Offshore Application submitted to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Proposals for a new offshore gas storage facility to be developed by Centrica Storage and Perenco UK (the companies behind a new joint company called Bacton Storage Company Limited (BSCL)), have been submitted to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.
The application, which follows the submission of the onshore application to North Norfolk District Council earlier this year, relates to the project?s offshore platform and pipeline installations. The development will consist of a normally unmanned platform with up to 14 planned wells within the Baird reservoir, connected by a pipeline to a new facility at the Perenco UK gas terminal in Bacton.
All relevant documents relating to both applications are posted on this website and can be found in the Development Consent Applications (All Documents) and Environmental Impact Assessment sections. Adverts relating to the offshore application have also been published in The Independent (national newspaper) and The Eastern Daily Press (local newspaper).
Members of the public have until 16 August 2010 to make representations in relation to the application to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. All correspondence should refer to D/3979/2008. Comments on the statement may be sent in by email, letter or fax and should be marked for the attention of:
EIA Co-ordinator
Environmental Management Team
Energy Development Unit
Department of Energy and Climate Change 4th Floor, Atholl House
86-88 Guild Street
Aberdeen, AB11 6AR
Email: EMT@decc.osi.gov.uk
Fax: 01224 254019
This project supports the UK?s need for gas storage to maintain security of supply. Both the Government and its predecessor recognise the importance of gas to everyday lives in the provision of heat and power and consequently support the development of additional gas storage.
Gas storage reduces the risk of interruption to customers. Reductions in gas supply and an inflexible reliance on imported gas could create high price spikes unless action is taken. Secure gas supplies have previously been assured from the continental shelf, however, these have been declining and in 2004 the UK became a net importer of gas. At present around half of the UK gas requirement is imported and this is predicted, by the government, to rise to 80 percent by 2020.
To maintain flexibility, there is now, and will increasingly be, a need for more gas storage. This was underlined during last winter?s bad weather which saw some large interruptible supplies being disconnected.
Around 83 percent of the UK population live in homes heated by natural gas. Around 42 percent of electricity generated is fuelled by gas. The UK is one of the largest gas consumers in Europe.
Existing gas storage facilities provide only 4.5 per cent (17 days) of the UK annual gas consumption compared to an average of over 16 percent in the rest of Europe.
Once completed the Baird Project will add around one third to the UK?s existing gas storage capacity.