The UK’s offshore oil and gas industry has committed to halving operational emissions in the next decade, confirming its pathway to becoming a net-zero emissions basin by 2050. The sector is one of the first in the UK to commit to industrywide targets and provide details on how they will be achieved.
“The coronavirus pandemic and low oil and gas prices have had a devastating impact on the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry. Given the limited impact that the severity of the lockdown has had on global emissions, it is clearer than ever that we need a fair, inclusive, and sustainable transition towards climate targets,” said OGUK Chief Executive Deirdre Michie. “We need a green recovery which supports jobs, supply chain companies and energy communities.
A report published by industry body Oil and Gas UK (OGUK), “The Pathway to Net Zero: Production Emissions Targets,” outlines how targets will be achieved through changes to operations, progressive reductions in flaring and venting, and major capital investment programs aimed at using electricity rather than gas to power offshore facilities.
The targets are a key part of a transformational sector deal that the industry is now formally discussing with the UK government. With jobs, the supply chain, and energy communities at its core, the sector deal will consider how the UK’s oil and gas industry can support a green recovery.
This could see the sector support wider UK efforts to decarbonize, using its skills and infrastructure to develop critical carbon-cutting solutions such as industrial-scale carbon capture usage and storage and the use of hydrogen for heating and heavy transport.
“A transformational sector deal could help unlock the full potential of this industry to support a green recovery, and we’re delighted to confirm that we are now in formal discussions about it,” Michie said. “With a clear pathway to becoming a net-zero basin by 2050 and with support from governments and regulators, we can protect domestic energy supplies, jobs, and communities whilst embracing the opportunities which will come from being at the forefront of delivering a low carbon economy.”
UK Government Minister for Energy Kwasi Kwarteng said:“The offshore oil and gas sector’s commitment to halving operational emissions over the next decade is a welcome step for an industry that has a vital role to play in our energy transition in the years to come. The UK Government will continue to work tirelessly with all partners to deliver a dynamic Sector Deal. This will further support the industry in becoming more sustainable, as we work towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”
Louise O’Hara Murray, the author of the report and OGUK’s emissions improvement manager, added, “These targets would remove over 9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions from our operations over the next decade; the same as taking nearly two million cars off the road for a year. Each year, we will publicly show progress against our commitments on a sectorwide basis.”