Energy Voice – Out Loud

EVOL: EAGE Live in Aberdeen!

This week the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers hosted its annual event in Aberdeen! This brought 6,000 people to the Granite City to discuss various aspects of the energy sector, both nationally and internationally.
Aberdeen features lead, Ryan Duff and news editor Erikka Askeland caught up with some of the delegates on the show floor, but first Erikka spoke with Katharine Descamps, offshore wind development leader for Jera Nex BP and Powerful Women ambassador; Scottish Energy Forum vice president and director of Veri Energy Donna Sutherland, and Georgina Worrall, head of Powerful Women about the group's latest.
Next, Ryan spoke with Andy Brooks, new ventures director for the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) about the future of licensing in the North Sea and how plans for the deployment of Transitional Energy Certificates (TECs) are shaping up. But that is not all the regulator is working on at the moment, the second carbon storage licensing round is set to be delivered and Andy gave insight into when we can expect to hear who the winners are. 
 
Finally, Erikka caught up with BP subsurface boss Ariel Flores about the importance of bringing the EAGE conference to Aberdeen ahead of his firm announcing its latest rig contract for drilling in the North Sea. 

EVOL: Motivated seller, the European connection and a glass of green whisky

BP wants to sell its North Sea assets, but does it really? The company is struggling to progress operations itself but the high price tag - a rumoured cool £2 billion - has posed challenges. There are ways round it, but it's going to depend on how motivated the supermajor is to find a buyer.
Meanwhile, renewables reporter Michael Behr was at OEUK’s CCS and hydrogen summit, where he spoke with the group’s energy policy director Enrique Cornejo. He shares a status update on the state of Scottish CCS and hydrogen, and how Europe will prove vital the country’s ambitions for both these technologies.
And finally, would whisky taste better if it was powered by hydrogen? That's certainly the direction plans are going in Cromarty, in light of a deal between ITM and Protium. Securing demand may well prove to be a more effective way to deliver supply, given the continued uncertainty over the much-delayed Hydrogen Strategy. Raise your glasses, please!

Energy Voice Out Loud x Brookson Legal

As part of Women in New Energy 2026, we have teamed up with title Brookson Legal for this special podcast exploring the lives and work of industry professionals.
 
This special podcast features Energy Voice news editor Erikka Askeland speaking with Lauren Belfield, associate counsel and IR35 specialist.
 
Lauren’s perspective on the evolving energy sector, the growing importance of contingent talent and specialist workforces, and how businesses can balance access to skills with the need for strong governance and compliance.
She also shares insight into her own squiggly career as part of this year’s theme, Purpose in Practice. This focuses on women’s experience in the workplace and how organisations move from discussion into meaningful action as the industry continues to transform.

EVOL: BP chairman ousted - The board strikes back

This week, Albert Manifold was sacked by the BP board, although he has disputed the allegations of misconduct. 
 
Host and Aberdeen features lead, Ryan Duff, news reporter editor Mat Perry, and E-FWD editor Ed Reed discuss the weeks headlines. 
 
The new Star Wars movie may be out, but we're interested in the Revenge of the Chairman as the board struck back against Manifold's alleged bullying. What does this mean for the future of the UK supermajor's future? Whoever the firm appoints will be a key indicator of BP's direction of travel, especially amid speculation surrounding a move from the London Stock Exchange. 
 
Next up, news editor Erikka Askeland caught up with Panmure Liberum director and oil and gas research analyst Ashley Kelty about how the UK plans to tax overseas profits from energy firms.
 
Erikka was at the Renewable Supply Chain Conference in Aberdeen where she spoke with Port of Inverness boss Sinclair Browne about the future of pumped storage hydro and how the highlands can repurpose the Caledonian Canal. She then had a conversation with David Wilson of Johnston Carmichael about how policy drivers are impacting the "change over time" nature of the energy transition. 

EVOL: Political theatre, hydrogen headaches, and crude constraints

This week, the commons threw out a proposed bill to 'get Britain drilling', the hydrogen sector offered insight into project delivery, and Wood Mac painted a bleak picture for global oil.
Host and Aberdeen features lead, Ryan Duff, news reporter editor Mat Perry, renewables reporter Micheal Behr, and North West correspondent Floyd March discuss the weeks headlines. 
Up first, Michael asks if the Conservative Party's proposed Get Britain Drilling Bill was little more than political theatre after it was shot down by a 215 MP majority. We reflect on the opposition party's approach to oil and gas and how it has positioned itself as the Labour government looks to make good on its manifest commitment of banning exploration in the North Sea. 
Next, Floyd discusses the state of play in the hydrogen sector after he attended Hydrogen Week. Although some projects have stalled due to delays in Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 announcements and the governments strategy for the fuel source, industry remained positive. 
Finally, Mat talks us through Wood Mac's latest insights into the global impacts of ongoing oil supply constraints in the wake of war in the Middle East. He highlights that although the UK may be able to weather the storm that will be high prices, other nations will not be as fortunate. 

