OGTC calls for large-scale investments in UK offshore renewable energies
Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK – The Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) has published a roadmap for the technologies it believes are needed to achieve an integrated net-zero energy system on the UK continental shelf (UKCS).
Wood Mackenize produced the report “Closing the Gap: Technology for a Net Zero North Sea” for the OGTC, with support from leading UK independent Chrysaor and the Scottish government.
This outlines how speeding up development of new energy technologies can cut emissions, and the potential for maximizing the UK’s resources in renewable power, oil and gas, hydrogen, and long-term carbon capture and storage (CCS).
These initiatives could lead to the creation of more than 200,000 new jobs throughout the UK, the report claims, and contribute more than £2.5 trillion ($3.23 trillion) to Britain’s economy by 2050.
Along the way, £430 billion ($555 billion) of new investments will be needed to accelerate development and deployment of various technologies.
These include oil and gas platform electrification, methane leak detection and flaring mitigation; larger blades, taller towers and automated inspection technology for fixed offshore wind turbines; optimized/standardized floating offshore wind foundation designs; hydrogen membranes and CO2 sorbents to improve blue hydrogen yield; new saltwater electrolysis technologies to reduce the cost of green hydrogen production; catalyst materials for hydrogen fuel cells to cut costs and improve durability; solvents, sorbents, membranes and conversion solutions to reduce the cost of CCS; and power take-off solutions and support systems for marine renewable energies such as floating solar.
09/16/2020
