OGV Issue 93 Wind Energy

GLOBAL ENERGY NEWS

ENERGY PROJECTS MAP WIND ENERGY LEGAL INNOVATION CONTRACT AWARDS DECOMMISSIONING EVENTS

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Welcome to the June edition of ‘OGV Energy Magazine’ where this month we are exploring the theme of ‘Wind Energy’ and attending the UK’s largest wind event in London on 17-18th June at Global Offshore Wind.

A big thank you to our front cover partner Bilfinger this month and you can read all about their partnership with Cerulean Winds and a consortium of other businesses to deliver a 3GW floating wind opportunity on pages 4-5. We are also delighted to welcome contributions from DNV, Interocean, Safelift, Film-Ocean and Brodies.

The rest of this month’s magazine as always provides you with a review of the Energy sector in the North Sea, Europe, Norway, Middle East and the US, along with industry analysis and project updates.

Thanks as always to our corporate partners the Energy Industries Council, Leyton, Infinity-Partnerships, Elemental Energies and Archer - the Well company, Three60 Energy, Brimmond, Drager, Rotech Subsea, Stats-Group, Cegal, GDi, PTS Services, ESWL, Tess, Intervention Rentals, Vulcan Completion Products, Viper Innovations, J&S Subsea, Wellpro and Scotsbridge.

Warm regards Dan Hyland

Bilfinger UK: Pioneering the Energy Transition

As the United Kingdom continues to advance its ambitious carbon neutrality goals, Bilfinger has emerged as a key player in this transformative journey. Through strategic projects and acquisitions, Bilfinger is driving innovation and sustainability, reinforcing its commitment to the energy transition.

Enhancing Offshore Wind Expertise

In a strategic move to bolster its offshore capabilities, Bilfinger has joined a consortium focused on floating wind projects in the North Sea, having been appointed by Cerulean Winds to join the alliance of companies developing the Aspen, Beech, and Cedar floating offshore wind farms, which collectively will generate over 3GW of renewable green energy.

Bilfinger will serve as the operations and maintenance (O&M) partner, bringing decades of experience in development planning and a deep knowledge of the offshore energy sector. This appointment underscores Bilfinger’s commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions and leveraging its extensive experience in the energy sector.

Sandy Bonner, President Engineering & Maintenance UK at Bilfinger, emphasised the significance of this milestone: “Being selected as the operations and maintenance partner for these pioneering floating wind farms is a significant milestone for us, which underscores our commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions and leveraging our extensive experience in the energy sector.

“By integrating innovative technologies and collaborating closely with the consortium, we aim to ensure the safe, efficient, and sustainable operation of the Aspen, Beech, and Cedar sites.

“Our early involvement in the design phase will allow us to optimise maintenance strategies and support the project’s ambitious goals of industrial decarbonisation and enabling electrification of oil and gas facilities. We look forward to contributing to the success of these groundbreaking projects and driving forward the future of clean energy.”

The Aspen, Beech, and Cedar floating offshore wind farms are strategically located in the Central North Sea. These three connected wind farms will collectively comprise over 300 turbines, generating more than 3GW of renewable green energy. The 1GW Aspen site will be developed first, providing new offshore wind capacity to help meet the UK government’s 50GW by 2030 target. The strategic distribution of these sites in relation to existing and future oil and gas facilities maximises the potential for decarbonisation via electrification.

Strategic Acquisition of nZero Group

Bilfinger’s acquisition of the nZero Group marks a pivotal moment in its energy transition journey. This strategic move positions Bilfinger as a leading solution provider in the UK, particularly in the gas and hydrogen sectors.

The transaction comprises nZero offices in Ellesmere Port as well as further locations in Staffordshire and Bristol. With around 240 employees, nZero specialises in advanced energy systems and gas technologies. The bolt-on acquisition successfully continues Bilfinger’s strategic course and allows

Sandy Bonner, President Engineering & Maintenance UK at Bilfinger

Bilfinger to expand its footprint in the gas and hydrogen sectors in the UK, leveraging the advanced technology and services of nZero’s expert team.

nZero specialises in gas measurement, analysis, and control systems and offers proprietary solutions in clean energy, CO2 quality and quantity measurement, as well as digital services and consulting along the whole value chain. Through its subsidiaries, Orbital Gas Systems and Thyson Technology, the nZero Group has positioned itself as a significant player in the industry.

Sandy added: “This acquisition not only enhances our technological capabilities but also strengthens our commitment to the UK market. By leveraging the combined excellence of both teams, we will deliver innovative solutions tailored to the UK’s specific needs. We will be perfectly equipped to support the process industry in meeting the government’s ‘net zero by 2050’ target.”

This integration will enhance Bilfinger’s offerings in Electrical, Instrumentation, and Controls (EI&C) and support the UK’s decarbonisation goals. This acquisition not only expands Bilfinger’s technological capabilities but also strengthens its position as a comprehensive service provider in the energy sector.

Transforming Liquid Air Energy Storage with Highview Power

Bilfinger is significantly contributing to the UK’s renewable energy goals and grid stabilisation efforts through its collaboration with Highview Power to pioneer the construction of the UK’s first commercial liquid air energy storage facility, aimed at converting surplus electricity into liquid air storage.

The transformative facility will enhance sustainability by storing enough renewable energy equivalent to the electricity used by 1 million homes over an hour. Highview Power’s facility will also provide critical grid stabilisation services.

Bilfinger’s comprehensive consultancy, procurement, and construction services will be instrumental in realising this innovative energy storage solution, further strengthening Bilfinger’s commitment to advancing energy storage technologies that are essential for a sustainable energy future.

“This project will see Bilfinger significantly contribute to the nation’s renewable energy goals and grid stabilisation efforts”, said Sandy.

He continued: “As the world derives more and more of its electricity from renewable sources, there’s a growing need for technologies that can capture and store it. We are excited to partner with Highview Power in pushing the boundaries of sustainable energy storage technology and to bring our extensive expertise in the energy industry to this effort.”

Setting new standards for sustainability in the energy sector

Bilfinger’s recent projects and strategic acquisitions highlight its pivotal role in the energy transition. From driving innovation at industrial sites to enhancing offshore wind capabilities and pioneering energy storage solutions, Bilfinger is committed to supporting the UK’s journey towards a sustainable future. Through these strategic initiatives, Bilfinger is setting new standards for innovation and sustainability in the energy sector. 

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COMMUNITY news

EXCEED supports Viaro’s Landmark Acquisition with Major Well Operator Contract

Well and reservoir management specialist, Exceed, has announced that it has secured what it terms as “one of the most significant contract wins” in its 20-year history.

Appointed as Well Operator for the 192 wells which will comprise Viaro Group’s One Gas West assets following completion of the acquisition from Shell and ExxonMobil, Exceed will manage all aspects of late life well operations, starting with the decommissioning of the 26 wells associated with the SNS Leman Foxtrot and Golf platforms, which commences later this year.

Subsequent activity within the five-year, £multimillion contract’s term will include well intervention and further decommissioning operations, as well as the development of new gas production wells, widely regarded as an energy transition fuel.

Why Strategic Diversification and Personal Connections Matter More Than Ever

In today’s evolving energy landscape, no business can afford to stand still – and no business should rely solely on one sector, even one as globally important as oil and gas.

Building resilience through strategic diversification is no longer an option. It is a necessity.

That said, diversification must be more than a phrase in a corporate brochure. It must be based on a clear understanding of where industries are heading, what clients really need and how your own expertise can be shaped to deliver those solutions.

At JBS, we have built our approach around four distinct divisions – controlled flow excavation (CFE), blast containment, fabrication and engineering, and screw conveyor systems – each aligned to the long-term requirements of the energy, marine, renewables, defence, and industrial sectors.

Acquisition of nZero Group positions Bilfinger as solution provider at forefront of energy transition in UK – Continuation of strategic course

Ellesmere Port, United Kingdom. Industrial services provider Bilfinger has acquired UKbased nZero Group as of May 12, 2025, including the two subsidiaries Orbital Gas Systems Ltd. and Thyson Technology Ltd. The transaction comprises nZero offices in Ellesmere Port as well as further locations in Staffordshire and Bristol. With around 240 employees, nZero specializes in advanced energy systems and gas technologies. The bolt-on acquisition successfully continues Bilfinger’s strategic course.

The recent transaction allows Bilfinger to expand its footprint in the gas and hydrogen sectors in the UK, leveraging the advanced technology and services of nZero’s expert team.

Katoni Engineering Accelerates Growth with International Expansion and New Construction Division

Katoni is proud to announce a major milestone in our continued success: significant international expansion, the incorporation of a dedicated offshore construction team, and the acquisition of new office space in Westhill to support our growing team.

Following years of organic growth and success in the UK market, Katoni is taking our expertise overseas. Our recent expansion into the Netherlands marks a key step in supporting both existing clients’ operations and new opportunities within the region. With a strong foundation in oil and gas, as well as energy transition projects, we are bringing our trusted approach to engineering solutions to the Dutch market. This move highlights our commitment to sustainable and efficient energy solutions on a global scale focused through our new office in Den Haag.

