Answer extracted from The Future of Utilities Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How should gas networks evolve to manage peaks in tomorrow's energy systems?
Gas networks should remain central to managing peak demand and extreme events, using green gases to handle spikes while electricity fills the gaps around that infrastructure—not the other way around. This dual approach treats gas and electricity as complementary energy vectors, each playing a specialized role rather than forcing electrification to do everything.
Today's gas networks are engineered precisely for this job. James Earl explains that they achieve 99.9999% reliability, with an interruption expected only once every 40 years. They are built to a 1 in 20 resilience standard, meaning they can handle the coldest weather conditions expected in any 20-year period—a capability that electricity grids are still developing.
The framing matters here. Rather than viewing gas as a "safety net" for electrification, Earl advocates for green gases as a permanent part of the energy mix. This includes biomethane and other low-carbon alternatives, not just fossil fuels. In a discussion covered at length in The Future of Utilities Podcast, he notes that green gases could potentially meet between a fifth and a sixth of current gas demand, opening a credible pathway for decarbonization without abandoning the network's core strength.
Gas and electricity as specialized roles, not competition
The conventional energy transition narrative often frames electrification as the solution to all energy problems. But Earl's position inverts that: electricity and electrification should be used to fill the gaps around a gas network designed for peaks and resilience. In the episode, he highlights industries with high-temperature process needs as a case in point. These sectors cannot simply switch to electric heating; they need the energy density and temperature capacity that gas provides.
Power generation is another area where this logic applies. When renewables output is low—wind isn't blowing, sun isn't shining—gas fills the gap quickly and reliably. This is not a backup role; it is a core function within a system where variable renewables dominate. Earl's career spans both gas and electricity sectors, giving him unique perspective on how these two energy vectors must interact with each other rather than replace one another.
"It has a fundamental role to play across a lot of different end uses, whether that be in power generation when renewables output is low, or in industry that need really high temperature processes."
James Earl — Chief Executive, Future Energy Networks. Earl runs the membership organisation for the UK's gas networks, representing National Gas and the four gas distribution networks in Great Britain, as well as Northern Irish Gas Networks. His background spans both gas and electricity sectors, positioning him as a key voice in debates about integrated energy system design.
A nuance worth exploring in more depth—and fully discussed in this podcast episode—is how the timing of infrastructure investment shapes energy choices. When electricity connection wait times stretch to 15 years or more, businesses like data centers naturally turn to gas networks as a practical alternative. This feedback loop reveals that the future role of gas depends not just on technical capability but on how quickly alternative infrastructure can scale.
Key takeaways
- Gas networks achieve 99.9999% reliability and are built to handle the coldest weather in any 20-year period—capabilities electricity grids are still developing.
- Green gases, including biomethane, could meet between a fifth to a sixth of current gas demand, offering a decarbonization pathway without abandoning the network's resilience role.
- Industries with high-temperature process needs and power generation during low renewable output periods both depend on gas as a specialized energy vector, not as a backup.
- The future energy system should treat gas and electricity as complementary, with gas managing peaks and extreme events while electricity fills the gaps—reversing the common narrative that electrification solves everything.
See also
How should policymakers balance decarbonization, affordability, and energy security in the energy transition?
Energy policy should focus on the trilemma of decarbonization, affordability, and security—balancing all three objectives in parallel rather than prioritizing decarbonization alone.
What is the current status of gas network decommissioning in the UK?
The starting point for the conversation about decommissioning is not where the industry currently stands—gas networks continue to play a fundamental role across multiple end uses.
Why are data centers increasingly connecting to gas networks instead of waiting for electricity connections?
Data centers face electricity connection wait times of up to 15 years, making gas networks a practical immediate alternative for meeting their energy infrastructure needs.