Gas Storage Project Being Eyed To Help Boost UK Capacity By Up To 50%

Plans are being developed for an £830 million gas storage project that could increase the UK’s energy security by expanding storage capacity by up to 50%.

The scheme, proposed by British-Irish energy company dCarbonX, would see the former Bains gas field near Barrow-in-Furness in Morecambe Bay converted into a major storage facility. Backed by Snam, Europe’s largest gas infrastructure operator, the project is designed to reduce the UK’s exposure to shortages and volatile energy markets.

The Bains site could hold around 1.4 billion cubic metres of gas, equivalent to six extra days of average demand, according to the company. Britain currently has the lowest storage levels in the G7, covering just 12 days of winter demand compared with more than 90 in Germany, France and Italy.

Tony O’Reilly, chief executive of dCarbonX, warned of the risks of underinvestment: “The UK doesn’t just have a market gap – it has a strategic risk. Gas is no longer just a commodity; it is the key transition fuel and an insurance policy for stable growth. Failure to address its essential role is a national security risk.”

If approved, the Bains facility could be operational within five years. It would join Rough, off the Yorkshire coast, which is the UK’s largest gas storage site but faces uncertainty over long-term investment. Centrica, the site’s owner, has previously argued that government backing is needed to keep it viable.

Centrica chief Chris O’Shea has claimed that had Rough been operating at full capacity during the height of the energy crisis, households could have saved an estimated £200 each.

For project managers, the Bains scheme highlights the complexity of large-scale energy infrastructure projects. Regulatory hurdles, funding approvals and environmental considerations will shape delivery timelines. At the same time, the project reflects wider strategic questions about balancing energy transition goals with short-term resilience.