Jennifer Hall Appointed Head of Business Development at Integrity HSE

Integrity HSE is pleased to announce the promotion of Jennifer Hall to the position of Head of Business Development. This strategic appointment reflects the company’s continued commitment to excellence and growth. Jennifer will now play a key role in shaping business strategy as part of Integrity HSE’s senior leadership team.

Managing Director Steven Harris commented: “I am absolutely delighted to acknowledge Jennifer’s outstanding contribution with this promotion although, in truth, she left us with little choice. Since joining the business in 2024, Jen has been a truly inspirational force. Every member of our team, and all our clients, have benefitted from her contribution.”

Decom Engineering relocates to Aberdeen to be closer to key clients

Decom Engineering (Decom) has relocated its head office to Aberdeen to be closer to key clients and for easier access to the skills market.

The specialist cutting technology provider supports the oil, gas, renewables and infrastructure sectors on decommissioning projects and provides inspection, repair and maintenance services, as well as pipe coating removal.

The strategic move to Aberdeen follows a promising start to 2025 with the company securing more than £2 million in contracts in the Americas, Africa and Australia.

Established in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2011, Decom opened an engineering, testing and storage facility at Potterton near Aberdeen in 2022 before growing into a larger facility in Marywell Commercial Park from where it has consolidated relationships and secured major projects with UKCS and international operators and contractors.

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Headquartered in Norway, the company specializes in delivering high-quality solutions tailored to meet the demands of its clients worldwide. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and customer satisfaction, NOR Offshore Rental has established itself as a trusted partner in the global offshore industry.

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Legasea promotes sustainability and reuse, its ethos is one of a Circular Economy, taking one company’s waste and restoring it to be of value elsewhere. Legasea provides a complete shore to store service, one that’s responsive, cost effective and achieves maximum efficiency. Legasea services include onshore, offshore and onsite operations, remaining flexible in its approach to cater to our client’s requirements and minimising additional costs to their businesses.

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Fracht Group, where logistics becomes a catalyst for success. In today’s fast-paced world, efficient logistics has become a crucial competitive advantage for businesses. We understand the importance of effective logistics strategies in a globalized and fragmented market, where seamless coordination and IT systems are paramount.

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JMSL is a leading global provider of Manpower, Fabrication and Project Services. Supporting a diverse client base from Drilling and EPCI contractors, to Tier 2 and 3 service companies, across a range of industry sectors for over twenty years, from our facility located within the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport zone.

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At C-SAM, we recognise that every organisation faces unique challenges when managing personnel, equipment, and materials. That’s why we’ve developed modular software designed to give you complete control and visibility over your assets, tailored specifically to your business needs.

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JCE Group has been a world leader in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of ATEX and Safe Area electrical control systems for over 35 years.

Using our in-depth knowledge and expertise, we offer our clients a complete service from initial concept and design, to installation and ongoing maintenance.

www.jcegroup.com

www.tlc-com.ch TLC SA Transportation and Logistic Consulting, a Switzerland-headquartered company, was founded in 2001 by its owner and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Philippe Masserey. Since its inception, TLC has pursued a strategy of organic growth, meticulously expanding to countries where its expertise and know-how are most transferable, ensuring the highest quality of service for its customers.

UK North Sea Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

Energy security, the energy path forward in one of the world’s most mature basins, and project and plan updates featured in the UK North Sea offshore industry in recent weeks.

Offshore Energies UK highlighted at the Security and Resilience Conference why energy security is national security. Offshore energy operators and supply chain companies were given an overview of the collaborative approach being taken to possible risks and help them develop strategies to protect energy distribution installations from potential threats.

“Given the current geopolitical instability and the potential risks to subsea infrastructure, we believe it is important for the offshore energy industry to take seriously the need for optimum security,” said Mark Wilson, OEUK’s director of health, safety, environment and operations.

The award of a major UK carbon storage project with the carbon storage permits for HyNet is the latest example of “real action” on net zero from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), said Stuart Payne, NSTA Chief Executive.

The three permit awards for HyNet followed hot on the heels of the one awarded to the Northern Endurance Partnership in December 2024.

“As a nation, we’ve talked about carbon storage for many years. But we had never reached this milestone before. These two projects will turbocharge the UK’s drive to unlock investment, jobs and economic growth and reach net zero emissions by 2050,” Payne said at the Innovation Zero in London at the end of April.

The NSTA is working with government and other regulators to accommodate and colocate the full range of energy systems in UK waters. The regulator’s chief executive said that there was still a role for oil and gas, but that production needed to become cleaner.

“The North Sea’s history has been in oil and gas, helping power, heat and move the UK. Even today fossil fuels still make up threequarters of our energy demand,” Payne said.

“Demand for those molecules must and will shrink, but, as the government has made clear, they will be part of the picture for decades to come.”

NSTA’s chief executive noted that “If we get it right, the North Sea can have a prosperous future which creates and safeguards employment and generates multibillion pound investments in all offshore energy projects.”

An NSTA pilot scheme for a technology showcase designed to boost the costefficiency of energy production and emissions reduction projects has grown rapidly, thanks to backing from the industry regulator.

The UK Energy Technology Platform (UK ETP), part of a year-long pilot scheme, has been a hit with everyone from multinationals to smaller operators and suppliers, NSTA said in May. UK user numbers jumped from 530 at the end of 2022 to 1,800 now, and technologies added to the site by UK suppliers have soared from 140 to 900 over the same period.

The UK ETP complements the NSTA’s annual Technology Insights Report, the most

recent of which showed that the industry’s appetite for innovation remains healthy, as technologies were used 1,250 times in the UK continental shelf in 2023, up from 1,200 in 2022.

“I’m hugely encouraged that the UK ETP has gone from strength to strength as suppliers seize the opportunity to raise awareness of their technologies which will support the North Sea’s transition to net zero and help ensure that energy production is as clean as possible,” said Ernie Lamza, NSTA technology manager.

The North Sea has become increasingly crowded as a place for all kinds of offshore energy, but there is room for everyone, NSTA Director of New Ventures Andy Brooks said in May at the All-Energy Conference in Glasgow.

A combination of collaboration, exciting new technology and access to an abundance of freely-available data will enable harmonious sharing of space on the North Sea, Brooks noted.

“Different energy activities can co-locate and co-exist offshore, with spatial overlaps managed through early engagement and coordination, careful sequencing of activities, and deployment of specific technology,” the official added.

“Windfarm leases and oil and gas licences are already co-locating in several places, in particular in the Southern North Sea.”

Brooks cited the examples of how coordination between operators has enabled the successful co-existence of the Dudgeon windfarm, which overlaps with the Blythe and Elgood fields, and the Walney Extension and Rhyl gas field, operating side-by-side in the Irish Sea.

In company and project news, the NSTA has agreed to extend Centrica Offshore UK Ltd’s consent to operate the Rough gas storage site, off the East Coast of England in the Southern North Sea, until 30 April 2026. This will enable Rough to continue to support the UK’s energy security. Rough is the UK's largest gas storage facility, helping manage seasonal demand and energy security.

Centrica Energy Storage (CES+) has increased the capacity at Rough to 54 billion cubic feet (bcf) and continues to explore its role in the future of hydrogen. Today, Rough provides half of the UK's gas storage, being able to store 54 bcf of gasenough to provide the equivalent volume of gas to heat 2.4 million homes over winter.

The long term aim is to turn Rough into the largest long duration energy storage facility in Europe, capable of storing both natural gas and hydrogen with the goal of bolstering the UK’s energy security.

Serica Energy plc and EnQuest are scrapping a merger plan amid market volatility. In early May, Serica Energy Plc noted the announcement by EnQuest Plc confirming that EnQuest does not intend to make a firm offer for Serica.

While there would have been strategic and financial benefits to the combination, in light of current market volatility an agreement on terms that would have been in the best interests of shareholders was not possible at this time, Serica said.

The Board remains very confident in Serica’s standalone ability to generate significant cash flow and deliver shareholder value and highly competitive shareholder returns from its balanced portfolio of oil and gas assets, the company added.

In parallel, Serica continues to pursue its clear growth strategy, progressing numerous organic growth opportunities across the portfolio, as well as actively screening a number of cash-generative and value accretive M&A opportunities in both the UK North Sea and other geographies.

Deltic’s chief executive also noted “We believe that it has never been more important for the UK to develop and maximise the benefit of its own resources, like Selene, and thereby maximising the proportion of 'good barrels' in the mix as we become increasingly dependent on imported oil and gas.”

Shell-operated Victory gas field is expected to come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2025, where production will be processed through the onshore Shetland Gas Plant (SGP), one of the minority project partners, Kistos Holdings, said in April.

Consulting and engineering group Wood has secured a trio of reimbursable contract extensions worth $118 million to continue to deliver operations and maintenance solutions for Shell UK, Dana Petroleum, and CNOOC International’s UK business.

These extensions will see Wood continue to support operations for an extensive offshore portfolio, including Shell UK’s Shearwater, Gannet, Nelson, and Penguins assets; Golden Eagle, Buzzard, and Scott for CNOOC; and the Triton and Western Isles FPSOs for Dana Petroleum.

EnerMech has been awarded a three-year cranes and lifting services contract for the Anasuria floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, located 127 km east of Aberdeen in the central North Sea.

This award is another strong endorsement of our expertise in delivering critical lifting and maintenance solutions in the North Sea and supporting –FPSOs

Deltic Energy Plc said that the Shell-operated Selene gas discovery in the Southern North Sea has now estimated to have gross 2C Contingent Resources of 174 bcf, a 33-percent increase on earlier estimates. Deltic Energy has a 25 percent non-operated interest in Selene.

The core analysis provided by the Selene licence operator, Shell, indicates significantly better porosity and permeability than previously assumed in Deltic’s P50 volumetric estimates and reservoir modelling. Regarding the gas quality analysis, Deltic’s expectation is that gas produced from Selene will require minimal processing to reach National Grid entry specifications.

“Recent global events have reinforced the case for maximising the benefits from the United Kingdom's domestic resources,” commented Andrew Nunn, Deltic CEO.

“We continue to explore various avenues as we work to secure the funding required to maintain our interest in the Selene project as the JV works toward a Final Investment Decision in early 2027.”

EnerMech will continue to provide its core crew of Crane Operator / Mechanics to conduct maintenance and operations, as well as additional personnel for any major maintenance and project-related work.

“This award is another strong endorsement of our expertise in delivering critical lifting and maintenance solutions in the North Sea and supporting –FPSOs,” EnerMech CEO Charles ‘Chuck’ Davison Jnr said.

Drilling and well services provider Archer has signed a five-year contract with Repsol Resources UK for platform drilling services, facilities engineering, coil tubing, wireline services, and downhole well service technologies. The agreement includes a two-year optional extension.

This strategic partnership will support late-life operations and plug and abandonment activities on Repsol’s extensive platform portfolio including Piper, Claymore, Tartan, Saltire, Auk, Arbroath, Montrose, Beatrice, and Clyde. A key component of the contract is the P&A scope, covering approximately 130 wells. Archer said the agreement further solidifies the company’s position as a trusted provider of integrated drilling and well services with commitment to safe and cost-effective operations in the North Sea. 

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Europe Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

Oil and gas projects offshore Norway, the UK’s renewable energy policies, and updates on a number of wind, solar, and carbon capture and storage projects featured in Europe’s energy market in recent weeks.

Oil & Gas

OKEA said that the start of equipment installation for the power from shore project at Draugen offshore Norway would begin in the second quarter. Moreover, all key milestones on the Bestla project are on schedule, stated OKEA’s chief executive Svein J. Liknes.

The Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority, Havtil, has granted Gassco consent for the installation of a new connection point on the Kvitebjørn gas pipeline to connect Troll B. The Kvitebjørn gas pipeline runs from the Kvitebjørn field to the Kollsnes processing plant. The consent applies to the installation of a new connection point on the Kvitebjørn gas pipeline for a pipeline that will export gas from the Troll B facility, the authority said.

Norway’s energy giant Equinor has established a new business area – power – and appointed Helge Haugane as new executive vice president from September. Haugane is appointed executive vice president for the new PWR business area and will start in the role from September when the organisational changes take effect. Haugane comes from the role as head of Gas & Power in the MMP business area.

“By combining our renewables portfolio with our flexible power offering, we strengthen our competitiveness and value creation in the power market. This reinforces our capability to deliver high returns and the continued disciplined growth in power production,” CEO Anders Opedal said.

Low Carbon Energy

Almost two thirds, 64 percent, of Scotland’s clean power supply chain are investing in the skills, capabilities, and facilities they will need to capitalise on Scotland’s renewable energy market over the next three to five years, a survey of trade body Scottish Renewables’ members has found.

The sixth edition of Scottish Renewables’ Supply Chain Impact Statement, an annual showcase of the businesses and organisations working across Scotland’s renewable energy industry, also showed that 60 percent of respondents do not think the UK and Scottish governments are enabling the right market conditions for Scottish businesses to compete and secure contracts.

“If we’re serious about delivering on our clean power potential and building a world-leading green economy, we need to think bigger than we ever have before,” said Emma Harrick, Director of Energy Transition and Supply Chain at Scottish Renewables.

“This means urgently delivering an economic environment that maximises the entrepreneurial spirit of our clean power supply chain.”

Workers and businesses in the UK’s industrial heartlands will benefit from an initial £300 million of funding through Great British Energy to invest in supply chains for domestic

offshore wind. The funding is expected to directly and indirectly mobilise billions in additional private investment - helping derisk clean energy projects and supporting thousands of jobs and revitalising the UK’s industrial heartlands.

In May, the UK more than doubled the funding for the Clean Industry Bonus from an initial £200 million to £544 million, after hundreds of bids have come through from the UK’s offshore wind sector, exceeding expectations.

The Clean Industry Bonus will provide financial rewards for offshore wind developers, on the condition they prioritise investment in regions that need it most or in cleaner supply chains, including traditional oil and gas communities, ex-industrial areas and ports and coastal towns.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of Ineos, has criticised the UK carbon tax policy, saying that it additionally burdens UK businesses.

The high carbon taxes have made Ineos pause green energy projects, he added.

“This is not just INEOS, this is a reality for British manufacturers up and down the country: carbon emissions taxes and excessive energy costs are squeezing the life out of the sector,” Ratcliffe said.

Ireland can generate at least a further 6,000 MW of wind energy, in addition to what is already built or in the planning system, a new study commissioned by Wind Energy Ireland showed.

“This analysis clearly demonstrates that a significant amount of onshore wind energy can be delivered in just two per cent of the country’s land mass, while taking account of planning and environmental constraints and design requirements,” said Brian Keville, Managing Director of MKO Ireland, the planning and environmental consultancy MKO that produced the study.

In company and project news, Ørsted announced in early May it would discontinue the Hornsea 4 offshore wind project in its current form, due to continued increase of supply chain costs, higher interest rates, and an increase in the risk to construct and operate Hornsea 4 on the planned timeline for a project of this scale.

Ørsted has taken the decision to stop further spend on the project at this time and terminate the project’s supply chain contracts, meaning that Ørsted will not deliver Hornsea 4 under the CfD awarded in allocation round 6 (AR6).

Eni has reached financial close with the UK Government for the Liverpool Bay CCS project, where Eni is the operator of the CO2 transport and storage system (T&S) of the HyNet industrial cluster. The financial close allows the Liverpool Bay CCS project to move into the construction phase, unlocking key investments in supply chain contracts, the majority of which will be spent locally.

“The strategic agreement with the UK Government paves the way for the industrialscale development of CCS, a sector in which the United Kingdom reaffirms its leadership thanks to the promotion of a regulatory framework that aims to strengthen the development of CCS and make it fully competitive in the market,” Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said.

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has awarded three carbon storage permits to Eni for Liverpool Bay CCS, the CO2 transportation and storage system which will serve the HyNet industrial cluster.

The system, which will take CO2 from large-scale industrial emitters in north-west England and north Wales, will unlock about £2 billion worth of supply chain contracts and create 2,000 construction jobs, the NSTA said.

Eni has awarded to fellow Italian energy services contractor Saipem a contract of about 520 million euros over the three years required to complete the Liverpool Bay CCS project. Saipem will convert a traditional Gas Compression and Treatment facility at Point of Ayr, in north Wales, into an innovative CO2 Electrical Compression Station allowing for permanent CO2 storage in offshore depleted fields under Liverpool Bay.

Statera Energy has secured a resolution to grant planning permission from Aberdeenshire Council for the UK’s largest green hydrogen project, Kintore Hydrogen. The project will produce green hydrogen using abundant power from Scottish wind farms that could otherwise be turned off, saving billions in wind

curtailment costs whilst providing significant carbon savings, Statera Energy said.

Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) has submitted its application for a 2-GW pumped storage hydro (PSH) project near Loch Ness. The project would be one of the UK’s largest and most efficient energy storage schemes.

Calderdale Energy Park, the proponents of England’s largest wind farm, have scaled back the project, proposing up to 41 wind turbines up to a tip height of 200m and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), together with all necessary associated temporary and permanent infrastructure. The number of turbines is reduced by 24 compared to the initial proposal. Unlike in the original plans, solar panels are no longer part of the proposed wind Calderdale Energy Park.

SSE has received a grant of planning permission from Mayo County Council for its proposed Mullafarry Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The project will be developed on an SSE-owned site in Tawnaghmore Upper, adjacent to the existing 104-MW Tawnaghmore Power Station in Killala Business Park, North Mayo.

BOOM Power has received development consent for its East Yorkshire Solar Farm, which is expected to generate 400 MW of lowcarbon electricity, sufficient to power around 100,000 homes.

Octopus Energy Generation is buying Germany’s MN projects GmbH, a green energy developer boasting a 2 GW pipeline of renewables projects. Hamburg-based MN projects GmbH is developing more than 70 renewable energy sites across Germany.

