Developers seeking space in ‘crowded’ North Sea – Daily Business

Prof John Underhill: let’s get this right (pic: DB Media Services)

Carbon capture projects and other developments in the North Sea are increasingly competing for space as it becomes crowded with various infrastructure, a conference has heard.

An energy expert told the OEUK Summit on carbon capture and hydrogen that locating projects required increasing attention as the sea was filled with pipelines, oil & gas wells, wind turbines, fishing and other shipping fleets, including recreational vessels.

Prof John Underhill, director for energy transition at Aberdeen University, said there was a “need to have a holistic view” of what is being place in the sea, not least to balance the needs of the natural environment with the energy demands being placed on it.

He noted that some projects “overlapped”, causing them to be delayed and redrawn. In one such example the Hornsea-4 wind lease area was pared back to avoid overlapping with the Endurance carbon capture and storage (CCS) site.

“There is an impact on biodiversity, challenges for navigation, commissioning and safety. Let’s get this right for the North Sea and for UK plc.

“If left unresolved the issues we have identified will cause delay and conflicts that threaten energy transition to net zero targets.”

Adrian Topham of the Crown Estate which handles developments around the coastline of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, agreed that “the overlap between offshore wind, carbon capture and oil & gas is increasing.”

He added: “Most co-location challenges are management if identified early.” This required “clearer governance and earlier engagement”.

Gwen Jackson-Johns, a senior consultant at assurance and risk management company DNV, said cross-border planning on developments and regulation was essential for carbon capture and hydrogen projects to fulfil their potential.

“Without clear policy, investors will lack confidence to commit,” she said.

Stephen Gethins: time to deliver (pic: DB Media Services)

Scotland’s new energy minister Stephen Gethins, said the Acorn CCS project was a significant part of the new energy strategy and he welcomed funding which had been pledged by the Chancellor last year.

“The time has come for us to deliver and move from design to approving projects,” he said, adding that it was not just about de-carbonisation, but industrial growth.

Success “will depend on strong collaboration between both of our governments,” he said. Speaking afterwards to Daily Business he said he was unable to elaborate on what stage Acorn had reached “as I have only just taken on this job”.

On the wider energy market, including oil and gas, he said he would be consulting with those in the industry “to get the balance right between climate change and energy security”.

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