Government should publish an offshore industries integrated strategy by the end of 2024 which should include roles and responsibilities for electrification of oil and gas infrastructure, how the planning and consenting regime will operate, a plan for how the system will be regulated, timetables and sequencing for the growth and construction of infrastructure, and a skills and supply chain plan for growth of the integrated industries. |
388. The oil and gas sector has built infrastructure and supply chains across the UK to support UKCS operations and is well placed to seize growth opportunities presented by low carbon developments such as floating offshore wind, CCUS, and hydrogen. We are already seeing operators come forward with proposals to use oil and gas platforms and onshore terminals to create a base for bringing in CO2 by ship, reinjecting CO2, partnering with nearby wind farms, and installing power and hydrogen infrastructure.
389. The UK oil and gas industry should provide the skills, capabilities and expertise needed to deliver the decarbonisation of the sector, as well as developing low carbon hydrogen, and CCUS industries.
390. However, we risk not realising these opportunities. Stakeholders from across the offshore industries have requested a more holistic approach; it was raised at the oil and gas roundtable and further supported by the NSTA calling for a long-term vision for an integrated energy basin responding to the call for evidence.291 With different authorities for different industries, there is no single agreed approach to spatial planning or prioritisation, and shared data availability and access could be improved through coordination.
"Currently there is no clear strategy to the offshore, which can provide regulatory certainty, spatial planning direction or co-location guidance to industries which may be looking to developing in similar regions" - Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA)292
391. We have heard that we need to do more to support the growth of the right skills and supply chains, allowing workers with the right skills to move between oil and gas work and renewable energy projects.293 For example, stakeholders at the oil and gas evidence roundtable called urgently for a single accreditation or 'offshore passport' for skilled workers to move between offshore sub-sectors.
392. Government should therefore publish an Offshore Industries Integrated Strategy by the end of 2024 to remedy this. This should include roles and responsibilities for electrification of oil and gas infrastructure, how the planning and consenting regime will operate, a plan for how the system will be regulated, timetables and sequencing for the growth and construction of infrastructure, and a skills and supply chain plan for growth of the integrated industries.