Öresundskraft Kraft & Värme AB and INEOSled Project Greensand have signed an agreement to consider the opportunity to store up to 210,000 tonnes of CO2 annually from Sweden in Denmark. The captured carbon dioxide is planned for safe and permanent storage in Greensand storage facility located in the Danish part of the North Sea, with the first volumes expected to be stored from 2028.

Equinor and Polenergia have secured a final environmental decision for the Bałtyk 1 Project, which paves the way for Poland’s largest planned offshore wind farm with a planned capacity of up to 1,560 MW.

Polenergia and Equinor are jointly developing three offshore wind projects—Bałtyk 1, Bałtyk 2, and Bałtyk 3—with a combined capacity of up to 3,000 MW, sufficient to power 4 million households with clean energy.

Power utility giant Vattenfall and energy flexibility provider terralayr have signed a 7-year, 55 MW multi-asset capacity tolling deal, which is an industry-first virtual battery tolling structure. The two companies have signed a ground-breaking offtake agreement for a decentralised fleet of battery storage systems. The batteries are developed, built, and aggregated by terralayr through its proprietary flexibility platform. A portion of the total capacity is then operated by Vattenfall in Hamburg under a long-term offtake agreement and optimised in the energy markets.

Unlike conventional tolling agreements tied to a single physical asset, this deal is structured around aggregated capacity from multiple decentralised grid-scale batteries, terralayr said. 

USA Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

The US oil and gas industry received a shot in the arm with the Trump Administration’s eased regulatory requirements in a number of areas, but the very same administration is also instilling increased uncertainty among US oil and gas producers with the shifting and highly unpredictable tariff and trade policies.

Analysts at Rystad Energy now expect onshore Lower-48 production in the US to fall short of the record high output of 11.37 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil, achieved in November 2023, until at least June of this year.

But even this more pessimistic outlook faces serious downside pressure should the recent price downturn hold, forcing operators to cut back on rig activity, says Matthew Bernstein, Vice President, North America Oil and Gas Research at Rystad Energy.

Even before the market rout in April triggered by the chaotic tariff policies, publicly traded US firms guided plans to increase volumes by roughly 2.5 percent in 2025 while reducing spending by more than 6 percent. Much of this growth, which is now at risk due to the collapse in prices, is driven by some of the largest diversified public players and supermajors, capable of diverting cash flows from global operations to fund more growthoriented programs in US tight oil, while still maintaining capital discipline at a corporate level, Rystad Energy said.

If

Wood Mackenzie analysts expect the uncertainty and the oil price volatility of recent weeks to hit US oil production growth, investments, and the oilfield services sector.

“The oil industry has ingrained institutional knowledge from the price crashes in 2015 and 2020 and is ready to act swiftly in a downturn. While the US administration targets both lower prices and ‘Drill, baby, drill’, we’re more likely to see ‘Delay, baby, delay’”, said Fraser McKay, Head of Upstream Analysis at Wood Mackenzie.

operators and the supply chain anticipate a period of prolonged low prices, it would send shockwaves through the industry.

“If operators and the supply chain anticipate a period of prolonged low prices, it would send shockwaves through the industry. This near-term uncertainty becomes an investment killer, precisely when the focus should be on potential long-term demand growth.”

Due to shale operator flexibility, the US industry would be the first to cut spending if oil prices slide further, according to WoodMac.

Oil Industry Nervously Awaiting Tariff Fallout

In what is already a maturing US shale industry, companies have seen increased market uncertainty due to President Donald Trump’s erratic trade policies.

Expectations of weaker economies – and even recessions, due to the threatened, implemented, and withdrawn tariffs led to significant drop in oil prices in April. For many shale producers, drilling new wells may not be profitable at benchmark US WTI oil prices of below $60 per barrel.

Half-cycle breakeven prices of most wells being drilled today are in the $50 per barrel range, but the intelligence firm estimates that public shale E&Ps need more than another $9 per barrel to cover shareholder returns.

So, it’s roughly $60 per WTI barrel price for companies to cover dividends and buybacks.

“Rystad Energy has long maintained that presidents have very few supply-oriented policy measures at their disposal to increase US oil output. Doing this while also bringing down prices at the same time is even more unrealistic, as producers see WTI in the $70 per barrel range as supportive of only modest growth,” Bernstein commented.

At current market conditions with rising OPEC+ supply, near-term uncertainty, and price declines, global upstream investment could drop this year for the first time since 2020, the energy consultancy reckons.

US Upstream M&A Hits $17 Billion in Q1

While US upstream mergers and acquisitions hit $17 billion in the first quarter of 2025, activity is likely to sink later this year amid oil price volatility and declines, OPEC+ adding more production to the market, and the US tariff threats, Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR) said at the end of April.

Upstream M&A opened 2025 with $17 billion in deal value, the second-best start to a year since 2018. However, activity was disproportionately driven by one company, Diamondback Energy, which accounted for nearly 50 percent of total value between its acquisition of Double Eagle IV and a dropdown of minerals to its affiliate Viper Energy Partners.

According to Enverus, apart from Diamondback, buyers were already feeling the pressure of limited acquisition opportunities and high asking prices for undeveloped drilling inventory. Upstream companies will also have to navigate significant headwinds from falling oil and equity values. Historically, lower oil prices discourage M&A deals, Enverus noted.

“Upstream deal markets are heading into the most challenging conditions we have seen since the first half of 2020,” said Andrew Dittmar, principal analyst at EIR.

“High asset prices and limited opportunities are colliding with weakening crude.”

Sellers would be unwilling to sell assets at a discount, while potential buyers cannot afford to pay recently seen prices after oil declined. As a result, “The standoff between those two groups around fair asset pricing is set to sink M&A activity,” Dittmar said.

Ultimately, private equity firms and the largecap E&Ps with strong balance sheets could be the winners from the volatility as they would be ready to return to considering M&As once oil prices stabilize, the analyst added.

US Administration Eases Energy Permitting and Production

In April the U.S. Department of the Interior said it would implement emergency permitting procedures to accelerate the development of domestic energy resources and critical minerals, in response to President Trump’s declaration of a National Energy Emergency.

These measures are designed to expedite the review and approval, if appropriate, of projects related to the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, or generation of energy within the United States. The new permitting procedures will take a multi-year process down to just 28 days at most, the Interior said.

The Department will utilize emergency authorities under existing regulations for the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. The procedures will significantly enable faster permitting timelines—reducing processes that typically take several months or years to just weeks.

Secretary Burgum has also directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to initiate the first step in a robust public engagement process to develop a new schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

Once finalized, the 11th National OCS Program will replace the current 10th Program (2024–2029), which includes just three lease

sales over five years—all located in the Gulf of America. While BOEM continues work to complete those sales, development of the 11th Program will proceed concurrently.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) welcomed the start of drafting of a new offshore leasing programme, with Vice President of Upstream Policy Holly Hopkins saying,

“A new and more predictable five-year program is a big step forward for American energy dominance, and we look forward to working with policymakers to develop a leasing program that reflects both the reality of global energy demand and the benefits of offshore energy production.”

The Department of the Interior has also announced a policy advancement aimed at boosting offshore oil output in the Gulf of America. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement implemented new parameters for Downhole Commingling in the Paleogene (Wilcox) reservoirs, expanding the allowable pressure differential from 200 psi to 1500 psi.

This change, the result of extensive technical consultation with offshore industry leaders, could increase production output by about 10 percent, which would translate into over 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) production increase over the next ten years, the Interior says.

API welcomed this policy, too. The oil lobby’s Hopkins commented that the announcement “ensures new technologies and innovation can be fully leveraged to support safe and efficient offshore oil production in the Gulf as a critical source of affordable energy, government revenue and national security.” 

Middle East Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

The OPEC+ group of oil producers decided to continue raising collective production in June by further easing the output cuts, OPEC left its forecast of oil demand growth unchanged, while the Middle Eastern oil and gas companies entered into major new agreements for energy supply and new technology development.

“This flexibility will allow the group to continue to support oil market stability. The eight OPEC+ countries also noted that this measure will provide an opportunity for the participating countries to accelerate their compensation,” OPEC said in a statement.

OPEC Sees Slower Production Growth from Non-OPEC+ Producers

In its Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) for May, OPEC said it expects slower growth from rival producers outside the OPEC+ pact.

Liquids supply from OPEC+’s rivals – including the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Norway – is set to increase by 800,000 bpd in each of 2025 and 2026, down by 100,000 bpd compared to OPEC’s previous assessment of 900,000-bpd growth for both years.

“The potential impact on production levels in 2025 and 2026 of the decline in upstream E&P oil investments will constitute a challenge, despite the industry’s continued focus on efficiency and productivity improvements,” OPEC said, referring to US crude oil and condensate production.

“Efficiency gains are expected to continue to increase on a well basis in the short term, through drilling longer laterals, more efficient operations, reduced downtime and flattening production decline curves,” the organization said in its monthly report.

OPEC+ Boosts Oil Supply

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman in early May decided to increase production by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June compared to May, in the second such monthly increase in two months.