EVOL: All Energy 2026

This week All Energy returned to Glasgow's SEC as industry bosses and thought leaders discussed the energy transition and the UK's approach to policy. 
 
Aberdeen features Lead Ryan Duff caught up with Nexos’ new chief executive, Daniel McAteer, about his firm’s recent turnover in senior leadership and how he plans to deliver growth at the Aberdeen firm.
 
He also caught up with Mark Baxter, project director of Ocean Winds’ Caledonia offshore wind farms just before the renewable energy initiative got sign off from government. Mark provided insight into how transmission charges are impacting Scottish projects.
 
The Ocean Winds project boss also detailed his ambitions to submit bids for contracts for difference for the California North wind farm. Mark explained how he hopes to secure a strike price for at least one half of the Caledonia site as he explained the issues facing floating projects as the industry looks ahead to Allocation Round 8.
 
Finally, Ryan spoke with Energy Voice columnist and former British diplomat, Greg Quinn, about the issues that prime minister Kier Starmer faced this week as Labour MPs turned their back on the party leader.

Energy Voice Out Loud x Scottish Enterprise

In this conversation, brought to you by Scottish Enterprise, Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff discusses offshore wind with Terry Hogg, innovation systems team leader for Scottish Enterprise, and Nassima Brown, strategy director at Fennex.
 
What is demand driven innovation? That is the question that kicks things off as the trio discuss Scottish Enterprise's interaction with supply chain to ensure that relevant technologies hit the market to help deliver renewable energy ambitions. 
 
The trio discuss the offerings of the state-backed investment firm while calling attention to how Fennex has benefited from engagement with Scottish Enterprise. 
 
Offshore wind has been around a while but there is still so much that can be done, and one thing is for certain, the renewable energy source is only going to accelerate as Scotland looks to deliver on its energy transition targets. 

Energy Voice Out Loud x AIZE

Energy Voice News Editor and Women in New Energy host, Erikka Askeland, sits down with Maisa Monteiro Da Cunha, delivery lead at Aize, to explore her global journey through oil and gas, offshore operations and into digital transformation.
 
From growing up in Argentina to working across Europe and the UK, Maisa shares honest insights on leadership, skills, and navigating change in a traditionally risk‑averse industry. Key themes include: - Building a career in energy without a fixed roadmap - What it’s really like to be one of the few women on site - Digital transformation, safety and sustainability offshore - Why skills matter more than job titles - Advice for the next generation of women in energy Recorded as part of Women in New Energy, Energy Voice’s flagship platform celebrating diversity, leadership and innovation across the UK energy value chain.  
 
Subscribe for more conversations with the people powering what happens next and join us at the Women in New Energy event in June. https://womeninnewenergy.com/ #WomenInNewEnergy #EnergyVoice #WomenInEnergy #EnergyCareers #DigitalTransformation #OffshoreEnergy #EnergyLeadership #EHS #EnergyTransition #WNE #EFWD

EVOL: Anywhere but the UK and EIC's Energy 360° Summit

This week the UK felt the effects of oil firms taking their investment overseas as Ineos and Shell doubled down on US spending and BP was rumoured to exit the country. Also, EIC hosted its Energy 360° Summit in London!
Host and Aberdeen features lead, Ryan Duff, news reporter editor Mat Perry, and renewables reporter Micheal Behr discuss the state of play in UK waters while news editor Erikka Askeland catches up with delegates in the big smoke.
Up first, our trio of reporters chat about what BP's potential move form the North Sea means for the market and what it's confirmation of intention to sell its stake in the East Coast Cluster means for carbon capture storage in the UK. Also, they touch on why firms are looking to other countries after Ineos made some punchy comments about UK energy policy.
Next, Erikka speaks with Neil Golding, director of market intelligence at EIC, about the outrageous fortunes of the energy technologies of the future and was surprised by his answer when she asked what his favourite clean energy technology was. She then caught up with Sam Long, chief executive of trade body Decom Mission, who talked about why decommissioning needs to get sexier and what punters can expect when Decom Week kicks of at the end of the month. And finally, for those who are interested in a sneak peak at what to expect at Offshore Europe 2027 in Aberdeen, she also caught marketing manager Michael Enser who was also at the Energy 360 Summit to parse the energy trends between now and then.

EVOL X DNV: What will it take to meet UK net zero goals?

Listen to this special podcast with energy expert DNV on why the UK will fail to meet its climate targets in 2030, 2035, and 2050 and what energy investors and policy makers can do about it.
Featuring DNV head of operations Jack Downie along with supply chain expert Donna Sutherland, head of commercial at Veri Energy, this podcast was recorded in Aberdeen, the UK’s energy capital, to discuss DNV’s fourth powerful Energy Transition Outlook UK. Chaired by Energy Voice news editor, Erikka Askeland, this episode of Energy Voice Out Loud discusses the powerful momentum in renewables and electrification while also highlighting the UK’s stark choice of whether it uses its domestic oil and gas or imports it as it makes the transition.