Generation development options in the UK from the aspect of natural gas availability and prices

Continuous requirement for additional electrical generation is evident in developed and developing world. Governments also face pressure to tackle pollution and global warming issues. Apart from technical and economic consideration country's generation planning has a strategic component that influences diversity of use of prime energy resources. Tendency in West Europe to use more natural gas for heating and electrical generation could be boosted by further development in the European gas market. Considerable number of new pipeline and gas storage projects as well as constructive regulatory activities indicate that the gas supply could be significantly increased. Developing a competitive and regulated gas market supported with significant infrastructure investments and fulfilled environment requirements provides the right framework to encourage increase in use of gas in the UK. From the energy resources diversity aspect it appears that there is sufficient room for growth of CCGT and CHP plants to keep the right balance of the generation mix.