By Gavin Farquhar, partner and specialist in marine law at Pinsent Masons
As the UK and other countries seek to seize the potential in Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW), the nascent technology offers diversification opportunities for the oil and gas industry and the supply chain.
By Bob Ruddiman, partner and global head of oil and gas, Pinsent Masons
Disruption can bring opportunities, and those businesses which have a mindset of accepting opportunities thrown up from the unwelcome disruption caused by Covid-19 will survive and thrive, while new businesses will emerge to capitalise on these opportunities.
Emerging technologies will be key to delivering the Government’s decarbonisation strategy and 2050 zero-carbon target, according to energy experts at Pinsent Masons.
By Gary McGovern, Partner and planning specialist at Pinsent Masons
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.
A Scottish trade union boss has accused Holyrood of “surrendering” in its fight to win local renewables jobs from big North Sea offshore wind projects.
By Alan Cook, Partner and renewable energy specialist at Pinsent Masons
The starting gun has been fired for investors and developers seeking new offshore wind opportunities in Scottish waters with the launch of the ScotWind Leasing programme.
The debate on how best UK businesses can safely return to work is gathering pace - and volume - with employers now carefully picking through the various advice, regulations and laws put in place by Westminster and Holyrood to counter the impact of Covid-19.
North-east energy sector chiefs largely welcomed an extension of the UK Government furlough scheme, but cautioned it may do little to roll back the tide of oil and gas redundancies.
The global oil industry is facing its biggest crisis in peacetime in 100 years, as the toxic combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and oversupply drive prices to record lows.
Employment lawyers have criticised a lack of clarity in the government’s coronavirus jobs retention scheme, highlighting it is unlikely to prevent “difficult decisions” for the oil and gas sector.
By Claire Scott, legal director and employment energy specialist, Pinsent Masons
The furlough scheme is certainly helpful to energy sector employers and employees but there are some grey areas which mean businesses and individuals may not benefit as was intended.
A compelling line-up of speakers has been confirmed for an event aiming to put issues surrounding diversity and inclusion centre stage in the oil and gas sector.
The energy sector gender pay gap (GPG) remained relatively high last year thanks in part to the traditionally male-dominated oil and gas sector – but the changing nature of employment could offer the chance to change that.
In Aberdeen this week more than 36,000 global oil and gas professionals have gathered to debate, lecture, promote and celebrate the achievements of the energy industry at the biennial SPE Offshore Europe conference and exhibition.