These countries of the OPEC+ coalition “reaffirm commitment to market stability on current healthy oil market fundamentals and adjust production upward,” OPEC said, adding that the gradual increases may be paused or reversed subject to evolving market conditions.

On the other hand, OPEC left its global oil demand growth projections unchanged from April, expecting demand to grow by 1.3 million bpd in both 2025 and 2026.

OPEC expressed in the middle of May cautious optimism about the global trade and economy, in light of the US-UK trade deal and the “significant de-escalation” in the USChina trade relations after the world’s two largest economies agreed to reduce tariffs on each other for 90 days while continuing trade negotiations.

“The global economy continues to face uncertainty amid a shifting trade landscape, though early indicators suggest resilient consumer demand in major economies in 1Q25. Despite declining consumer confidence, consumer spending has remained relatively stable. Positive signals from trade negotiations also provide some support,” OPEC said.

Saudi Arabia’s New Shale Gas Field Could Slash Crude Burn

Saudi Arabia’s Jafurah shale gas field, set to start production in 2025 and the largest of its kind globally, could dramatically cut crude burn in the Kingdom, which has long relied on the direct use of crude oil in power plants and industrial facilities, primarily for electricity generation, a Rystad Energy analysis showed.

By tapping into unconventional gas, Saudi Arabia could displace up to 350,000 bpd of crude burn by 2030. The increased gas supply would not only curb domestic crude use but also free up more oil and refined products for export, strengthening the country’s position in global energy markets, Rystad Energy said.

“As the initiative advances, the success of this shift will depend on robust midstream infrastructure, downstream integration and deeper-zone drilling campaigns,” commented Pankaj Srivastava, Senior Vice President, Commodities Markets – Oil, at Rystad Energy.

Saudi Aramco Earnings Drop on Lower Oil Prices

Saudi state oil giant Aramco reported a decline in net income and cash flow for the first quarter of the year, as economic uncertainty weighed on oil prices. Aramco’s net income fell to $26.0 billion from $27.3 billion a year earlier, cash flow from operating activities declined to $31.7 billion from $33.6 billion, and free cash flow dropped to $19.2 billion from $22.8 billion.

Aramco’s board declared a base dividend of $21.1 billion for Q1 2025, up by 4.2 percent year-on-year, and a performance-linked dividend of $200 million, much lower than the performance-linked payout for Q1 2024.

“Global trade dynamics affected energy markets in the first quarter of 2025, with economic uncertainty impacting oil prices,” Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser said.

“Such periods also highlight the importance of disciplined capital planning and execution while we continue to take a long-term view.”

Continued Nasser, “Our ambition is reflected in milestones already announced in 2025, including progress towards our gas production growth target, our global retail expansion, the advancement of our petrochemicals strategy, headway in blue hydrogen business development, and further innovation in carbon capture.”

MIDDLE EAST ENERGY REVIEW

Deals and Contracts

In deals and contracts, Saudi Aramco and China’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles and power batteries, BYD, have agreed to explore closer collaboration in new energy vehicle technologies.

Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC), Aramco’s wholly-owned subsidiary, and BYD signed a joint development agreement aimed at fostering the development of innovative technologies that enhance efficiency and environmental performance.

“Aramco is exploring a number of ways to potentially optimize transport efficiency, from innovative lower-carbon fuels to advanced powertrain concepts,” said Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight & Coordination.

Italian engineering group Saipem has renewed its framework agreement with Saudi Aramco for offshore activities, and the longterm agreement now extends until the end of 2027.

With the renewal of the agreement, Saipem is confirmed in the exclusive list of contractors selected by Saudi Aramco who are eligible to bid for work orders, known as CRPOs (Contract Release Purchase Orders). These contracts may relate to both the construction of new investment projects and any projects aimed at maintaining production capacity from Saudi Arabia’s offshore fields. Should Saipem be awarded contracts for activities within the Kingdom under the agreement, these will be carried out by a consortium between Snamprogetti Saudi Arabia (a subsidiary of Saipem SpA) and STAR (Saipem Taqa Al-Rushaid Fabricators Co).

Technip Energies has been awarded a significant engineering contract for the North Field Production Sustainability Offshore Compression Project in Qatar. A “significant” award for Technip Energies is a contract award representing between 50 million euros and 250 million euros of revenue.

Under the contract, Technip Energies, having completed the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase, will provide Detailed Engineering Design for two offshore compression complexes for QatarEnergy LNG. Each will comprise large offshore platforms, flare platforms, interconnected bridges, and other associated structures.

QatarEnergy has entered into a longterm condensate supply agreement with Singapore-based Shell International Eastern Trading Company (SIETCO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shell Plc. The agreement stipulates the supply of up to 285 million barrels of condensate to Shell for 25 years starting from July 2025.

We are delighted to sign QatarEnergy’s first 25-year condensate sales agreement, the largest and longest duration condensate agreement to date

“We are delighted to sign QatarEnergy’s first 25-year condensate sales agreement, the largest and longest duration condensate agreement to date,” said Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy.

Qatar is also ramping up its renewable energy capacity. At the end of April, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, inaugurated the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar PV power plants with a combined capacity of 875 megawatts (MW), which will more than double the State of Qatar’s solar energy production to 1,675 MW. 

Norway Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

Norway set new records in oil and gas sales from fields on its shelf and is working to continue attracting companies to explore in its designated areas and develop new projects.

Norway’s government and offshore authorities prioritise responsible resource development and ensure predictable licensing and fiscal frameworks for the operators on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Norway’s Oil and Gas Sales Soar to Records

Amid political unrest and conflicts globally, and high demand for non-Russian energy in Europe, Norwegian exports of oil and gas hit new record-highs in 2024, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate said in its annual report at the end of April.

Overall oil and gas production from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) hit last year its highest level since 2009. Around 30 percent of the gas consumed in Europe came from Norway, which illustrates the importance of resources from the NCS for the energy security in both the EU and the UK, the Norwegian directorate said.

Many new projects are under development offshore Norway, and these are expected to contribute to sustain production levels in the years to come.

“The Directorate’s primary objective is to contribute toward securing the greatest possible value for society from oil and gas activities on the NCS. The Directorate aims to accomplish this by means of effective and prudent resource management, including consideration for health, safety, the environment, and other users of the sea,” the authority said.

Much of Norway’s proven resources remain in operating fields, which is why the Directorate has made systematic efforts to increase recovery from these fields by urging the licensees to drill more production wells and/or implement other measures to boost output.

There were few applications for approval of new developments in 2024. However, planning is underway to develop a number of discoveries going forward.

The Directorate expects oil and gas production from the NCS to fall gradually in the coming years. But the level of the decline will depend on the volume of new resources discovered and how much of these discovered resources are developed and actually come on stream.

“The industry’s willingness and ability to explore for new resources, and actually produce them, will be extremely important to avoid an unnecessarily sharp decline in production,” said the Directorate.

Technology advancements will play an increasingly important role in resource

discovery and development offshore Norway, the authority noted.

Apart from oil and gas, industry has shown interest in developing projects to safely store carbon dioxide (CO2) on the NCS. Since the Norwegian Parliament voted to open the door to activity related to minerals on the seabed, the Directorate has worked to prepare draft regulations surrounding the administration of such a potential new industry.

Over the past decade, operators have kept high activity and continuous exploration in the mature areas of the shelf thanks to the annual APA (Awards in predefined areas) licences, the Directorate said in a separate overview in April.

The annual APA rounds have been the key driver of exploration on the Norwegian shelf, as a result of more than 20 years of continuous expansion of the available acreage and the authorities ensuring predictable framework conditions through the annual licensing rounds, the Directorate noted.

The Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) are announced every year and comprise the mature parts of the shelf, with known geology and good infrastructure.

“This has ensured predictability for the industry. Nearly all acreage opened for petroleum activity on the NCS is now included in APA. There is still some acreage available within the mature areas where there has been less exploration,” said Kjersti Dahle, Director of offshore new ventures.

“We encourage more exploration and a greater willingness to take chances. Higher risk can yield higher rewards.”

The APA licensing rounds were introduced for the most explored parts of the continental shelf in 2003. It is important to ensure good utilisation of the infrastructure over time in order to achieve good resource management and high value creation. Companies have until September this year to nominate blocks for next year’s APA round.

Young Source Rock Discovered West of Svalbard

Studies of natural oil and gas seeps from the seabed have yielded new knowledge about a previously overlooked young source rock, the Directorate has said.

Source rocks are the rocks that have the potential to generate oil and/or natural gas and are essential to the formation of oil and natural gas fields. The evaluation of the source rock characteristics is critical to the precise assessment for exploration.

Now a young source rock has been discovered.

“It’s the work done in cooperation with the academic community west of Svalbard that led to the discovery of the new, young source rock, and what appears to be a functioning petroleum system linked to it,” said Rune Mattingsdal, a geologist with the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, who has worked to map natural oil and gas seeps over the course of several years.

“A functioning source rock is the most important criteria for discovering oil and/or gas,” Mattingsdal added.

