Bell argued such a model could actually be attractive to gas plant owners as it would offer guaranteed returns for remaining in the strategic reserve, rather than an increasingly unpredictable income stream as more renewables are built. The government’s 2030 clean power plans require most of Britain’s gas plants to remain available for back-up power, but aims for them to account for no more than 5 per cent of generation.
So the argument is like the US monopoly - you get a guaranteed return, rather than being reliant on volatile gas prices. This works better when gas prices are expected to be lower over time.
I'm not sure this changes how profitable gas plants are though, as they sell their power at a markup, and they get to set the price in the market, so while the wholesale gas prices might flucatuate the margins for gas don't change so much tho, right?