Gulf’s post-Covid recovery must include sustainable development and women’s leadership
The pathways for economic recovery post Covid-19 offer plenty of opportunity for hope and potential for growth, as well as greater gender inclusivity.
Opinion
Why hydrogen energy has seduced a generation of politicians
Articles on hydrogen are commonplace in today’s scientific and general media. Hydrogen is touted as a net zero silver bullet with the following claims.
BGF: Energy transition driving M&A activity
One of the conundrums of the pandemic has been how the M&A market has carried on apace, and indeed in some parts of the economy it is very active.
North Sea Transition Deal lays foundation for innovation investment
Former Conservative prime minister Harold Macmillan’s "middle way" and New Labour’s "third way" describe an approach that seeks to occupy the "radical centre" between two extremes.
Decarbonising chemicals: a vision for a low-carbon future
With revenues projected to reach nearly $4 trillion this year alone, the chemicals sector plays a significant role in the global economy – resulting in an equally significant environmental footprint. As the largest industrial consumer of both oil and gas, and the third largest contributor of global greenhouse gas emissions, the sector has rightfully earned its ‘hard to abate’ title.
Aberdeen’s survival rests on the energy industry’s ability to adapt to change
Spring has returned to the North East of Scotland, bringing with it (slightly) better weather and a sense of renewal. Residents of Aberdeen will undoubtedly be pleased with the prospect of a fresh start, but question marks still remain over the city's ability to deal with change. Like the coming of Spring, the move from traditional fossil fuels to renewables is inevitable. However, this period of transition has put the so-called Granite City on increasingly shaky ground.
Realising MOFs’ potential
It can be difficult to imagine how science at the microscopic level is capable of making a profound impact on the world, especially when it involves new ‘wonder materials’ that are unfamiliar to us. Yet the super-adsorbing qualities of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) look set to do just that, with many touting them as the solution to some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
North Sea Transition Deal: watch out for the sting in the tail
The North Sea Transition deal, announced on March 24, has given industry a clear statement of intent for the coming decade and beyond, but the energy sector would do well to prepare itself for the inevitable legal and regulatory consequences that follow.
Wake up to threat of falling fertility
The global population of the human species in 1965 was 3.3 billion. Today the estimate is 7.85bn.
Big tests are looming in offshore wind
It’s several decades since I first wrote about the Crown Estate and its enormously influential hold over Scotland’s coastal waters. At that time, it was a virtually unknown subject. Today, it is more relevant than ever.
Ideology shot us in the foot
I spent a few weeks in the mid-70s blowing up glacial boulders on the Norwegian Statfjord field in preparation for the arrival of the Statfjord Alpha platform.
Transition through innovation for UK oil and gas sector
The UK has just become the first G7 country to agree a landmark deal to support the oil and gas industry’s transition to clean, green energy while supporting some 40,000 jobs. Patent expert Tomas Karger from IP firm Marks & Clerk, who specialises in energy, wireless power and telecoms, reflects on the North Sea transition deal.
Energy infrastructure: The Achilles’ heel of Ukraine’s energy transition
The upcoming energy transition will change approaches towards constructing power systems and their topology. Developing renewables is becoming increasingly critical as the transition away from big energy facilities based on using fossil fuels will lead to the redesign of our energy infrastructure, notably distribution grids.
Changing healthcare in Southern Africa with thermal solar
A year in to the COVID-19 pandemic, a consensus is emerging on how best to contain and treat the virus in developed and developing world contexts alike.
Offshore wind: Tackling the blade recycling challenge
The offshore wind industry has achieved feats of engineering in recent decades that helped fuel the UK’s ambitious climate change targets.
Shaping the future of HSE
This year has been incredibly tough for everyone. Covid-19 has created enormous uncertainties in every aspect of our lives that will reverberate for years. And my strong suspicion is that our society and our industry cannot go through upheavals of this nature, and simply return to life as it was before.
Now more than ever, business leaders must get ESG reporting right
Recently I was briefing one of my fellow colleagues at KPMG ahead of a meeting with a Government Minister. He asked me about ESG reporting and as I marshalled my thoughts it came home to me just how critical reporting really is to progressing this agenda.
Scotland can lead the green energy revolution in a unique year for the country
When it comes to fighting climate change, we must all stand together or fall.
Is the age of the oil and gas expat coming to an end?
The upheaval of 2020 accelerated a number of trends that were already in motion, some slower in motion than others: flexible working, digital communication and employee wellbeing to name but a few.
Change to North Sea licensing regime ‘long overdue’
News that the UK government is pondering a North Sea exploration ban has been met with howls of protest – mostly from those who’ve talked a good energy transition but haven’t done very much about it. But re-focusing the sector via progressive change to the licensing regime isn’t “virtue signaling”, as one industry insider put it. It’s downright essential - and long overdue.
Digital energy networks are the missing piece in our journey to net zero
From heat pumps to electric vehicles (EVs), recent months have seen a flurry of pledges from the government geared towards decarbonisation of the energy system. The latest came in the Chancellor’s Budget, which included increases in spend on energy innovation and high-tech projects and prototypes. While this level of ambition is welcome, the reality is that even if the entire UK population shifted to electric heating and EVs, our outdated energy networks could not meet this new level of demand for electricity. If the UK is serious about speeding up the decarbonisation of transportation and domestic energy use, the digitisation of networks should be at the top of the to-do list.
HKA: How best to use lessons from the past to optimise EPC delivery in the future?
The global EPC market was estimated to be worth over US$7.5 trillion in 2019.
While Scotland is windy, not everything blows our way
The past decade has been a tough one for Scotland’s offshore wind sector.
Big Oil: Time for a spin-off?
With Covid-19 continuing to impact the profitability of the supermajors, Ano Kuhanathan, sector advisor at trade credit insurer, Euler Hermes, argues that now is the time for the supermajors/Big Oil to start spinning off their renewables divisions.
Capturing a golden opportunity for Scotland
Since 1980, Peterhead Power Station, in the North East of Scotland, has played an essential role in keeping the lights on across the country. This has rarely been more evident than over the last year, with our critical workers ensuring the station continues to provide the energy needed throughout the coronavirus pandemic.