This young source rock may have formed hydrocarbons where it’s situated, buried deep under Bjørnøyvifta in the Norwegian Sea, west of the Barents Sea from the shelf edge and out into the deep sea.

Bjørnøyvifta is poorly explored and the area is not open for petroleum activity. But oil and gas that have formed may be significant for acreage open for drilling in the westernmost part of the Barents Sea, the Directorate said.

Sulphide Deposits in Norway’s Shelf

The Centre for Deep Sea Research at the University of Bergen (UiB) and the Norwegian Offshore Directorate have discovered a new sulphide location on the Knipovich Ridge, west of Svalbard.

Sulphide minerals are compounds of sulphur with one or several metals.

The newly-discovered “Gygra” deposit is situated at 2,800 metres below sea level, the Directorate said.

A sulphide sample was collected during an expedition along the Knipovich Ridge in December 2024.

“Further mapping of the area was conducted in March of this year, and we are now certain that we’ve discovered a new sulphide deposit,” said Hilde Braut, Assistant director of the new industries in the Norwegian Offshore Directorate.

The inactive sulphide deposit known as “Gygra” was discovered as part of a broader survey in the area surrounding the previously proven “Jøtul” sulphide deposit. Gygra is located just over a kilometre southeast of “Jøtul”

First analyses indicate that the material at Gygra contains between 2 percent and 30 percent copper. The presence of the mineral atacamite confirms a high copper content, the Directorate said.

Aasland said in his speech at the opening of the Nordic Electricity Markets Forum in Oslo in May.

“Our strong cooperation is the key to success for the green shift,” Aasland added.

“We must build stronger grids, encourage more flexibility, and keep our markets open and efficient.”

The minister concluded, “By staying close and developing our shared market, we can make sure the Nordics stay ahead in the green transition – and boost our competitiveness in a changing world.”

In floating wind, the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has approved a State aid scheme for developing a floating offshore wind farm on the Norwegian continental shelf.

The aid scheme aims to support the development of a new, floating offshore wind farm in Utsira Nord in the North Sea, off the coast of Rogaland County.

We must build stronger grids, encourage more flexibility, and keep our markets open and efficient.

More Nordic Cooperation Needed in Electricity

Norway needs to work more closely with the other Nordic countries to see how they can handle increasing production of intermittent energy, Norway’s Minister of Energy Terje

The aid, which will be administered by the Norwegian Ministry of Energy and will be granted in the form of a direct grant, has a total budget of NOK 35 billion (EUR 2.95 billion).

“The wind farm will increase renewable energy production in Norway, support electrification, and cut fossil fuel dependency in transport, industry, and business,” ESA said.

Norway participates in the EU’s internal energy market through the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. It is also part of the Nordic power market and integrated into the wider European market through interconnectors. 

Australia Energy Review

By Tsvetana Paraskova

the 2025 election was “a vote of confidence by the Australian people in the nation’s clean energy future.”

Woodside bought Louisiana LNG, the former Driftwood LNG project, as part of its acquisition of Tellurian for US$1.2 billion last year.

Australia Boosts LNG and Clean Energy as Albanese Wins Election

Australian firms have increased their presence on the global LNG market and in clean energy projects at home as the Labor Party of incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese won the general election in a landslide.

The majority of Australian voters voted Labor and the ruling party expanded its majority in a win seen as a result of antiTrump sentiment in many parts of the world.

“In this time of global uncertainty, Australians have chosen optimism and determination. Australians have chosen to face global challenges, the Australian way – looking after each other, while building for the future,” Albanese said on election night on 3 May.

Clean Energy Welcomes Labor Win

Australia’s top renewable energy industry, the Clean Energy Council, said that the Australian Labor Party’s decisive and historic victory at

The re-election of the Albanese Government provides continuity for strong and effective policy that is critical to underpin new investment in clean energy that will in turn deliver lower power prices for all Australians, Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton, said.

“It’s now time to leave the politics behind and get on with the job of rolling out renewable energy to deliver affordable and reliable power for all Australians,” noted Thornton.

“This also includes ensuring the effective design and implementation of the Government’s promised Cheaper Home Batteries rebate program, much-needed reform to environment and planning laws and reform to the energy market to ensure clearer incentives for new investment, including for long duration energy storage.”

The Climate Council, for its part, commented that “A steep swing towards Labor, delivering what is expected to be their largest majority since World War II, represents a resounding endorsement of Australia’s current plan for renewable power.”

Australia’s national electricity grid is already 40 percent powered by renewables and storage.

At the 2025 election, Australians endorsed the progress that’s already been made by the first term Labor (ALP) government, and backed a renewable-powered future.

By the next election, Australia’s main grid is expected to be more than two-thirds powered with renewables and storage – making this switch unstoppable, the Climate Council said.

Woodside Approves Louisiana LNG Project

At the end of April, Australia’s Woodside Energy made a final investment decision to develop the three-train, 16.5 million tonne per annum (Mtpa) Louisiana LNG export project in the United States. Woodside is targeting first LNG in 2029.

Development of Louisiana LNG will position Woodside as a global LNG powerhouse, enabling the company to deliver approximately 24 Mtpa from its global LNG portfolio in the 2030s, and operating over 5 percent of global LNG supply. The development has expansion capacity for two additional LNG trains and is fully permitted for a total capacity of 27.6 Mtpa.

“Louisiana LNG is a game-changer for Woodside, set to position our company as a global LNG powerhouse and enable us to deliver enduring shareholder returns,” Woodside chief executive officer Meg O’Neill said.

“Adding Louisiana LNG to our established Australian LNG business provides Woodside with a balanced and resilient portfolio, combining long-life, flexible LNG assets with high-return oil assets.”

The Louisiana LNG project will benefit from access to abundant low-cost gas resources in the United States and boasts an asset lifespan of more than 40 years. It also has access to well-established interstate and intrastate gas supply networks, the Australian company said.

Case in point: a day after announcing the FID, Woodside said it had signed an agreement with bp for the integrated energy major to supply natural gas to the Louisiana LNG project. This agreement represents the first tranche of a diversified portfolio of feedgas that will support the Louisiana LNG project, enabled by the project’s extensive interconnectivity to multiple producing basins and interconnecting pipelines.

Under the agreement, Louisiana LNG Gas Management LLC (GasCo), a wholly owned subsidiary of Louisiana LNG LLC, has committed to purchase on a long-term basis up to 640 billion cubic feet of gas from bp for an ultimate delivery to Line 200 beginning in 2029.

Woodside has also signed LNG sale and purchase agreements with Uniper for the supply of 1.0 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa)

from Louisiana LNG LLC and up to 1.0 Mtpa from its global portfolio (Woodside Energy Trading Singapore Pty. Ltd.), demonstrating ongoing strong demand for LNG globally.

“In an environment of increasing demand for dependable sources of LNG, particularly in Europe, we remain focused on delivering reliable energy supply that will benefit our partners and stakeholders for years to come,” O’Neill said.

Another Australian energy major, Santos, reported strong free cash flow from operations of about US$465 million for the first quarter, up by 9 percent on the prior quarter, from sales revenue of US$1.3 billion.

Santos’ production increased by 2 percent on the prior quarter driven by higher production from Western Australia. The company’s Western Australian production volumes increased by more than 18 percent on the previous quarter, driven by the Halyard-2 infill well.

Santos also noted that the Barossa LNG project is 95.2 percent complete with the Gas Export Pipeline and Darwin Pipeline Duplication complete, the majority of subsea infrastructure installed, and the FPSO shipyard commissioning over 90 percent complete.

record for solar cell efficiency with ecofriendly perovskite technology.

A team led by Professor Lianzhou Wang has unveiled a tin halide perovskite (THP) solar cell capable of converting sunlight to electricity at a certified record efficiency of 16.65 percent, the University of Queensland said in April.

We are thrilled with the record and also to be contributing to the progress of costeffective renewable energy technology.

Four wells have been drilled and completed, a fifth well is suspended for later completion and drilling of the sixth well is in progress. The project remains on track for first gas in the third quarter of this year, Santos confirmed.

“Our portfolio is resilient in a volatile environment and we have an advantaged geographical position into regions with growing demand and highly sought after products,” said Santos managing director and CEO Kevin Gallagher.

In new energy technologies, University of Queensland researchers have set a world

“The reading is in line with many siliconbased solar cells currently on the market but with the potential to be cheaper and quicker to make,” Professor Wang commented.

“We are thrilled with the record and also to be contributing to the progress of costeffective renewable energy technology.”

Technip Energies has been awarded a FrontEnd Engineering Design (FEED) contract by Jet Zero Australia Pty Ltd (Jet Zero) for Project Ulysses, a bioethanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project located in Townsville, Australia.

The project aims to produce 102 million litres of SAF and 11 million litres of renewable diesel annually by 2028 using Australian bioethanol and technologies from Technip Energies and LanzaJet.

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, specialised in infrastructure investments for the energy transition, has announced a further expansion of its large-scale Supernode battery storage project with contracts signed for Stage 3 offtake with Stanwell Corporation.

