Embrace hydrogen to achieve net zero
Large-scale hydrogen storage can enable the rise of renewables while bringing benefits to local authorities, transport companies and electricity suppliers.
Opinion
Curlew – a decom object lesson
I’m baffled by the Curlew decommissioning saga that will now see the life-expired FPSO be dismantled in Norway rather than via the original arrangement whereby it was to be prepped in Dundee prior to being towed to Turkey for chopping up.
Successful innovation requires good corporate governance
The energy industry is in the midst of a deep and wide-ranging digital transformation. While Covid-19 and lower oil and gas prices have disrupted many investment programmes, the direction of travel is clear – the industry needs to continue to invest in innovation and the development and deployment of new processes and technologies. Not to do so risks being left behind.
Scotland has a problem when it comes to manufacturing net-zero technology
I could feel the long, lockdown-length hairs on the back of my neck beginning to rise and my blood pressure soar as I read the response of Steve Dunlop, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, to the report by the Scottish Government’s Advisory Group on Economic Recovery (AGER).
The human cost of Covid and commodity price crash
Energy Voice article – The Human Cost of Covid and Commodity Price Crash
A simplified planning regime for large scale energy storage developments in England and Wales
The draft Infrastructure Planning (Electricity Storage Facilities) Order 2020 was presented to Parliament on 14 July 2020. The Order follows an extensive government consultation process, looking at legislative changes that could catalyse further development of UK battery storage capacity.
Digital projects to reduce costs and offshore manning levels are progressing
Despite its rich heritage of engineering ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit, the oil and gas industry has been traditionally slow to adopt new technology. However, following the protracted downturn in recent years, this changed dramatically with companies much more open to collaborate on new technology and keen to embrace digital innovation in a bid to reduce costs and deliver ever-greater efficiencies.
Danger of a China crisis
In the world of geopolitics, it is remarkable how quickly a valued business partner can turn into the object of suspicion and candidate for sanction. The UK’s relationship with China now hangs in that delicate balance.
Making households net-zero should be the priority, not hydrogen
The EU recently produced a report addressing its strategy for delivering net zero carbon emissions by 2050 - Powering a climate-neutral economy: An EU Strategy for Energy System Integration.
Energy sector M&A and private equity investment live on, in spite of Covid
Even in this time of great uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and lower oil prices, corporate M&A and private equity investment in the energy sector is not dead.
How nuclear energy will be crucial in achieving net-zero carbon emissions post-Coronavirus
As the UK begins to emerge from lockdown, there have been calls from business leaders and senior figures in government for ‘Building Back Better’ – an initiative aimed at ensuring the Coronavirus recovery plan prioritises climate change.
Let’s use oil rig museum as platform to re-invent Aberdeen
As someone who has previously run for parliament, allow me to attempt a typical politician’s response. Converting a redundant oil platform into a major Aberdeen tourist attraction is a great idea which I support. Or, then again, perhaps not. It’s definitely one of the two. There: that’s my bases covered.
The oil market continues its cautious rally but more uncertainty lies ahead
For the oil markets, the first half of the year saw extraordinary swings in supply and demand, culminating in what is now thought to have been a staggering 22mbbpd of oversupply in April as OECD economies headed into lockdown and OPEC+ cuts dissolved. Demand fell to 78mmbpd and Saudi Arabia pumped an additional 1.6mmbpd, driving Brent down to under $10/bbl on April 21st and briefly pushing the WTI futures contract into negative territory.
Policy vacuum risks blowing Scotland’s net zero carbon drive off course
Scotland will struggle to reach its net zero carbon targets unless Holyrood takes a swift and stronger grip on planning policy surrounding the deployment of taller turbine models, as well as a permissive approach to repowering of first-generation onshore windfarms with the latest technology.
How smaller firms could adapt to survive challenging energy industry times
The future of the energy industry landscape has long been up for debate, and the effect of COVID-19, combined with the dramatic global oil price crash and its detrimental impact, has brought this to an unparalleled level.
Concerns growing over firth’s rig system
There has long been an easy way to monitor the health of the offshore oil industry. If the Cromarty Firth is hosting no drilling rigs, or only a few, then it’s in good shape.
Heartened by new opportunities
In recent times, trading conditions have been exceptionally difficult for many of us, especially in the upstream offshore construction sector. The word “unprecedented” may be over-used but it remains relevant and accurate in describing the turbulent world in which we operate writes Aidan Thirsk, sales engineer at Zupt.
Neil Gordon: Let’s have some serious conversations about value
In between the Teams and Zoom calls, which now fill our days, and the odd webinar or two, it’s becoming increasingly evident that the oil and gas industry needs to have some serious conversations about value.
Will fortune favour the brave in Nigeria’s marginal bid round?
Nigeria’s federal government launched its long-awaited marginal field bid round on June 1, a welcome development but one that faces serious challenges, writes Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, the head of commercial and business development at Asharami Energy.
Fiscal relief for upstream oil companies: what should governments consider?
The current collapse in the price of crude oil is the most extreme so far this century. It has already had significant impact on the oil industry, leading to some declarations of force majeure (examples include licenses and contracts in Iraq and the Gulf of Thailand). The question we address here is: what will the impact be on upstream producing countries? And more specifically, how should upstream countries react if companies approach them for fiscal concessions, citing marginal economics?
Green hydrogen is tomorrow’s oil
The German government has recently adopted a National Hydrogen Strategy as part of its commitment to become both a global leader in the energy transition and a market leader in technologies that support the wider ambition to achieve carbon neutrality.
Sentinel Subsea: Innovating amid Covid-19 ‘roadblock’
When lockdown was first announced, Sentinel Subsea didn’t envisage that 15 weeks later, we would have developed and secured a field trial for our second well integrity monitoring system.
Using drones to mitigate pollution losses
The development of drone technology is beginning to touch on a wide range of industries, sectors and aspects of life. Significant media attention has been dedicated both to beneficial uses of drones, such as unmanned aerial vehicle ("UAV") military reconnaissance missions, as well as the disruption which the misuse of drones can cause, such as the closure of Gatwick airport.
‘Use time wisely’ for IR35, says former Worley project manager
There has been a lot of discussion over the last 12 months about how the changes to Off-Payroll rules will impact the UK Private sector, and I have read with great interest some of the comments and foresight on what IR35 is and what it will mean to the UK contracting workforce.
Joined up thinking evident in Crown Estate Scotland’s plans
I’m intrigued. Crown Estate Scotland (CES) investing in a business park where it is claimed the accent will be on green energy.