Jeremy Cresswell: It’s five minutes to midnight for energy sector
Five and a half years ago, production started from phase two of BP’s Clair field West of Shetland and thoughts at the company started turning towards phase three, Clair South.
Opinion
Eliminate nuclear and gas? More questions than answers on Scotland’s baseload power
Brian Wilson takes a look at a recent Scottish Parliament committee, which had plenty of "possibilities and doubts" on the future but not a firm agenda on replacing Scotland's energy supply.
CCUS learnings from CERAWeek
You only need to have read a little of the media coverage to realise there were some clear key themes to emerge from CERAWeek 2023.
Data in Action: How the latest UK data protection bill impacts energy sector
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, a key priority for the UK Government has been to amend UK laws to reduce red-tape for business and simplify EU laws that were retained in UK law following Brexit.
A bad apple? Or, perhaps, just a bit bruised…
When we make up our mind on something or someone, we set our focus on our decision, and subconsciously, we seek validation for this opinion, therefore believing we are correct.
Disclose environmental risks or risk squandering profits
The war in Ukraine has reshaped the world’s fuel markets, with the global industry seeing historic gains from the fallout. Aramco has become the latest in a long list announcing record profits in 2023. But how long will this last?
Not a lot, nowhere, never.
The IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research) issued a statement recently accusing the UK Government of “neglecting green investment and risking the country’s position in the global race to develop and deploy green technologies.”
GUH: Clockticking for supply chain to capitalise on INTOG opportunity
Speed is now of the essence to develop local supply chain capacity as INTOG kicks in, writes Neil Gordon of the Global Underwater Hub
Nuanced net zero strategy sets course, but more funding is needed – and fast
Reaction to the UK Government’s net zero strategy has been rather muted. Some reports call it “underwhelming” or “disappointing”, but are they being unfair?
UK must turbocharge offshore energy investment, says OEUK
Picture this: It’s 2050, the UK relies on other countries for all its oil and gas supplies. Our associated emissions have skyrocketed because of our reliance on higher carbon imported energy and LNG.
Hydrogen storage – new approaches required
It’s clear that hydrogen produced from renewable energy will play an important role in supporting our transition away from fossil fuels to a low carbon energy system.
How oil and gas majors could start to reap real returns from renewable investments
The energy transition is disrupting the traditional business model of oil and gas players, and many are now responding by decarbonising and diversifying their portfolios and investing in renewable power.
Southeast Asia and its part in the global energy crunch
Talk these days about energy trends nowadays tends to focus on the crisis that has caught Europe and the West by storm. We overlook Southeast Asia at our peril.
Oil boss calls on Humza Yousaf for ‘balanced approach’ to protect jobs
Scotland now has a new First Minister and, as ever in politics, there is a bulging in tray for Humza Yousaf as he prepares to lead the country through a period of significant economic challenge.
Floating wind solutions from an unlikely ally: offshore drilling
The Scottish Government has set a target of becoming a net zero carbon nation by 2045 and is aiming to more than double its current renewable electricity generation by 2030. Its big bet to achieve this is wind power, given its low cost and the large potential for viable installations in North Sea waters.
Time to move forward with confidence to deliver on the potential of ScotWind
It is now over a year since the ScotWind leasing process created the opportunity for an additional 27.6GW of offshore wind in Scottish waters. Of the 20 projects that came through the application process, 14 are set to use floating wind turbines, positioning Scotland as a world leader in this technology. Whilst the scale of the result was eye catching, the accompanying Scottish supply chain commitments of over £28bn was perhaps the most significant result.
Chancellor’s new support will be ‘defining moment’ for UK CCS
A defining moment doesn’t happen often. But Spring Budget 2023 will likely be viewed from mid-century as the time when the UK fully committed to Carbon Capture and Storage.
Offshore wind farm logistics risk becoming a quayside carpark
HLP believes project developers will struggle to meet demand based on current logistics practices and equipment provision.
Using the takeaways from CERAweek to develop a North Sea powerhouse
It’s hard to know what to expect from 7,500 members of the global energy industry gathered in one convention centre in an American town best known for space travel, cowboys, and Tex-Mex food. Of course it was Texans, back in 1970s that came over to Aberdeen, and led the charge for drilling in the North Sea, something that they went on to do in oil and gas provinces around the world. This week however was about the energy world coming to Texas - at what has become known as the Davos of energy.
Brian Wilson: Some energy advice to an incoming First Minister
The contest to become leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland did not get off to an auspicious start. The first week was largely devoted to arguing about the place of God in politics.
Leading and learning to enhance energy sector’s HSE performance
The North Sea has been producing oil and gas for over 50 years.
Celtic Freeport: Might South Wales become floating turbine manufacturing hub for UK?
Having a bold vision between people with the chutzpah and drive to turn that into reality is a very scarce commodity in the British Isles.
Targeting widespread CCUS across Asia
Nearly every week we hear of an exciting development in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).
Financing the Transition: Why not a Scottish stock exchange?
One of my old friends, a Norwegian by the name of Reidar Niemi who ran Stolt Nielsen’s subsea business in Aberdeen in the early 80s once asked me “what the hell is the matter with your (expletive deleted) Scottish banks?”.
Analysis: What does it matter if Wood is bought out?
It hasn’t happened yet – the buyout of Aberdeen’s energy services giant Wood by an American private equity company, that is.