Gas Dominates UK Capacity Auction Despite Push for Clean Power

Gas-fired plants secured almost 60% of capacity in the UK’s latest market auction, underscoring their central role in the energy system even as the country pushes for cleaner power.

The outcome of the auction — intended to ensure that enough capacity is available when solar and wind generation is low — highlights the government’s challenge in meeting its goal of decarbonizing the power system by 2030. The UK is likely to remain dependent on gas well into the next decade, as older nuclear plants retire and large-scale low-carbon alternatives remain limited.