CENTRICA ENERGY STORAGE+ | Innovating at Scale, Leading with Purpose

In the world of energy infrastructure, few names carry the same weight and responsibility as Centrica. Its dedicated storage arm, Centrica Energy Storage + (CES+), is not just a cog in the energy transition machine—it’s the engine room. As the UK sharpens its focus on net zero ambitions while maintaining energy security, CES+ is investing in critical technologies, expanding strategic partnerships, and positioning itself as a backbone of Britain’s evolving energy landscape.

For a business that operates largely behind the scenes, CES+ is becoming increasingly visible. Its role in stabilising the grid—through gas storage at Rough and Aldbrough—has never been more vital. In times of uncertainty, CES+ has delivered. And now, with new investment and an ambitious hydrogen pivot, the company is not just responding to the future; it’s actively shaping it.

The company’s parent, Centrica plc, reported a strong set of financial results earlier this year, reflecting the strength of its balanced portfolio and renewed commercial focus. Underpinning those results is a robust infrastructure business that combines physical assets with innovative vision. CES+ sits right at the heart of that strategy.

STRATEGIC MOVES

CES+ has been pivotal in recent high-profile agreements that cement Centrica’s role in securing the UK’s energy future. Among them is a major gas supply deal with Norwegian energy giant Equinor—a multibillion-pound agreement that will deliver 10 years of supply into the UK, helping mitigate volatility and keeping homes warm during peak demand.

Group CEO Chris O’Shea was clear about the strategic importance of the partnership:
“Equinor is a valued partner and this landmark agreement underscores the vital role that natural gas plays as a transition fuel as we navigate towards a low carbon energy future. The enduring partnership between Centrica and Equinor exemplifies the strong and strategic relationship between the UK and Norway and I’m immensely proud that we’ve agreed this deal.”

He added: “Over the last few years, we’ve seen first-hand how important energy security is. Today’s deal not only ensures the UK’s energy security has improved but also paves the way for a burgeoning hydrogen market. The deal represents a significant investment in the UK’s future, showing that Centrica will make bold investments that drive forward the energy transition while delivering value for our shareholders. We will continue to focus on further improving energy security by working with the UK Government to ensure the right levels of gas storage are in place to complement this landmark gas importation agreement.”

Beyond Europe, Centrica has expanded its global footprint with another major deal—this time in Asia—with Thai state-owned oil and gas company PTT. The agreement centres on long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, giving the UK a stable and diversified route to meet fluctuating demand.

“We are proud to partner with PTT,” said O’Shea. “This agreement supports our global LNG ambitions and is a testament to the strong partnerships Centrica has built in Asia. LNG is a key part of Centrica’s long-term strategy and will continue to play a pivotal role in enabling the energy transition.”

These partnerships are more than just contracts; they’re an intentional part of Centrica’s resilience strategy, and CES+ is central to delivering the infrastructure that makes them work.

FOCUS ON HYDROGEN

While securing gas and LNG remains essential to current supply stability, CES+ is looking firmly ahead. The most exciting development in the business today is the proposed transformation of the Rough gas storage facility into the world’s largest hydrogen storage site—a project that would be a game-changer for both CES+ and the UK’s net zero agenda.

In a recent industry report, Centrica highlighted how large-scale hydrogen storage could reduce energy costs by up to £1 billion annually by absorbing excess renewable electricity and providing backup when generation dips. As renewables grow, so does intermittency. Hydrogen offers a way to bridge the gap—turning surplus electricity into stored energy, ready to be deployed when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow.

“At Centrica we believe wholeheartedly that the UK can reach net zero, but we’re realistic about the challenges the transition will pose. We need to be agnostic about the technology; there won’t be a single silver bullet that delivers this crucial change,” said O’Shea.

“What this report clearly demonstrates is the vital importance of hydrogen in decarbonising the UK’s energy system. By providing a way to store excess electricity, hydrogen will be crucial to managing more intermittency.”

“We now have a blueprint for the role that hydrogen could play as a very big battery in a net zero energy system, providing electricity when the wind doesn’t blow, and the sun doesn’t shine. All we need now is the green light from regulators and the government to unlock £2bn of investment to transform our existing Rough storage facility to become the world’s biggest hydrogen storage facility and start building out the energy system of the future,” he added.

This isn’t just talk. CES+ has form. With the Aldbrough site in East Yorkshire—home to several deep salt caverns used for high-pressure gas storage—Centrica is already testing the geology, technology, and commercial framework that hydrogen storage will require. The company is working with the UK Government and key industry partners to scope out how Aldbrough and Rough can become hydrogen-ready.

CES+’s advantage is scale. These are not pilot projects or isolated test beds—they are assets of national importance. In many ways, this positions CES+ uniquely in the market: not only is the company exploring innovative solutions, but it is doing so from a position of real, operational strength. It can deliver at volume, and it can do it quickly.

With a potential £2 billion investment ready to unlock, the only real barrier now is regulatory clarity. As the UK Government debates its hydrogen strategy and framework for long-duration storage, companies like CES+ are poised and ready to go.

TRUSTED OPERATOR

Part of what makes CES+ such a compelling operator is its long track record of safe, efficient, and responsive infrastructure management. The Rough facility—formerly the UK’s largest gas storage site—was brought back online in 2022 after being mothballed in 2017. Its reactivation helped the UK more than double its gas storage capacity at a critical time following the invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis.

This agility and sense of duty has not gone unnoticed. As the UK grapples with volatile international markets and the urgent need to transition to cleaner fuels, CES+ offers something rare: capability, credibility, and commitment.

Divisional Managing Director Martin Scargill, who leads CES+, has pointed to the importance of balancing commercial opportunity with long-term national interest. While other infrastructure investors are only now warming up to the realities of hydrogen storage, CES+ has already begun the engineering.

A ROLE OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE

In a time where energy security is both a domestic policy issue and a boardroom priority, CES+ is proving its value not just in operational terms, but also in its willingness to lead. Hydrogen, LNG, salt cavern storage—it’s all part of a bigger picture, where diverse technologies combine to deliver resilience and reliability. And in that picture, CES+ is painting the bold strokes.

With ambitious investments, visionary leadership, and assets that matter at a national scale, Centrica Energy Storage + is not just a participant in the UK’s energy transition—it is helping define what that transition looks like. Whether it’s through landmark deals, technological pivoting, or infrastructure renewal, this is a business that is stepping up, not standing by.