Energy Voice – Out Loud

The Megawatt Hour – Episode 10: Back to the future

In our tenth and final episode we look to sum up our energy storage journey so far, recapping some of the most important learnings from the series and setting out where energy storage is headed in 2024.
On our way we’ll revisit the ins and outs of batteries and other storage technologies, the ups and downs of the power market and the meanders of the policy landscape.
Joining Energy Voice’s Andrew Dykes and BDO corporate finance partner David Bevan to help scan the past, present and future of the sector are John Twomey, director of customer connections at National Grid, and Joe Warren the founder and managing director of Powervault.
The Megawatt Hour is a special podcast series brought to you by Energy Voice Out Loud in paid partnership with BDO.
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Looney, Lifeboats and COP28

A big week before the Xmas break kicks in – and we begin with Bernard Looney’s remuneration package. He’s the third of four BP CEOs to resign in some form of scandal - can the supermajor break the curse?
HSE questions are being asked around the North Sea workforce after our exclusive revealed over a third of workers are now over the max weight for the majority of lifeboats in the UK sector. Is the industry at the sharp end of a wider societal problem?
And COP28 – a success or a COP-out? The team assess the final result of the summit in Dubai and look ahead to the next set of Conference(s) of Parties in years to come.
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Christmas comes early with offshore wind investment as Petrofac shares and North Sea licences go ’Bah humbug!’

Christmas is just around the corner, or maybe it's too early for that kind of chat. Regardless, Ryan has decided to dawn his most garish festive shirt, it's as ugly as it is cheap. However, this is not a Christmas-themed podcast so the Energy Voice trio reluctantly discuss share prices, offshore wind investment and North Sea licences.
 
Allister kicks off the on-topic discussion by diving into Petrofac's share price woes soon after the firm saw values drop by as much as 50%. With low staffing levels for such a big firm and disappointing reports as of late, maybe this isn't the work of those ever-pesky stock shorters.
 
Masdar has been splashing the cash at COP 28 with some serious investment in UK offshore wind, Ed explains. The firm looks to secure 100GW of power and turning its attention to the UK will push it towards these goals. However, there are still issues to contend with in the wind space to be considered. 
 
Finally, Ryan talks about mass relinquishments of licences in UK waters awarded in 2020's 32nd round, this could be down to the usual gripes oil and gas firms have in the country, namely fiscal uncertainty. Is this going to happen with those licences awarded earlier in the year? 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

Road to ADIPEC: Sustainability and technology to COP28

It seemed that every discussion at ADIPEC had an element of COP28 involved and now it has arrived, but what can we tell about how industry is ready for change?
The Road to ADIPEC series concludes with Charlotte Wolfe-Bye, chief sustainability officer at Petronas, and Ben Cahill, senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
We talk climate finance, equality, carbon capture, political drivers and how to secure these, while also keeping eyes on the 2050 prize. It’s clear big things are afoot but, ultimately, progress will depend on creativity and collaboration to be in with a chance of tackling climate change in the fairest way possible. 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Offshore skills passports, green fertiliser and CEO CVs

The team broadcast live from another winter wonderland this week – or possibly a car park.
Allister updates us from the long wait at Skills Passport control, with a solution now looking likely in 2024. The move to align training standards for oil and gas and offshore wind is a key component of the energy transition, but what’s taking so long?
With COP28 on the agenda, Ed spoke with some Moroccan fertiliser manufacturers about how green ammonia could the future of its business, in a rare sign of demand-led hydrogen production.
And Andrew brushes up his CV and takes a look at the competition as BP’s search for a CEO continues - with the supermajor at a crossroads between continuity candidates and fresh strategic direction.
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Grangemouth, E-FWD and decom clash

The team assemble (in person!) for a rundown of the week’s going’s on – and there’s been a lot of them.
Andrew Dykes leads on job fears and future scenarios for Scotland’s last oil refinery, Grangemouth.
Ed’s got a new report on the state of CCUS, and teases EV’s new E-FWD venture. . .
And Allister brings us the latest from the Fairmont St Andrews, where OEUK had just had its big decom conf. 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: Super regulator, wind bailouts and Tullow’s turn

The AGCC has proposed a new regulator to oversee the energy industry, safe from political interference. Ryan takes us through the pros and cons of the plan, although a comparison to the Bank of England falls slightly on deaf ears.
The German government stepped in this week to help tide Siemens Energy over, which has been dragged down by some of its wind unit’s woes. For now, it seems the price of keeping supply chains running is 15 billion euros in loans and guarantees.
Tullow has managed some deft financing this week, bringing in Glencore to provide a $400mn facility, even while warning that production will not hit expectations. Despite missing its targets, there are some signs that Tullow’s execs are righting the ship ahead of the debt cliff edge in 2025-26. 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.
 

EVOL: Penguins protest, Rosebank sale and low-carbon crude

Why is Shell suing Greenpeace? That question and more on this weeks EVOL as the team dive into the latest clash between the oil major and NGO on the Penguins North Sea FPSO.
The pod squad also talk reports of Equinor seeking a sale of a portion of its stake in the Rosebank oilfield in the West of Shetland.
And there’s a new “low carbon” crude coming out of Nigeria – but will it make a big difference to the emissions profile of the product? 
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: US wind impairments, LNG delays and grounded helis

While this quarter’s earnings fortnight has ushered in big deals in US oil and gas, it has also spelled out big trouble for US offshore wind.
Andrew breaks down the impact of some major writedowns by the likes of BP, Equinor and Orsted, all of whom have taken significant charges – and even more cancellations - on their US offshore wind plans.
Ed finds further headwinds across the Atlantic, where BP looks to be cooling on the next phase of its Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG development. Is it supply chain woes or a bigger question around future LNG demand?
And Ryan keeps this week grounded - much like a growing number of S-92 helicopters, where problems with access to components maintenance backlog have prompted an unusually direct warning from the international operator community.
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.

EVOL: The fuel of the future, and it always will be

It’s an all-hydrogen special this week with the EVOL team digging through the ups and downs of quite how the fuel will play a part in the energy transition.
Shell has cut back its hydrogen plans, citing a sharper focus on profits. The company is shedding around 200 jobs in the low-carbon solutions business, Andy explains, highlighting some of the hydrogen challenges in particular.
Ryan spent his Thursday at a conference on hydrogen in Aberdeen. While there was some positive news of support from the government for the NZTC, the overall picture remains confused about the UK’s hydrogen future.
The UK appears to have lost some of its early lead on hydrogen, while the US and European Union appear much more committed. ITM Power opened an office in Germany this week, shortly after launching in the US.
It’s clear costs will need to come down for hydrogen, both in terms of production and transportation. ACWA Power set out an ambitious plan to liquefy hydrogen and export to the Port of Amsterdam, drawing some incredulity from one member of the EVOL team but to reach our net zero goals, the industry is going to need to try some big swings. 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscribe.