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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A black day for the offshore industry, with a helicopter disaster in Norway leaving one dead and five injured. Norwegian companies are reliant on the Sikorsky S-92 but is it safe? Orsted’s interim COO was in London this week, putting a brave face on the company’s challenges. The offshore wind developer has cut back some of its more ambitious targets, but seems determined to press on with major plans. Floating wind may have to wait until the 2030s, though. And finally, Allister talks us through some of the discussion around geosciences at the recent Future North Sea event. Students and universities are turning away from the discipline, posing tough questions on the UK’s energy plans – both conventional oil and gas but also new hopes in CCS, geothermal and wind.  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.

In this Subsea Expo episode we're joined by Ray Riddoch who chatted with us about methane emissions and the growing recognition for mitigating hydrocarbon leaks. Ray tells us more about the latest regulations and requirements.    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.

We're joined by Maria from Plug Port and Ann from Montrose Port Authority. They tell us about their joint venture, Shore Power Infrastructure. We discuss connecting to the grid using renewable power and the importance of community and collaboration.  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.

It’s day two of Subsea Expo and we chat with Kevin Coll of Onboard Tracker about how the service platform is transforming businesses of all shapes and sizes across the energy 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.

It's day two at Subsea Expo. We chat with Steve Fernie from Global Underwater Hub about some of the key takeaways from the event and question what are the big topics and exciting developments within the subsea sector.    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.

Join Energy Voice at Subsea Expo for the first of our mini pods with STATS Group. We discuss their experience in providing subsea pipeline isolation and intervention solutions, and how these technologies can be applied to enhance the safety and integrity of pipelines in the North Sea. 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.

Roses are red, hydrogen is blue, celebrate with a Valentine’s day EVOL podcast for two. Ryan travels to Aberdeenshire this week, where council plans to slash childcare provision have stirred warnings over the impact on parents - and gender balance - in the energy sector. The fallout from Labour’s manifesto pledge to hike windfall tax rates continues to blow through the industry, with claims tens of thousands of jobs could be at risk. Could the policy herald “the end of oil and gas investment in the North Sea”, as has been claimed? And Ed gazed into Shell’s LNG-powered crystal ball this week, taking the long term view on Europe’s softening on new gas supplies in the face of energy security concerns.   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.

Keir Starmer was up in Aberdeen recently but did he listen to the industry?  The team dive into Labour's announcement that it will up the rate of the windfall tax to ensure the headline rate will match that of Norway. Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of commerce has described this as a "betrayal", while others claim investors will run for the hills. Looking back on the dramatic footage of the moment the Ocean Great White semisubmersible rig’s lower marine riser package “unintentionally separated” and fell to the sea floor, Allister, Andrew and Ryan discuss what's next for the incident at BP's Schiehallion field. Finally, recount a positive week for BP with lots on the horizon for the firm, share buybacks getting a boost and profits defying investor expectations. However, is this fuel on the fire for Labour's EPL hike? 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.

Monkeying around! No that’s not about the Japanese macaque on the loose in the Highlands, but the debate around North Sea exploration. The team dig into it as dozens of new licences are issued this week, and as new polling suggests a split between those who support domestic production and those in favour of continued exploration in the UK. And we’re over to Aramco as plans to cut back capacity deliver a blow to big projects and the share prices of big oil contractors.    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.

Joining Energy Voice’s print features lead, Ryan Duff, is DNV’s market area manager for onshore oil and gas James Jenkins and Tim Dumenil hydrogen asset manager from Storegga. The three dive into the hydrogen and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) markets, the issues they are facing and the opportunities for businesses if the UK gets sees success in the sectors. Mr Jenkins tells listeners: “It's fair to say that UK policy support for hydrogen pipeline infrastructure is probably a couple of years behind those of CCS pipeline infrastructure.” 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.

Fresh from the bright lights of Pareto’s annual E&P conference in London, Ed reports on Africa Oil’s big hopes for the year – not least of which include exploration opportunities in Orange Basin acreage off Namibia and South Africa. Meanwhile Andrew has been coast to coast looking at the UK’s offshore wind hopes, with port infrastructure remaining one of the key challenges, particularly in the wake of news that another set of floating turbines will be towed abroad for maintenance. And Allister pores over a letter sent by Ithaca Energy to First Minister Humza Yousaf voicing discontent over his “extremely disappointing” opposition to Rosebank. Is this just the tip of the politicking iceberg in a general election year?   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.