Energy Voice – Out Loud

EVOL:Sunsets on Yousaf, Shell sheds light on New York listing and where will solar shine?

Events season is upon us, and so are supermajor Q1 results. If the news cycle wasn’t busy enough, Scotland’s first minister handed in his notice this week, so Ryan, Ed and Michael have their work cut out for them.
 
Ryan kicks off this week’s conversation with the situation at Holyrood and how energy transition policy played a part in Humza Yousaf’s downfall. This ties into the wider talking points heard across the industry that scoring political points will delay a just transition.  
 
Is Shell looking to list in New York? The supermajor’s CEO says it is on the cards but unlikely. Michael has been keeping track of the London-listed firm’s Q1 results as the trio discuss the merits of looking across the pond.
 
Finally, will solar have its day in the sun? Ed has been walking the show floor at not one but two conferences this week and has been focussing on the UK’s solar market. Tying back into the political football energy has become, industry says policy could be taking the shine off of solar.
 
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: Deals, appeals and reveals

Ithaca Energy and Eni have agreed to tie up their North Sea fortunes and live happily ever after – or at least, that’s the plan. Amid the windfall tax and political uncertainty, Ithaca will be keeping its fingers crossed, while Eni secures a degree of insulation from some of the day-to-day challenges.
The Celtic Sea has potential to flesh out offshore wind plans, but the lack of port capacity is a challenge. Inevitably, the answer must involve government support, but deal certainty and contract flow are also required for progress.
And finally, Mat hit the road with an outing to Kintore this week, to gauge the mood on a proposed 3 GW green hydrogen plant. The plan has divided opinions among the locals, but it does offer part of a solution to Scotland’s offshore wind curtailment problem. 
 
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 migration, Hyperbaric concerns, and US majors eye up Guyana

Would you rather take a dip in the swimming pool of Eros nightclub, the former stomping ground of the new energy minister Justin Tomlinson, or would you rather read a book written by a prime minister that couldn’t outlast a cabbage? A lot has been going on in the UK this month but even more is happening on the global stage that is the energy sector.  
 
Allister talks us through a Penguins migration from Norway to Scotland. Unfortunately, this is not a new nature segment of the show but instead Shell has outlined plans for its first new manned vessel in the northern North Sea in a generation.  
 
Ryan discusses the closure of a hyperbaric chamber on Scotland’s west coast that will force divers with decompression sickness to make a 180 mile journey to the nearest facility in Aberdeen. This prompts the question, should firms be providing this safety critical service instead of relying on the NHS?
 
Finally, Ed discusses how Guyana is heating up with US supermajors Chevron and Exxon Mobil turning their attention to the country’s extensive oil supply. With border tensions, a royal navy warship and deals being discussed, Guyana is a place to watch.  
 
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:Aramco dips, another Pemex disaster and Harbour vs cigs

Saudi Aramco ditched around one third of its jackups this week in a sign that the oil-rich state is demonstration of a move away from some of its grandiose visions. The market remains tight, with South East Asia likely to provide a home for spare capacity. Whether the North Sea, beset by windfall tax woes, can secure some of these newly idle jackups remains to be seen.
Pemex reported another offshore disaster this week, just in the latest in a long line of incidents for the Mexican company. The company has well recognised challenges, but something must be done to improve health and safety.
Ryan brings things to a close with Harbour Energy’s chief medical officer waging war on smoking. Tobacco is certainly bad, but can the company win this offensive and what may it cost? 
 
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: Colombia hold up, Super Puma remembrance and what to do about the gas grid?

It may be Easter week but that does not mean the news has slowed down, Energy Voice reports may not be hunting for eggs but they have found some interesting stories. 
 
Allister kicks off this week by telling the tale of UK workers being held at gunpoint in a Colombian shopping mall. Elemental Energies is working with local police to catch the perpetrators but this raises questions about the safety of working abroad. 
 
Ryan was in attendance at the 15th anniversary service of the Super Puma crash that claimed the lives of 16 men in 2009. He touches on the impact this had nationally but, more specifically, how it still effects the north-east of Scotland. 
 
Finally, Ed asks some big questions on the future of the UK's gas grid. Is Hydrogen an option? It seems less likely than some of our columnists would like. Will those who cannot afford heat pumps see rising bills as the grid sees less demand? Politicians seem to be shying away from the topic as the country looks to a general election.
 
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.

The Energy Transition Mission: With Scottish Enterprise

David Rennie, Head of Low Carbon Energy at Scottish Enterprise, joins Energy Voice editor, Allister Thomas to discuss their energy transition mission. Discover the scale of the market opportunity and how Scotland's legacy in oil and gas can work to its advantage in the move to Net Zero. With special guests Richard Knox, chief executive officer at Verlume, and Stuart Gardiner, group operations director at Hydrasun. 
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: Time to pick up the pace on CCUS – with Ruth Herbert

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is the kind of industrial opportunity that comes around once in 200 years, according to the chief of an industry trade association.
Ruth Herbert, CEO of the CCSA, joins the Energy Voice team for this week’s podcast, setting out the jobs opportunity for the UK with CCUS, and why we need to pick up the pace if we don’t want to see investment go overseas instead.
Then Ed and Allister dig in to talk of a UK “super-super grid” and Eni UK’s mooted merger with Ithaca Energy. 
 
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: Cancelled hydrogen, electricity backbone and speed dating

What do Vattenfall, Kate Middleton and Repsol have in common? They all feature in this week’s EVOL.
It’s mixed fortunes for Aberdeen as the city sees a new £9m floating wind test centre opening just days after Vattenfall prematurely culls its HT1 hydrogen development.
It’s big picture stuff for the national grid as a £58bn vision is set out on how to get the system caught up for offshore wind.
And it’s project news at OEUK’s shairfair as the team delve in to updates from Repsol and Equinor, along with a delayed payment warning to the industry. 
 
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: Living the REMA, troubled waters for Paris targets and new frontiers

It’s been a big week for announcements on electricity market reform. Ed explains the implications of government plans to keep unabated gas plants on the grid beyond 2030 and a shift to zonal electricity pricing.
Ryan sifts through a report that finds North Sea nations are largely unaligned with Paris Agreement targets – but the team have some questions over the metrics.
And Andrew surveys some of the emerging frontiers in offshore wind, with some key markets and auctions to watch in 2024.
 
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: Kwasi, Windfall Tax and Norway

The team start this week with the latest on the tragic crash off Norway. New details from the investigation have emerged, painting a clearer picture of the incident and driving home the risks which offshore workers take in this industry.
Once again the EVOL team is on windfall tax watch as Jeremy Hunt extends the levy to 2029 – the fourth fiscal change in two years. With Labour circling ahead of a general election, how long before we’re back here?
And Ed’s been speaking to Kwasi Kwarteng about his brief stint as chancellor,  his views on the North Sea fiscal regime and the journey to grid up the UK. 
 
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.