Britain is approaching winter with almost no gas in storage, according to Centrica’s chief executive, while reserves across Europe are also at unusually low levels. The warning exposes a vulnerability successive governments have failed to resolve: one of Europe’s largest gas consumers has allowed itself to depend on overseas supplies without maintaining a sufficient domestic buffer.
Rough demonstrates the problem
The Rough facility off the Yorkshire coast has historically been Britain’s largest gas store. It reopened partially in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exposed Europe’s dependence on insecure supplies.
However, Centrica paused storage operations at Rough in 2025 because the difference between summer and winter gas prices did not make the facility commercially viable. Operations remained paused in the company’s July 2026 results. Centrica’s 2026 interim results
This highlights the failure of relying on the market alone. Strategic infrastructure may be essential during a crisis even when it is not profitable in normal conditions. If the country values that protection, the commercial framework must recognise and fund it.
Britain has too little room for error
The government reported maximum gas-storage capacity of approximately 3.2 billion cubic metres across eight facilities in 2025. Storage supplied 8% of National Transmission System demand during winter 2024/25. UK Government security-of-supply report
The government argues that Britain’s diverse supply routes make it less dependent on storage than mainland Europe. That may explain the present system, but it should not excuse its weaknesses.
The EU responded to the 2022 energy crisis by introducing binding storage requirements. Its current rules retain a 90% filling target before winter, with some flexibility over timing. Council of the European Union
Britain has no comparable buffer and remains heavily exposed to international markets.
The longer-term outlook is particularly concerning. The National Energy System Operator has identified emerging supply risks during extreme winter demand in the 2030s. If Britain’s largest piece of gas-supply infrastructure were also unavailable, its assessment found potential shortfalls across every pathway examined for winter 2030/31. NESO Gas Supply Security Assessment
The government must act
Britain needs a clear strategy to preserve and expand appropriate gas-storage capacity during the energy transition. That should include a commercial model that rewards operators for maintaining strategically important infrastructure, rather than waiting for market conditions to make storage profitable.
Renewables, electricity storage and energy efficiency will reduce gas consumption over time. But the transition has not yet removed the need for gas—particularly during cold, windless periods.
Energy security means being prepared for disruption, not simply assuming that international markets will always provide what Britain needs. Allowing vital storage capacity to disappear would leave consumers and businesses carrying the consequences through higher prices and greater risk.
The government should act before the next crisis proves, once again, that resilience cannot be built at the last minute.
Britain cannot afford to wait for the next energy crisis before strengthening its defences. To understand what changing gas markets could mean for your business, and how to manage the risks, contact our team today.
Sources: UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, National Energy System Operator (NESO), National Gas, Ofgem, Centrica, Council of the European Union, Gas Infrastructure Europe, The Guardian (August 2026).