Centrica gives UK gas boost with reopening of Rough storage facility

The initial investment programme means the company has made its first injection of gas into the site in over five years and is able to store up to 30 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas over winter 2022/23.

According to Centrica, Rough is currently operating at around 20 per cent of its previous capacity this winter, making it the UK’s largest gas storage site and adding 50 per cent to the UK’s gas storage volume. Rough will inject gas into the facility when prices are low and put the gas back into the UK’s gas network when demand is higher.

Centrica said its long-term aim is to turn the Rough gas field into the largest long duration energy storage facility in Europe, capable of storing natural gas and hydrogen.

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The UK has diverse gas supplies via connections with Norway and other European countries, plus LNG import terminals, but the country has some of the lowest levels of gas storage in Europe at nine days compared to Germany at 89 days, France at 103 days and the Netherlands at 123 days.

In a statement, Centrica Group chief executive, Chris O’Shea, said “We have managed to return Rough to storage operations for this winter following a substantial investment in engineering modifications. Our long-term aim remains to turn the Rough field into the world’s biggest methane and hydrogen storage facility, bolstering the UK’s energy security, delivering a net zero electricity system by 2035, decarbonising the UK’s industrial clusters, such as the Humber region by 2040, and helping the UK economy by returning to being a net exporter of energy.

"In the short term we think Rough can help our energy system by storing natural gas when there is a surplus and producing this gas when the country needs it during cold snaps and peak demand. Rough is not a silver bullet for energy security, but it is a key part of a range of steps which can be taken to help the UK this winter.”