Scotland’s new energy minister, Stephen Gethins, will join industry leaders in Edinburgh on Tuesday for OEUK’s first North Sea carbon capture and storage and hydrogen summit.
The event comes as major carbon capture and storage and hydrogen projects move from planning into delivery across Scotland and the wider North Sea region, creating new opportunities for investment, jobs, industrial decarbonisation, and energy security.
Hosted by OEUK, the summit, starting with a welcome dinner on Monday, will bring together organisations developing the infrastructure needed to support industrial decarbonisation, strengthen energy security, and unlock new investment across the energy transition.
Mr Gethins, who was recently appointed Scottish Government Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy, will deliver a keynote address at the Sheraton Grand Hotel on Tuesday.
Discussions will focus on how the UK and European countries can develop interconnected carbon capture networks, enabling industrial emissions to be transported and permanently stored beneath the North Sea. It will also explore the role and opportunity that hydrogen projects have across the UK and in supporting regional decarbonisation opportunities.
The UK is uniquely placed to play a leading role in the emerging carbon capture and storage market. With vast offshore storage capacity and decades of experience managing complex energy infrastructure, the North Sea has the potential to become a strategic carbon storage hub for both UK and European industry.
The summit will receive updates on major projects helping turn that ambition into reality, including the Morecambe Net Zero and Peak Cluster developments. Together, these projects aim to decarbonise around 40 per cent of emissions from UK cement manufacturing, helping safeguard more than 13,000 jobs while supporting one of the country’s most important foundation industries. The projects also include development of what will become the UK’s largest onshore carbon dioxide pipeline.
Delegates will be given an overview of developments in pioneering projects across Europe including Northern Lights, the world’s first cross-border transport and offshore storage of carbon dioxide project, demonstrating how international carbon management networks could operate across the North Sea.
The conference will also see the launch of two new reports. Research from DNV, the global independent energy expert and assurance provider, explores the evolution of CCS and hydrogen networks across the North Sea and what technical, operational, regulatory and economic aspects of resilience are needed to unlock these networks. A separate study by Xodus and supported by OEUK highlights the region’s potential to become a strategic carbon storage hub for Europe and explores the infrastructure needed to enable this cross-border transport and storage of captured emissions.
Stephen Gethins said:
“I very much welcome the opportunity to attend this inaugural Summit as Scotland’s new Energy Minister so I can speak to key industry leaders, regulators and investors who are delivering the energy transition we know is crucial to Scotland’s future prosperity and security.
“Scotland has significant opportunities when it comes to carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and in hydrogen. These will be central to decarbonising our heat, industry and power sectors, reducing emissions, driving industrial development and sustainable fuel production, supporting economic growth, and enabling a just transition.”
Enrique Cornejo OEUK policy director, said:
“Carbon capture and storage and hydrogen can help cut emissions while keeping vital industries working here in the UK.
“The North Sea gives us a real advantage. We have the storage space, infrastructure, skills, and supply chain to lead the CCS market.
“With the right support, that can mean real projects, skilled jobs, and new investment for communities across Scotland and the wider UK.
“This summit is about bringing people together to turn that opportunity into delivery.”
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