Energy Voice – Out Loud

EVOL: Repsol, Prax and a biofuel pause

The rumour mill has kicked into overdrive amid discussion that Repsol is considering the acquisition of NEO Energy, even while politics has overshadowed the energy sector. While some companies are moving away from the North Sea, others are choosing to stick it out, Ryan explains, on the basis that it can’t get any worse.
Prax has taken a similar line, signing a deal to buy assets from TotalEnergies in the Shetlands. The buyer has taken an innovative stance and now offers a smaller-scale integrated oil company, hoping that this will allow it to stay ahead of tough times.
Shell has pressed pause on its ambitious SAF plans in Rotterdam this week, as the company’s broader outlook for energy transition opportunities dims. The supermajor does still have enthusiasm for some transition opportunities, such as CCS, but with costs rising and the future uncertain, biofuel dreams are suffering. 
 
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: Oil and gas is paradoxical, offshore workers’ blues and AI comes to the rescue

Our latest edition of Energy Voice Out Loud looks at a new report from Norwegian firm DNV that finds oil and gas companies are actually feeling optimistic – despite the fact they are still not sure how they will be able to afford transitioning to cleaner sources of energy production.
However offshore the picture is a little more worrisome. Ryan Duff reports on the state of workers’ mental health and how drilling a well can offer some insight into helping them feel better.
Lastly, Mat Perry reports on Scottish technology firm Zelim which has developed unmanned search and rescue technology that is improving outcomes for seafarers. Testing with the US coast guard has found its AI powered detection system is an invaluable took for man overboard incidents, day or night and in all weather.

Big engineering: BP VPs on Women in Engineering Day

Energy Voice Out Loud has put together a special episode in honour of International Women in Engineering Day. Listen as two of BP’s high-flying VPs – Anch Klien and Ila Glennie – talk about big engineering, the transformational shift advances brought by new technology, as well as what it was like to step onto a rig for the first time and realise you’re the only woman for miles.
 
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 elephant (s) in the room

Did you know how many elephants it would take to make a gigatonne? 
Listen in to Steve Nicol, executive president of operations at Wood, explain to Energy Voice as he sets out just how big an opportunity CCS could be for the North Sea. 
He also talks about a few more of those big animals in the room. He shares with Energy Voice senior reporter Erikka his perspective on the energy profit levy, and the necessity for fiscal stability during the period of exploration to production. 
He also gives us an update on THAT bid for Wood, live from the show floor of Aberdeen's Energy Exports Conference. 

Worley asks is there a skills shortage within the energy transition?

We often read that there is a skills shortage within the energy transition, however, Worley's location lead for Scotland Chris Behan argues differently. There's certainly a possibility for a shortage of talented people in the UK if projects don't start moving fast enough.
 
Chris sat down with Energy Voice at the Energy Exports Conference to discuss what's causing the hold up with green energy projects and what impact these delays will have. 

Decom Mission looks to sunnier shores at Energy Exports Conference

Should UK decommissioning firms look overseas for more opportunities? The head of industry body Decom Mission is urging his members to do just that!
Energy Voice sits down with Sam Long, CEO of Decom Mission, live on the show floor of Aberdeen's Energy Exports Conference to discuss the coming general election, decommissioning regulations in the UK and why countries like Australia are so appealing. 

EVOL: Wood on the move, electoral turmoil and volcano drilling

Wood is considering another offer for the company, from the Middle Eastern Sidara. Such a sale would likely help Wood access new international markets, but the loss of a FTSE250 company based in Aberdeen will be lamented. Given the challenges of the North Sea, is such a move inevitable?
In this year of elections, upsets are to be expected. South Africa voted recently and the ANC has now lost its majority – throwing the government into upheaval. Exploration in South Africa has been lagging Namibia’s Orange Basin for some time now and this fresh bout of uncertainty will not help.
And finally, Mat has returned home from a gruelling trip to Iceland where, amid dips in the Blue Lagoon, he also found time to dig deep into magma drilling plans. KMT aims to tap volcanic energy to fuel local needs – but it also raises the tantalising prospect of electricity exports, perhaps bringing back plans for the Icelink to the UK. 

EVOL: Election special – not another one? Longboat in rough waters and the trouble with Exxon.

Tune in to hear Michael discuss how the UK’s offshore energy industry is feeling about the upcoming general election. We also unpick the dire prognostications highlighted by Stifel and headlined by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce that warns that, whoever wins come 4 July, they will only have 100 days to save 100,000 industry jobs.
Erikka sets sail for Norway to find out who – or what – has been brewing a perfect storm for Longboat Energy.
And as Exxon faces a showdown with activist investors, Ed and the team highlight a new front in the culture wars between ESG lovers and haters. And we ask the question – what do shareholders actually need from Big Oil?
 
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: Election excitement, Highland hydro and W.I.N.E on to a winner

Election excitement, Highland Hydro and W.I.N.E on to a winner~
 
Listeners in the UK may have seen there was a small political announcement this week... Rishi Sunak announced a general election will be held this summer.
 
Ed shares his excitement for hitting the polling stations on 4 July as the trio discusses what this means for the energy sector. Labour has outlined plans for no new oil and gas licences as the Tories pushed back the end date for the controversial windfall tax. Will UK energy firms be forced to pick the best of a bad bunch?
 
Next up Erikka makes her podcast debut from the Highlands as she has a look around a pumped storage hydro at Loch Ness. With scoping reports submitted the question on everybody's mind is 'how will this impact Nessie?'
 
Finally, Ryan has been chatting with Women In New Energy (W.I.N.E) co-founder Annabel Sall as the event is set to return later this year. Promoting diversity across the industry is important in solving the engineering challenges the UK faces as it transitions to cleaner technologies and W.I.N.E is looking to capitalise on last year's success by encouraging more women into the sector. 

All Energy 2024: Ports alliance will maximise Scottish offshore wind benefit

A newly-announced Scottish ports alliance for offshore wind will “unashamedly” maximise the domestic supply chain, a top renewables boss has said.
SOWPA (Scottish Offshore Wind Ports Alliance) was unveiled on Wednesday at All-Energy in Glasgow, a collaboration of 13 Scottish ports to fast-track opportunities across manufacturing and fabrication, through to marshalling, assembly, and operations & maintenance.
It comes as a huge 30GW of ScotWind-related offshore capacity is due to be installed over the next decade, amid vast pressure on the supply chain.
 
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.