Dash for gas sees 30 new gas power plants by 2030 It will also raise questions about Britain's dependence on potentially expensive imported gas at a time when rising gas costs have been blamed for soaring household energy bills. But the plans will cheer those who believe a shale gas boom could keep prices down in Europe and make a cheaper alternative to renewables and nuclear. Mr Osborne will this week confirm he is consulting on tax breaks for shale gas in the UK and will establish an Office for Shale Gas. Adding to fears over costs of nuclear, EDF said on Monday that the price of its much-delayed Flamanville reactor in France had risen by a further €2bn, to €8bn. EDF plans to build the same reactor design at Hinkley Point in Somerset. EDF said that its cost estimate for Hinkley Point - which it has provided to the Government for subsidy negotiations but has not publicly disclosed - "already include the lessons learned from Flamanville."