Today’s seventh Carbon Budget from the Climate Change Committee has recognised the key role of the offshore energy industry in achieving the UK’s carbon reduction goals, says leading trade organisation Offshore Energies UK, which represents more than 400 businesses across the UK’s offshore energy industry and its supply chains.
Michael Tholen, OEUK’s director of policy and sustainability, said:
“This report recognises the major role of our sector in delivering net zero, with a special focus on carbon capture and hydrogen technology. The offshore energies industry is key to delivering a diverse energy mix, scaling up renewables and electrification at the same time as meeting the demand for oil and gas from UK homes and our industrial base.
“The CCC forecasts an 11% reduction in industrial emissions which is the largest target for any single sector and says carbon capture and hydrogen technologies will both play important roles for industries that require intense heat and cannot easily convert to electricity. It’s vital that we invest in these new technologies to futureproof British industry and jobs and communities.”
“The UK’s homegrown oil and gas sector was one of the first to sign up to net zero, reducing emissions by 29 per cent since 2018, and remains on track to meet its goals. By the time we reach our carbon reduction targets in 2050 we will still be getting 20% of our energy from oil and gas so it makes sense to produce as much of it as we can here in the UK rather than relying on more carbon intensive imports.”
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