The Stage 3 expansion adds a further 250MW/4hr Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) taking the total installed capacity to 780 MW and 3,096 MWh, believed to be one of the largest to date in Australia’s National Electricity Market.

“We are pleased to be delivering such a significant new infrastructure project supporting Queensland’s demand for clean energy to support the ‘green superpower’ opportunities in the Sunshine State,” said Brian Restall, Quinbrook’s Managing Director and Regional Leader, Australia.

The government of Victoria made a step forward toward creating Victoria’s Wind Worker Training Centre, which is aimed at delivering training for the onshore and offshore wind sectors.

“This investment in wind energy training is essential to building up the skilled workforce needed to support the planning, construction, and operations of new renewable energy projects and meet Victoria’s ambitious renewable energy targets,” the Victoria government said.

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio commented, “Because of renewable energy, Victoria has the lowest energy prices in the market and building more will make sure we can continue to drive them down – whilst creating thousands of lifelong jobs for Victorians.” 

RCP-EDR

ELECTRONIC DRILLING RECORDER

The RCP EDR is designed to give operators a clear, unambiguous overview of critical drilling and mud data processes The system has been developed by RCP to greatly improve how information is presented using the latest industrial technologies and user-friendly interfaces.

The RCP EDR offers a quick and cost-effective solution for clients considering a new installation or a partial upgrade to their existing drilling instrumentation systems Our highly experienced engineers and software developers allows us to tailor each new system to meet your exact needs meaning that you do not pay for functionality you will never use

The RCP EDR utilizes a variety of sensing technologies to monitor the drilling processes, (typically: Level, Pressure, Height, Temperature and Flow). Sensor output signals are received by the distributed I/O racks and are then processed by the EDR.

Processed information is then transmitted through network communication modules to each of the user interfaces including remotely networked PC’s and local HMI’s System and operator interface communications may utilize either: Fibre-Optic, Profinet, Profibus or Industrial Ethernet connection

BRENT OIL PRICES OVER THE YEARS

1 YEAR AGO

1 Year Ago - $85.25

Oil prices settled slightly higher as investors worried that a potential expansion of the Gaza war could disrupt crude supplies from the Middle East. Cross-border strains between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah had been escalating in recent weeks, stoking fears of a war that could draw in regional powers, including major oil producer Iran.

5 YEARS AGO

5 Years Ago - $40.45

BP forecasted lower oil prices ‘for decades to come’ as governments sped up plans to cut carbon emissions in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the oil giants said they would revise down the value of its assets by between $13bn and $17.5bn. Countries across the world ordered people to stay indoors and not travel as a result of the pandemic, causing a slump in demand for oil.

10 YEARS AGO

10 Years Ago - $63.02

Saudi Arabia, the leading OPEC member, claimed success with its strategy of letting prices fall and squeezing high-cost rivals such as US shale producers, as the world’s largest crude exporter seeked to reassert itself as the dominant force in the global oil market. Brent had fallen more than 40% since the summer before, with sharp declines following OPEC’s landmark decision the previous year to maintain rather than cut output.

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MAROMBA OIL FIELD (PHASE 1)

BW Energy has announced the final investment decision (FID) for the Maromba development. First oil is planned by end-2027. An initial set of six production wells will be drilled from a wellhead platform, followed by a second six-well campaign that will fully utilise the existing field infrastructure and enable appraisal and testing of additional reservoir horizon

LAC DA HONG (PINK CAMEL) OIL DISCOVERY

Oil discovery at the Lac Da Hong-1X exploration well that is located in Block 15-1/05 in the Cuu Long Basin. The well was drilled to a total depth of 13,616 feet in 151 feet of water. The well achieved a maximum flow rate of 2,500 b/d oil. The potential development for Lac Da Hong will be a tie-back to Lac Da Vang discovery.

UPPER ZAKUM –PRODUCTION CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT UZ 1000K

ADNOC Drilling Company has been awarded a contract to supply three additional island rigs. This award follows an award that was made to the same company in July 2024. The rigs will operate on ADNOC’s existing and newly constructed artificial islands for drilling and completion of wells. The rigs are expected to be delivered by 2028.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

BERYL OFFSHORE OIL DISCOVERY

EOG Resources has discovered oil in water depths of approximately 52 metres. The discovery well encountered nearly 40 metres of high-quality oil-bearing net pay. EOG and bptt are progressing towards a final investment decision to fast track the project, which is located near existing production platforms

BLOCK 52

Wison New Energies has been awarded a contract to carry out a feasibility study to evaluate the technical and economic viability of deploying an FLNG unit at the Sloanea field, located in Block 52 in water depths of 450 metres. The detailed feasibility study (DFS) is expected to lay the groundwork for front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies.

RATAWI FIELD DEVELOPMENT PHASE 1

Wood has been awarded two engineering and procurement framework contracts worth $11 million by TotalEnergies EP Ratawi Hub for the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) at the Ratawi field in Iraq. These contracts, each with a three-year term, focus on advancing the Associated Gas Upstream Project (AGUP). Wood’s scope includes engineering design, procurement support, construction, and commissioning assistance for AGUP.

SEA LION OIL FIELD (PHASE 3)

The operator has confirmed a Phase 3 for Sea Lion, which expected to feature an FPSO that is larger than the one to be deployed during Phase 1. Plans are that the larger FPSO could add 95,000 b/d of oil production to the 55,000 b/d that Phases 1 and 2 will add

HAMMERHEAD OIL FIELD (STABROEK PHASE 7 –HAMMERHEAD FPSO)

Modec has been handed a limited notice proceed (LNTP) contract for the Hammerhead FPSO. The agreement, which is subject to government and regulatory approval, entails FEED (phase 1) and EPCI (phase 2) activities. Activities related to design are cleared to start. A final investment decision for the development is expected in the second half of 2025.

CAPRICORNUS OIL DISCOVERY

Rhino Resources has announced a light-oil discovery with the Capricornus-1X well, utilising the Noble Venturer drillship and reaching total depth of 4,957m. Further data analysis is needed to reveal the discovery’s estimated size. A production test was completed across a 38-metre net oilbearing reservoir and the well achieved a surface-constrained flow rate of over 11,000 bpd on a 40/64-inch choke.

NORTH FIELD PRODUCTION SUSTAINABILITY COMPRESSION PROJECT –PHASE 4

Technip Energies has been awarded a detailed engineering design contract by Larsen & Toubro’s hydrocarbon division for the project. Following its completion of the FEED phase, Technip Energies will now design two offshore compression complexes, including large platforms, flare platforms, bridges, and related structures.

ANNIE-1 GAS DISCOVERY

The operator noted that the three-well drilling programme has been approved. Drilling will commence later in 2025 with the Elanora exploration well followed by the Juliet prospect and then the Annie discovery.

SIRUNG OIL AND GAS DISCOVERY

The operator has stated that the pre-FEED work for the project has been completed. Additionally, PTTEP is planning to establish a development plan which is expected to be completed in 2025. RanhillWorley has commenced work on the FEED contract.

Wind Energy Capacity Installation Soars Despite Policy Uncertainty

Global wind energy capacity installations hit a new record while the UK recorded the best year for wind power generation in 2024. Yet, global policy uncertainties have spiked with a new US Administration not favouring offshore wind energy, anxiety about where the global economy is headed amid trade and tariff rows, and how these protectionist policies will impact the wind energy supply chain.

Record Wind Power Installations

Despite heightened uncertainties for the wind energy sector that began with rising interest rates and supply chain woes in 2023, the industry installed a record-breaking 117 gigawatts (GW) of wind power capacity in 2024, The Global Wind Energy Council’s flagship Global Wind Report 2025 showed.

With 117 GW installed last year, wind power advanced into new geographies and consolidated its position as a core pillar of the global energy transition, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) said. However, the momentum from 2024 is not enough to deliver the full benefits of wind energy. Wind deployment must scale rapidly in the next few years to align with COP28’s agreement to triple global renewable capacity by 2030, GWEC noted.

Last year saw 109 GW of new onshore wind and 8 GW of offshore wind capacity installed globally. This brings the global cumulative capacity of wind energy to 1,136 GW, spread across all continents. As many as 55 countries installed wind turbines last year, the report said.

Unsurprisingly, China led the way for new installations in 2024 ahead of the US, Germany, India, and Brazil. Those same five markets now make up the top five for total installations, as of the end of 2024, with Brazil moving past Spain.

Other regions also saw record growth, highlighting the advance of wind power installations globally. Wind installations grew by 7 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, while Africa and the Middle East region saw a 107% jump in new capacity, thanks to Egypt installing 794 MW and Saudi Arabia’s 390 MW. North America, Latin America, and Europe experienced a decline in new installations compared with 2023.

The report forecasts a compound average growth rate of 8.8 percent for the wind industry, which means another 981 GW of wind energy capacity across the globe by 2030.

“Wind is among the cheapest sources of energy in the world and one of the two sources of renewable energy that make up 95% of all global renewable capacity growth in this decade. It can offer high-quality power to consumers with a heavy baseload and ensure grid stability,” said Girish Tanti, Deputy CEO of Suzlon Group and Vice Chair of GWEC.

