Energy Voice – Out Loud

This week Ryan and Mat have been swanning about St Andrews as OEUK hosted its Offshore Decommissioning Conference. They have been hearing all of the 'C words' while Erikka has been keeping tabs on court cases and jobs promises.
First off, Mat runs through Offshore Energies UK's decommissioning report which found firms spent more by doing less in 2023. While Mat kept his finger on the pulse, Ryan was "chatting up a bird" in the form of Khaleesi, the gyrfalcon.
OEUK's decommissioning manager Ricky Thomson caught up with the Energy Voice team to discuss what the trade body aims to do in wind. The group is looking to bring the expertise of the UK's supply chain into the offshore wind sector.
Finally, Erikka has been keeping herself warm in Aberdeen this week by typing as quickly as her finger can manage. She has been keeping tabs on GB Energy's commitment to 2-300 jobs in Aberdeen, a significant decrease from the 1,000 that had previously been promised. Additionally, Viaro Energy's CEO has been enrolled in a court case as his previous employer claimed he forged documents to steal millions.

Ed is back from ADIPEC and is set to regale Ryan and Mat with tales from Abu Dhabi while Shell, Equinor and Ithaca appear in court and Delitc looks to farm down Selene. 
First up this week Mat discusses the comings and goings of Europe's courtrooms as oil firm lawyers have been discussing scope three emissions. Since the outcome of the Supreme Court's Finch Case downstream environmental impact is under the microscope and this has led to the approval of Shell's Jackdaw and Equinor and Ithaca's Rosebank coming into question.
Next up, Ryan tells us about his chat with Deltic Energy's new CEO Andrew Nunn as he discusses potentially reducing the firm's 25% stake in the Selene project in order to reach final investment decision (FID). This comes months after Delic was unable to find a partner for its massive Pensacola project in the North Sea but Nunn says this is a different kettle of fish.
Finally, Ed is back from his jolly in the Middle East. He was only recording podcasts, interviewing delegates, attending panels, hosting discussions and meeting the world's energy industry... there can't be that much he has to say.

Welcome to the third season of Gigawaters, an Energy Voice podcast in partnership with Orsted and hosted by renewables reporter, Micheal Behr. 
This four part series will explore everything from innovation and decarbonisation to the impact on biodiversity and local communities.
First up in the series, Alex Louden, Ørsted senior ventures and open innovation specialist, and Mary Harvey, from the Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind team explore the importance of innovation

 
Technology is a continuing interest in the Middle East and one that Cammy Booth, at Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), has first-hand experience. The UK-backed group has had successes in bringing Adnoc together with innovators, concluding a sulphur competition at the Adipec show.

Expro has been operating in the Middle East and North Africa for around 20 years. Ingrid Huldal and James Yard get together with EVOL to share some thoughts around the region. While the region is strong on oil and gas, there is a growing desire to decarbonise and move into sustainable practices.

Is the UK government doing all it can to support exports? For Stuart Broadley, CEO of Energy Industries Council (EIC), the answer is resounding no. Speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded Adipec in Abu Dhabi, Stuart sets out his thinking around some of the opportunities - and challenges - of entering a tough market.

Hydrogen has faced challenges but clearly has a role to play in tackling hard-to-abate sectors. Responding to this need, OPITO has launched a new hydrogen training course, the company's Lucie Booth explained on the sidelines of Adipec

This week on Energy Voice Out Loud, Ryan and Mat discuss the US presidential election and what Trump’s win could mean for the UK energy sector.  
Plus, the NSTA is poised to reveal a new TWIST for decommissioning. What impact could it have on operators and the North Sea supply chain?  
Then, we’re off to Abu Dhabi to hear from E-FWD's Ed Reed on the ground at ADIPEC.  
And finally, Ryan and Mat discuss the launch of a new mental health consultancy focused on improving the wellbeing of offshore workers.  

Despite the significant progress made in connecting the world’s population to the grid, nearly two billion people globally do not have access to clean cooking fuels.  
Talking to Energy Voice Out Loud, on the third episode of the Road to ADIPEC series, Ipieca climate director Lorena Perez discusses the role of the oil and gas sector in advancing the UN’s sustainable development goals alongside the energy transition. 
“The urgency, and the challenge, is too big and too complex just to try and face it alone and it will require unprecedented collaboration across all sectors and countries,” Perez said.  
"It will require all parties and all technologies and all solutions to play their part.” 
ADIPEC will take place in Abu Dhabi from November 4 to 7. This is the third episode in the Road to ADIPEC series.   

This week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the Labour government’s first budget since taking office amid intense scrutiny from the North Sea oil and gas sector.  
Kicking off this week’s episode, Energy Voice’s Erikka, Ryan and Mat unpack what it meant for the UK energy sector and the reaction from the offshore industry as Reeves confirmed changes to the windfall tax. Was it a Nightmare on Downing Street?  
Next up, Hydrogen Scotland held its annual conference in Glasgow this week and Mat discusses the key takeaways from the event, including positive signals from the German government on a green hydrogen export pipeline.  
Finally, amidst the budget bonanza supermajors BP, Shell and TotalEnergies revealed their Q3 results this week. Erikka picks apart the results and how the firms might be looking at their North Sea operations post-budget.