Offshore staff
LONDON – Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has outlined its approach for helping the UK safeguard energy supplies going forward.
The document “Reliable and Responsible Partners: A Plan for Clean and Secure Energy” lists steps and recommendations for the UK Government covering the near, mid and long-term.
These include:
- Making the most of responsible and reliable energy partners, including the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry, which according to the association can support around 40% of UK gas consumption and the equivalent of more than two thirds of its oil consumption throughout the next two years.
- Taking decisions rapidly and prioritizing development of the UK’s oil and gas resources to supports a reduced carbon footprint, as outlined in the North Sea Transition Deal (NSTD).
- Widening gas specification – currently narrower than in most countries in the EU – to increase the volumes of gas that could be delivered to the system from existing production.
- Ensuring long-term fiscal stability and predictability to support OEUK members’ investment decisions.
It will also be important to adopt low carbon energy solutions and to reduce the need for imported fossil fuels, OEUK said. That means:
- Committing to a planned energy transition as UK offshore oil and gas output declines.
- Increased storage, which could be reconfigured for the future deployment of hydrogen.
- Supporting a £16-billion ($21-billion) investment in cleaner energy including hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage.
- Stepping up offshore wind and electrification of the UK’s oil and gas platforms with more UK gas directed to consumers rather than being used to power offshore operations.
Finally, through the existing NSTD, priorities should include:
- New energy legislation to enable CCUS and hydrogen to achieve their full potential and accelerate development of renewable energy capacity
- Setting an ambitious outcome for hydrogen in a commercial or residential setting, as well as transport
- Supporting the UK offshore sector’s supply chain.
3/28/2022