Irish Sea project could grow UK gas storage and pave way for hydrogen

  • Gas
  • September 22, 2025

A proposed storage development in the Irish Sea has the potential to double the UK’s limited natural gas storage capacity, while also being designed to accommodate future low-carbon molecules such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

The project is being advanced by Dublin-based dCarbonX, which earlier this year secured a licence from the North Sea Transition Authority to redevelop the depleted Bains gas field.

If developed, the site could provide several days of backup supply for the UK, which has historically relied heavily on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes and pipeline flows to balance seasonal demand.

Gas storage has become a renewed priority since the closure of the Rough gas storage facility in 2017 and the market volatility triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At present, the UK’s storage capacity covers less than 2% of annual demand, compared with Germany and France where reserves are closer to 20%.

… to continue reading this article and more, please login, register for free, or consider subscribing to gasworld

You’ve reached your weekly limit to access free articles!

Want to keep reading?

Please register for free and create a profile to gain access to this full article and gasworld’s daily news.

For access to more content including our monthly digital magazines, subscriber-only features or columns and all our other gasworld archives, please consider subscribing.

Alternatively, you can continue reading more articles as a guest on Monday, 29th September at 6:28PM

   

  • Related Posts

    • Gas
    • September 30, 2026
    CM2 Supply appoints current President as CEO

    By 49 min ago 2 min read Midwest industrial gas and welding distributor CM2 Supply has appointed Jason Kirby as CEO, effective October 1. Kirby will also continue in his…

    • Gas
    • September 30, 2026
    ADBA says UK energy plan overlooks biomethane cost savings

    The UK Government’s plans to bring energy prices in line with Europe risk overlooking the potential of biomethane to reduce costs and support the country’s transition to net zero, according…

    Have You Seen?

    Reinvention Award Finalist: Moneypoint Synchronous Condenser

    • October 1, 2026
    Reinvention Award Finalist: Moneypoint Synchronous Condenser

    Russia Extends Diesel Export Ban Through Oct. 31

    • September 30, 2026
    Russia Extends Diesel Export Ban Through Oct. 31

    OPEC+ Expected to Keep Oil Production Quotas Unchanged

    • September 30, 2026
    OPEC+ Expected to Keep Oil Production Quotas Unchanged

    WA Parish Integrates Thermal Evaporation to Tackle FGD Wastewater

    • September 30, 2026
    WA Parish Integrates Thermal Evaporation to Tackle FGD Wastewater

    Foreign Investors Pull $3.2 Billion From Indian Markets as Oil Rally Returns

    • September 30, 2026
    Foreign Investors Pull $3.2 Billion From Indian Markets as Oil Rally Returns

    China’s Thermal Coal Prices Surge to Three-Year High

    • September 30, 2026
    China’s Thermal Coal Prices Surge to Three-Year High

    Analysts Cut China’s Q4 Crude Import Forecasts by 400,000 Bpd

    • September 30, 2026
    Analysts Cut China’s Q4 Crude Import Forecasts by 400,000 Bpd

    CM2 Supply appoints current President as CEO

    • September 30, 2026
    CM2 Supply appoints current President as CEO

    ADBA says UK energy plan overlooks biomethane cost savings

    • September 30, 2026
    ADBA says UK energy plan overlooks biomethane cost savings

    Oil Prices Climb as Trump Rules Out Easing Iran Sanctions

    • September 30, 2026
    Oil Prices Climb as Trump Rules Out Easing Iran Sanctions