Britain should look to biomethane to expand gas supply | Letter

Chris Huhne points out that the UK is not limited to a choice of North Sea drilling or more imports of liquefied natural gas Nils Pratley is right to highlight the continuing role of gas in the UK energy system and the risks of growing dependence on imported liquefied natural gas (The UK needs more North Sea gas, not greater reliance on US imports, 14 April). As he notes, gas will remain essential for heating and power system resilience for years to come, and relying on volatile global markets leaves the UK exposed to price shocks and disruption. But the choice is not limited to more North Sea drilling or more imports. There is a third, often-overlooked option that supports farmers and rural communities while using our waste to make secure homegrown energy. Produced from organic wastes and injected into the existing gas grid, biomethane is fully domestic, low carbon, storable and dispatchable when needed. Unlike LNG, it does not depend on global shipping routes or international politics. Unlike new fossil extraction, it helps meet the UK’s climate commitments while strengthening energy, food and economic security. The UK should be prioritising sources of gas that are both homegrown