, it appears that the nation hopes to follow the American ‘shale revolution’ that has put the US on the right track to becoming energy self-sufficient.

While this may seem a positive shift in attitude, is it possible for the UK to become energy self-sufficient?

Introducing ‘The UK’s Global Gas Challenge’ Research Report

A recent report titled The UK’s Global Gas Challenge, conducted by researchers at the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), has declared that the potential of fracking has been ‘overhyped’ by members of government, and that ultimately, shale gas will not reduce energy prices or the UK’s reliance on imported gas.

Professor of energy policy at the University of Sussex and an author of the report, Jim Watson said, “Looking at the evidence base, it’s very hard to support some of the statements made both by industry and some politicians that it’s going to bring down prices, strengthen energy security or create jobs through cheaper energy any time soon. It may have an impact. But a lot depends on how fast shale develops.”

The report has advised caution in the belief that a shale gas revolution will be the answer to the UK’s energy problems. A second report from the UKERC has also stressed that in the time taken to get the shale gas industry on its feet, it’s likely that gas consumption will have peaked on a global scale, and will be decreasing to avoid catastrophic global warming levels.

The UK’s Global Gas Challenge research report states, “Given the current status of shale gas exploration, it is unlikely that domestic shale gas production will be a factor until the early 2020s and it is also unlikely to be of sufficient scale to significantly reduce the UK’s import dependence or to have a significant impact on UK gas prices.”