Energy Voice – Out Loud

EVOL X Aspen Technology: Network model management

In this episode of Aberdeen, features lead Ryan Duff is joined by Alan McMorran, senior director for digital grid management at Emerson's Aspen Technology Business.
 
The duo discuss the grid and its ever-changing role in the energy transition as utilities feel an increasing need to manage their energy systems. 
 
Although Ryan and Alan are both Scottish, the sports chat was kept to a minimum to avoid bringing down the mood; however, they might have gotten that conversation past McMorran's American colleagues, given their accents. 
 
Instead, they discussed network model management and how Alan's first business developed the technology that allows people in the north of Scotland to report power outages to SSEN and how crowdsourcing will continue to play its part in the evolution of the grid. 
 
All in all, we are going to need a more adaptive and resilient grid as energy production and usage both shift.

EVOL: OEUK Conference 2025

This week, Energy Voice was out in force at the OEUK Conference 2025 in Aberdeen. Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff spoke with former Wood cheif executive Bob Keiller and Anasuria Operating Company CEO Richard Beattie.
 
Richard and Ryan had quite the chin wag, so their conversation spans the first two segments of this week's half-hour show. First off, the duo discuss the future of UK operations and licencing as the UK awaits clarity on regulation. This week, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) released a report which found there are still 7.5 billion barrels left in the North Sea that UK operators could get after. 
 
Next up, tax and lobbying were the topics of conversation. Tax has been a grip of the UK industry for some time now and that has not changed as it awaits the results of a consultation which will determine the tax regime for 2030 onwards. 
 
Finally, Bob and Ryan discuss job losses and how they are impacting Aberdeen's city centre. Although Bob is sympathetic to those impacted by job losses in Aberdeen's energy sector, he believes that is not what is keeping people away from Union Street.  

EVOL: North Sea Scope 3, Global Offshore Wind and Iran-Israel conflict

This week on Energy Voice Out Loud, the team discuss some progress on the stalled Rosebank and Jackdaw projects in the North Sea.  
Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff joins reporter Mathew Perry and E-FWD editor Ed Reed to discuss new environmental impact assessment guidance for offshore oil and gas developments issued by the UK government.  
Will Rosebank and Jackdaw be able to clear the tightened approvals process in the wake of the Finch Supreme Court ruling on downstream emissions?  
Next, Next news editor Erikka Askeland spoke to Peterhead Port's Keith Mackie at launch of the Peterhead Energy Transition Forum which estimates energy investment in the region will hit £1billion over the next ten years. It comes hot on the heels of £200m for the Acorn project at St Fergus and a green light for investment zone status in the latest spending review. 
And finally, Ed and Ryan discuss the recent conflict between Iran and Israel and the impact the ongoing instability is having on global energy markets. 

EVOL X Siemens Energy UK

Energy Voice caught up with Darren Davidson, vice president of Siemens Energy UK&I. He tells us how he started his career as an apprentice before rising through the ranks to leading one of the UK's most significant energy industry companies. Recently UK energy secretary Ed Miliband chose Davidson's wind turbine factory in Hull to launch his clean power 2030 plan, highlighting just one area of the company's successful green energy growth stories in the UK. 

EVOL X Women in New Energy, featuring Onboard Tracker

Welcome to a special episode of Energy Voice Out Loud where you can hear two female leaders from Onboard Tracker in conversation with news editor Erikka Askeland discussing a range of topics including why empathy in both the energy industry and data management is key.
 
Tanya Harley, Product Manager and Renée de Leau, Implementation Consultant, highlight how the crew management system tracks 150,000 people across 110 countries. The Aberdeen-based company boasts a 50/50 split of male and female employees which means getting on board with WINE makes sense.

EVOL X Women in New Energy, featuring STATS GROUP

Tune into this special Women in New Energy (WINE)-themed podcast with executives from episode sponsor STATS Group.
Energy Voice news editor Erikka Askeland speak to Joanna Mountford, business development manager on her career journey and how attending the WINE event in Aberdeen last year gave her the kick she needed to take back control of her career. We also speak to Laura Scott, group HR manager on the initiatives the global firm is implementing to ensure gender equity.
 

EVOL: Acorn support, Ocean Winds graduation, and Reform on reactors

This week, Energy Voice Out Loud (EVOL) looks at the UK's spending review as Scottish energy secretary Gillian Martin says "we need more welders", and a former oil worker writes to Nigel Farage for support. 
First up, the EVOL trio of Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff, reporter Mat Perry, and E-FWD editor Ed Reed discuss Westminster's support for Acorn. It finally happened, the UK government committed to stumping up cash for the Acorn and Viking CCS projects, however, its spending review document was a little light on details. It's worth noting that after this week's recording session, Ed Miliband appeared in Peterhead to announce £200m for Acron.
Next up, news editor Erikka Askeland spoke with Gillian Martin about the importance of welders in the energy transition as the first cohort of learners on a welding and fabrication pilot training scheme graduated as part of a £100,000 program funded by Ocean Winds.
Finally, we discuss Reform UK and its support for nuclear (which seems to be aligned with Labour's love of reactors) and its disdain for turbines. However, when Reform gets into power, is it really as against the "utter madness" of net zero as leader Nigel Farage lets on?
 

Gigawaters 03: Working in harmony

The third episode of Energy Voice’s Gigawaters series explores the next phase of the UK’s offshore wind rollout – the new processes and systems needed to meet future challenges.
EV renewables reporter Michael Behr is joined by The Crown Estate managing director for marine Gus Jaspert and Orsted UK country manager Benj Sykes to explore how offshore wind can work in a busy North Sea. The needs of fishing, shipping and defence; coastal communities; and of course, the environment, all need to be considered for projects to work in harmony with ocean users.
They discuss how the UK needs to adopt a more systematic approach to reaching the UK’s clean energy goals ahead of 2030, and how all sides need to interact to ensure the country maintains its lead in offshore wind.

EVOL: Energy Exports Conference 2025

This week, news editor Erikka Askeland and Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff attended the Energy Industries Council's (EIC) Energy Exports Conference in Aberdeen.
 
The show provided insight into how the UK is stacking up to other nations in the energy transition as Bureau Veritas launched its latest report and Aberdeen's Blazewe was honoured at an awards dinner. 
 
Erikka spoke with Ann Johnson, director of Blaze Manufacturing Solutions, about the award and her firm's journey to it, as well as plans for the North Sea and further afield. Next, Erikka caught up with Verlume CEO Richard Knox to talk about his business' export opportunities as he looks to capitalise on recent success.
 
Ryan McPherson, EIC's regional director and general manager for the Middle East, Africa and CIS, joined us in our Aberdeen studio ahead of the event to share his insights. 
 
Finally, Ryan spoke with EIC CEO Stuart Broadley about his key takeaways from the event on its last day. He said that some of the solutions to the UK's policy problems may be able to be found by looking to other nations and their approach to the energy transition. 

EVOL x Bureau Veritas: Live at EEC

In this podcast, recorded live on the show floor of the Energy Exports Conference, Energy Voice Out Loud speaks with Bureau Veritas about its role as the event's Strategic Partner and the launch of the Energy Transition Forum.
Aberdeen Features Lead Ryan Duff speaks with market lead for renewable energy and major projects (CCS), Darren Taylor, and energy and engineering director, Sammy Tweddle.
The trio discuss pessimistic energy transition sentiment in the face of back-to-back record-breaking years for renewables roll out, offshore wind supply chain constraints and  the UK nuclear sector's permitting woes.