Energy Voice – Out Loud

EVOL: Lindsey mystery man, Findlay at Hunting, and ScottishPower's pivot

We discuss the Lindsey oil refinery's mysterious bidder and ScottishPower's shift from offshore wind to grid projects amid a turbulent fiscal landscape. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay also gives us his two cents on the state of energy businesses in the country.
 
This week’s episode features Energy Voice’s Ryan Duff and Michael Behr, with E-FWD editor Ed Reed making a triumphant return. 
 
Up first, the trio discuss Marc Amram, the man proposing a public-private partnership to take over the Lindsey refinery after its previous owner, Prax, fell into administration. He has tabled an offer to the government that appears to be very one-sided, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has since refused. There is a lot to unpack in this one, but the main question is, 'Who is Marc Amram?'
 
Next up Russell, Findlay speaks with Ryan about some of the issues energy businesses in Aberdeen are facing. This prerecorded interview was held at Hunting's Badentoy facility soon after the firm announced it would be moving manufacturing operations from there to its new Dubai site. 
 
Finally, Ed talks us through his latest reporting on ScottishPower as the Spanish-backed firm appears to be shifting its focus from offshore wind to grid connection contracts. Interestingly, ScottishPower parent company, Iberdrola, does not appear to be following the same strategy in its native Spain. Is this due to market pressures in the UK or has ScottishPower seen something others haven't

EVOL: Wood gives Gilmartin the boot, Worley talks AI, and delays, delays, delays

We discuss the news that Wood's chief executive, Ken Gilmartin, is set to leave and the recent delays announced by both the UK government and the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA).
Worley's Fabricio Sousa also swings in past to discuss all things artificial intelligence (AI). This week's episode features Energy Voice’s Ryan Duff and Michael Behr, with editor Mark Selby making an appearance in a prerecorded interview.
First up, Michael gets us caught up on all things Wood as the beleaguered services giant looks to close its takeover saga with one last twist in the tale, Ken Gilmartin's exit. Admittedly, this might not be the biggest surprise, but what may shock some is his permanent replacement, Iain Torrens, who was initially brought in as interim CFO earlier this year.
Next up, we hear from Mark and Fabricio as they discuss what served to be a major theme of the Gastech Exhibition & Conference this year, AI. The pair discuss the role of AI in driving the imminent boom in global power demand – and what that actually means for both energy and related industry. Finally, Ryan and Michael discuss a series of delays that were reported this week. Up first, Deltic's takeover at the hands of Viaro hit a stumbling block as the NSTA overshot its deadline to approve licences changing hands. Also, the Outer Dowsing and Morecambe offshore wind farms were told that the date of their development consent order decisions had been delayed until after next month's budget. There are a lot of moving parts in the energy sector right now, so what does this mean for future mergers and acquisitions in oil and gas and the likelihood of the UK hitting its clean power 2030 targets?

Energy Voice Live Hull: Humber has the clean energy ingredients

Expert panellists including Nexos chief executive Scott McGinigal, National Gas supply chain and commercial director Daniel McAteer, Centrica new energies director Hazel Paige and Siemens Gamesa plan director Andy Sykes were all asked whether the Humber has all the ingredients to meet the 2050 clean-energy targets.
Taking in jobs, geography and willpower alone, the answer is a resounding yes.
But on final investment decisions (FID), the key ingredient in every major ambition, questions still remain.

Road to ADIPEC 2: Resilience and adaptation

What does a resilient energy system look like? Different parts of the world can – and should – be thinking differently about how to meet domestic needs.
Chris Hudson, president of DMG Events, and Joseph McMonigle, president of the Global Center for Energy Analysis, join this second episode of Road to ADIPEC to dig into the big questions around energy.
As the energy sector readies for ADIPEC, held in Abu Dhabi from 3-6 November, the Road to ADIPEC sets the scene for what will come.

EVOL: West of Shetland shakeups and Labour take the fight to Reform

We discuss some major West of Shetland updates and the Labour Party conference, while the World Bank offers its two cents on flaring.
This week features Energy Voice’s Ryan Duff, Mathew Perry, and Floyd March. Kicking things off, Ryan discusses Serica's takeover of the Lancaster field, the Greater Laggan Area (GLA) and the Shetland Gas Plant. This £19 million deal sees the firm deliver on its merger and acquisition (M&A) ambitions at a bargain price. On the same morning as news broke about the UK's latest M&A deal, Shell announced that it had kicked off production at Victory, which utilises GLA infrastructure. We'd be remiss to not mention Equinor resubmitting the environmental impact assessment for Rosebank, something Mat gave us all the details about. Long story short, it's all kicking off in the West of Shetland region.
Next up, our editor Mark Selby spoke with Zubin Bamji, manager for the World Bank’s Global Flaring & Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership. The pair discussed the World Bank's progress to date in tackling the underlying issues around flaring and the likelihood of hitting the 2030 target while on the show floor of Milan's Gastech conference.
Finally, Floyd gets us caught up with all things energy from the Labour Party conference, however, it appears Keir Starmer was more interested in fighting the growing support for Reform. That being said, a fracking ban was announced by Ed Miliband, something that is sure to rile up Farage.

Gastech Bludigit

Energy companies are keen to talk up the game-changing benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) but how many actually live and breathe it? Energy Voice editor Mark Selby spoke to Serena Delli, lead data architect and AI specialist at Milan-based energy distribution tech company Bludigit to learn how digital innovation and transformation is helping to revolutionise efficiency and safety within the sector.

Gastech DMG

Speaking backstage at Gastech in Milan, Energy Voice editor Mark Selby spoke to DMG Events president Chris Hudson about the global trends at play across the conference. With the impact of growing power demand from Artificial Intelligence being felt across every sector, Mark and Chris explored the implications for energy and how Gastech's themes will play out on the road to ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi.

Labour on the brink, Trump hates more windfarms, and women of geothermal unite!

Tune into this episode of Energy Voice Out Loud to hear news editor Erikka Askeland and reporter Mathew Perry discuss the Labour’s energy policy difficulties as it heads to its party conference. Energy Voice reporter Michael Behr unveils the US president’s latest attack on European offshore wind developers. Then Mat meets up with trade body Geothermal UK to find out why this technology is so hot in Scotland.

EVOL X Verlume and the Kraken

You'll like to be under the sea for this podcast with Richard Knox, the CEO of one of the UK's most innovative subsea technology companies.
The founder of Verlume tells Energy Voice news editor Erikka Askeland how his firm has forged meaningful partnerships in order to evolve and grow their strategy. The latest of these is with Kraken Robotics and together the firms are pioneering subsea intelligence applications that would astound a Bond villain.

Road to Adipec 1: AI’s promise and pressure points

How is AI reshaping the energy sector? AIQ CEO Dennis Jol and Cognite EVP for AI Francois Laborie sit down ahead of ADIPEC to reflect on how new technologies will transform traditional workflows and open new paths.
We dig into trust for AI, what the impact may be and how the complexities of this radical new technology may play out for the energy sector.