Electricity and gas interaction: A UK perspective and risk assessment

Gas-fired power stations currently generate over a third of the electricity demand of the United Kingdom (UK) and will play an increasing role in the future. At the same time the UK is becoming increasingly reliant on external supplies for gas security. The levels of physical and economic interaction between the gas and electricity systems offer a new set of risks for energy security. This paper traces the development of the UK gas industry, its growing links with the electricity sector and sets out some of the important developments in Europe and within the UK that influence UK energy security.