The integration of offshore energy systems, including hydrogen, renewables, carbon capture and storage and gas and oil, could contribute to approximately 30% of the UK’s total carbon reduction requirements needed to meet the 2050 net zero target.
That’s according to the Oil and Gas Authority’s (OGA) Energy Integration Project report, published in collaboration with Ofgem, The Crown Estate and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Released last week, the report concludes that not only is the close co-ordination of the low carbon technologies valuable in terms of energy production and cutting greenhouse gases but would help technologies become economically more attractive.
Within the report, OGA, along with its co-authors, suggest that blue hydrogen has the potential to decarbonise approximately 30% of the UK natural gas supply by 2050, potentially supporting circa half of CCS expansions in the same timeframe.
The report also highlights that green hydrogen can support and enable the significant expansion of offshore renewables in the 2030s and beyond, providing an efficient storage and energy transportation solutions.
Dr Andy Samuel, OGA Chief Executive, commented, “The UK Continental Shelf has the potential to make a deep and meaningful impact on the UK’s overall net zero target and offshore energy integration can be the gamechanger.”
“By closely co-ordinating our energy systems a secure energy supply can continue to be delivered from a diverse mix of production, while unlocking more and more of the green energy and carbon capture need to help take the UK to net zero.”
