Within the next 10 years, the oil and gas industry within the UK will half their operating emissions. This is in a bid to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
The report published by Oil & Gas UK (OGUK) discusses the new targets, how they will be achieved and how a ‘transformational’ deal within the sector under discussion with the government. The deal will look to support a green recovery, jobs, the supply chain and wider communities within the energy industry.
The effects from the new targets would equal taking almost 2 million cars off the roads. Despite this, these targets do come with some challenges as OGUK notes that is will be difficult to balance ‘what is currently technically feasible ans what is commercially feasible’. It is likely that over half of the emission reductions will come from certain areas stopping production for good.
In light of this, the sector is aiming to push forward with their plans to decarbonise. They plan to do this through exploring ideas such as changes to operations and capital investment programmes that will electrify the power supply for offshore oil rigs.
Futhermore, OGUK highlights the valuable skills this sector has to share with the wider energy industry. These range from industrial scale Carbon Capture Usage and Storage to the use of hydrogen to decarbonise heating and transport.
If you would like to read more on what OGUK reported, follow this link to Future Net Zero.