Institution responds to Energy and Climate Change Committee report on shale gas

The Institution's Dr Tim Fox says the recommendations in the report are wholly welcome. Shale gas could provide long-term economic benefits to the UK, including much needed jobs in areas of economic deprivation. It could also provide an export business from the engineering skills and knowledge developed, but it is no ‘silver bullet’ for UK energy prices and security of gas supply.

Dr Tim Fox, Head of Energy and Environment at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in response to a report by the Energy and Climate Change Committee on shale gas:
“The recommendations in this report are sensible, wholly welcome and very much in-line with the Institution's position on UK shale gas.
"Shale gas could provide long-term economic benefits to the UK, including much needed jobs in areas of economic deprivation. It could also provide an export business from the engineering skills and knowledge developed, but it is no ‘silver bullet’ for UK energy prices and security of gas supply. It is likely to prove less productive in the UK than in the US due to differences in geology, the density of population, technological uncertainty, the requirements of regulatatory compliance and public opinion.
“Exploitation of UK shale gas is unlikely to have a major impact on UK energy prices – and the UK looks set to remain largely dependent on imports for its gas supply for the foreseeable future.
“With or without domestic shale gas production, the UK will continue to have gas as a substantial contributor to its energy mix in the coming decades and it is therefore important to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) for use with gas plants if we are to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets.”
For more information on the Institution’s views on shale gas:
UK Energy Shale Gas Policy Statement