The need for clean growth and the future of the energy industry across the next 30 years were two of the discussion topics at recent ‘Shaping the Future’ workshops.
The Young Professionals branch of the Energy Institute in Aberdeen, Highlands and Islands (EIYPN AHI), in partnership with the Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) recently hosted two interactive workshops at the Centre’s state-of-the-art Innovation Hub. The workshops were identical except for their audiences: one was for young professionals working in professional services and the other for those in technical roles. The event was sponsored by Nexen Petroleum UK Limited, who are the EIYPN AHI’s Annual Sponsor for 2018.
Clean growth was the theme of the workshops considering the ambitious targets set by the Scottish Government for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. To realise this target, there will need to be a significant change in the energy industry and the region to shift from the ‘Oil & Gas Capital of Europe’ to the ‘Energy Capital of Europe’.
How do you think oil and gas fits in the future energy landscape?
The first group thought that the transition to low carbon energy sources such as wind, tidal, wave, hydrogen and solar would signal less dependence on fossil fuels and that they would not be used as widely for electricity production, heating and transport. They also considered improvements in efficiency, diversification, carbon capture and storage, energy storage, robotics and autonomation, the public reputation of the oil & gas market as well as a potential skills shortage for new technologies.
Those in technical roles quantified the question, noting that in the next 10 years oil and gas would account for around 80% of energy demand globally and around 50% in Scotland. They thought it would still play a key role in transport, petrochemicals and energy storage. They did agree that renewable energy will be used more widely in the future, especially in the North Sea. Ways to implement this were discussed, with examples such as green power generation offshore, efficient power storage and smart subsea grids cited as being suitable for use in the North Sea.
Charlie Booth, Project Engineer for the Oil & Gas Technology’s Small Pools Solution Centre, helped facilitate the workshop and commented: “We were delighted to host and take part in the workshop to explore the future energy industry. In all the forward demand forecasts, particularly for energy but also for feedstock, oil and gas will be important well past 2050. If you accept that oil and gas will be part of moving to a lower carbon economy, then it’s essential to have a balanced energy mix. It’s not an either or – it’s oil and gas, renewables, wind, tidal, nuclear, all providing security of energy supply for the UK cost effectively.”
How do you believe this will play out over time?
At the first workshop, the attendees felt that the energy transition was already underway and recognised that several oil & gas businesses were adapting their activity to include renewable energy, which they predicted would increase. The group felt that hydrogen would play a key role in the energy transition. The attendees highlighted that obtaining and processing high quality data was essential to managing the transition and would play a particularly important role in developing a circular economy model to re-purpose and re-use oil and gas equipment.
The technical group agreed that renewables will be used more for electricity generation and that hydrogen will be an important part of the energy future. They also highlighted that oil will increasingly be used for other products such as plastics but with a focus on recyclable and reusable products. An interesting idea discussed was the potential for society to move to a more decentralised supply strategy, meaning that local communities would become more engaged with their own localised form of energy and electricity production. There was a consensus that technology, including more efficient design, improved battery storage and smart grids would significantly change energy supply in the future.
What skills and behaviours do you think we will need?
Both workshops recognised that young professionals needed to be adaptable and boast a broad skillset to succeed in the future energy industry. At the first workshop, this was focussed on a view that young professionals may need to be willing to retrain throughout their careers to retain a relevant skillset and that a ‘one size fits all’ approach would no longer work. This group also suggested introducing technology and software, such as coding, as a mandatory element in the school curriculum.
The delegates at the second workshop felt that a broad skillset and flexible, creative working was essential to take on future challenges. They noted that transferrable skills would be essential to adapt to new technologies and roles that will be created by these innovations. They also considered future employment opportunities and agreed that there would be an increased focus on roles centred around data management and analysis.
Conclusion
The outcome from the two workshops illustrates that both groups believe that renewable and alternative energy sources will play a crucial part in the long-term future of the energy industry. In addition, everyone thought that the timeframe for the transition was gradual, but the technical group believed more strongly that the oil and gas industry will retain a strong position in the long-term. A common theme was the influence of technology and the associated skills and expertise, which were agreed to be essential going forward. These skills, alongside an openness to become ‘lifelong learners’, will equip all young professionals for a successful career within the ever-changing energy landscape of the future.
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