“Tripling renewables and phasing out fossil fuels are the most viable solutions to combat climate change, but we must act now. There is no Planet B, and it is our responsibility to protect those most affected by the perils of global warming.”

But the growth rate needs to surge further to meet the 2030 goal of tripling renewable energy capacity.

“Once again, the wind industry has broken new installation records, despite more challenging macroeconomic headwinds over the last few years,” said Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC.

“While wind energy continues to drive investment and jobs, improve energy security and lower consumer costs, we are seeing a more volatile policy environment in some parts of the world, including ideologically driven attacks on wind and renewables and the halting of under construction projects, threatening investment certainty.”

According to Backwell, “the aggressive stoking of tariff wars adds further uncertainty to international investment decisions and threatens to disrupt the international supply chains which the wind industry relies on.”

Concluded Backwell,

“It’s vitally important that policy makers around the world don’t take their eyes of the prize, ensure stable and predictable market frameworks, work within multilateral frameworks to ensure free and fair trade, and work with investors and industry to enable rapid deployment of clean, efficient wind power to support economic growth, resilience, and prosperity.”

GWEC recommended six actions in a roadmap to scale from today’s growth trajectory to the 320 GW per year needed by 2030. These key recommendations include create demand certainty, de-risk investment, industrialise for scale, enable fair trade, modernise infrastructure, and build social licence by countering disinformation with transparent, community-led engagement, benefit-sharing schemes, and local ownership models.

UK’s Record Year for Wind Power

In the UK, wind was the largest source of electricity generation in 2024 for the first year ever, accounting for 30 percent, said the National Energy System Operator (NESO), which coordinates electricity distribution. In addition, renewables generated more than 50 percent of Britain’s electricity for four consecutive quarters (Q4 2023 – Q3 2024) for the first time, averaging 51 percent during 2024, NESO’s figures showed.

As wind overtook gas as the top electricity source, last year also saw a monumental moment for Great Britain’s energy as coal came off the system for good.

Operational onshore wind in the UK currently totals 15.7 GW, up by 739 MW in 2024 due to the commissioning of some large-scale projects such as Viking (443 MW), Kype Muir Extension (67.2 MW),s and Broken Cross (43.2 MW), according to RenewableUK’s market intelligence service EnergyPulse.

The UK is set to achieve 26 GW of onshore wind by 2030, 3.1 GW below the target set out in the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan (CP30), EnergyPulse reckons. It will be the goal of the Onshore Wind Industry Task Force to achieve this target by “identifying and then delivering the actions needed to accelerate onshore wind deployment to 2030 and beyond”.

In offshore wind, the UK’s current operational offshore wind capacity stands at 14.7 GW. Notably, 2024 marked the first year since 2016 without any new offshore wind projects fully commissioned, EnergyPulse said.

However, significant construction activity continued offshore, with six projects totalling 6.3 GW undergoing major offshore installation activities. Among these, three projects of a combined 2.5 GW are expected to reach full commissioning in 2025, while two more of another 2.5 GW will begin major offshore construction during the year.

Moreover, the number of offshore wind planning applications in the UK jumped last year, with the capacity of projects in the UK’s planning systems nearly tripling. Fourteen planning applications, representing 15.4 GW, were submitted, bringing the total capacity in the planning system to 22.85 GW by yearend. Four projects (1.3 GW) received planning consent in 2024.

EnergyPulse’s latest forecast is that UK offshore wind capacity will reach 41.5 GW by the end of 2030, including partially commissioned projects, with fully commissioned capacity predicted at 36.8 GW. This includes 1.2 GW of floating wind capacity, although much of this hinges on a few key projects currently scheduled for 2030 completion.

Future projects could also see acceleration and more offshore wind capacity could secure contracts at this year’s UK clean energy auction, RenewableUK said after the government approved RWE’s Rampion 2 offshore wind farm project off the Sussex coast. Once fully operational, Rampion 2 would be capable of powering the equivalent of over one million UK homes, RWE says.

RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper commented,

“It means that a massive 8.5 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity is now eligible to bid into this year’s auction for new clean energy projects. If the Government agrees contracts with all of them, we could see 14 offshore wind farms go ahead, built with over £17 billion of private investment.”

“This would be a record amount of clean power from offshore wind secured in one auction. What’s more, we could see even more offshore wind projects bid in this year if Government continue to consent them at pace,” Cooper noted.

The UK government has announced £300 million of funding to secure global offshore wind investment in the UK. Workers and businesses in the UK’s industrial heartlands will benefit from an initial £300 million of funding through Great British Energy to invest in supply chains for domestic offshore wind, the UK government said at the end of April.

“Delivering the Plan for Change means winning the race for the clean energy jobs of the future, which will drive growth and help us reach clean power by 2030,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

RenewableUK’s Cooper commented on the announcement,

“There’s a huge opportunity for the UK to secure thousands of new jobs and supply chain investment in the sector, which will make our home-grown energy supply even more secure. ” 

By Tsvetana Paraskova

Safelift Offshore: specialist technical expertise makes waves in offshore wind

Over the past 30 years Aberdeenshire-based Safelift Offshore has grown into a global market leader in the design, supply and manufacture of manual handling and lifting equipment across the energy sector and beyond.

The company has invested c. £1million over the course of the past year in enhancing facilities and expanding the team, with a view to fulfilling larger scale projects within the renewables sector.

Safelift Offshore is already reaping the benefits of this investment by securing several high-profile contracts within the offshore wind sector. The firm’s safety orientated approach has also played a key role in this success – a factor which positions them well to respond to the growing number of new challenges arising in offshore renewables.

Drawing on over 30 years of experience in the traditional oil and gas industry, Safelift’s team brings extensive knowledge to the renewables sector—particularly offshore wind. Their in-house design and engineering team prioritises safety alongside bespoke, project-specific requirements, ensuring every solution is fit for purpose.

In addition to manufacturing their own highquality equipment, Safelift also curates a select range of powered and non-powered access solutions, electric tugs, gantry cranes, and hoists from trusted British and European alliance partners. This integrated approach offers clients a comprehensive technical procurement service—from front-end engineering through to day-to-day operations onboard their assets.

TenneT BorWin 6 project

Safelift was awarded the full mechanical handling project for the new-build 900MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) substation in the German North Sea. The BorWin6 is one of the offshore grid connection systems, which TenneT connects directly to the corresponding wind turbines.

Safelift carried out 18 months of front-end engineering work prior to the full project award, and went on to supply:

• ATEX Zone 2 specification electric monorail hoists

• Manual hoists

• Powered scissors lift access platforms

• Manual low level access platforms

• Mobile scissors tables

• Safelift flatbed trucks

• Pallet trucks

• Counter-balance floor cranes

All items were corrosion resistant, with project specific paint systems for an offshore marine environment.  The complete package was delivered within 16 weeks, with Safelift continuing to support the EPC team throughout the fabrication of the platform, providing solutions to access and handling challenges which came to light during the construction stage.

Local expertise - tailored solutions for each region and sector

Safelift Offshore has wide-ranging experience in adapting these solutions to different sectors as well as geographic territories

One particular project in Norway saw Safelift tasked with providing an engineered solution for the removal of pumps in an existing substation located in the Norwegian Continental Shelf.  The space was restricted with narrow walkways and low headroom for access to lift the pump. The team designed a bespoke counterbalance floor crane with a manually operated slewing jib.  The jib was restricted to 30 degrees, which allowed access to the pump, but controlled

movement to prevent damage to nearby pipework.  The design solution successfully delivered a safe, efficient, non-powered and low-maintenance solution.

New fabrication facility supported by ETZ

Safelift will shortly be unveiling their stateof-the-art new fabrication facility, supported by the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ) which is set to open a multitude of larger projects, particularly within the offshore wind and wider renewables market.

The new facility’s bespoke design will offer a solutions-led layout for these projects as well as increased usable space within the original facility.

Offshore

wind solutions: driving safety and efficiency

Safelift Offshore MD, Steven Simpson, said:

“Building and maintaining offshore wind structures and facilities in harsh marine environments generates its own specific challenges. Corrosion, high winds and

destructive waves have a detrimental impact on equipment and infrastructure. What’s more gaining access can be problematic, with decreased headroom precluding the use of large overhead cranes.

“With over 30 years of experience, our team applies their wealth of knowledge and expertise to devising safe solutions and improving daily operations. We go beyond manufacturing to deliver a complete wraparound service, recommending, providing and procuring equipment that enhances safety, drives projects forward and extends both the lifespan and reliability of equipment.”

He added:

“We are currently bidding for contracts in some of the largest offshore wind projects in the world, which is a clear reflection of our drive to continuously innovate and evolve to provide bespoke packages for our customers. We have partnered with highly regarded manufacturers to supply a complete end-toend solution for clients such as McDermott, TenneT and Equinor.”

Wellhead

Remote turbine access: a new benchmark for safety

It has been more than 30 years since the first offshore wind farm was commissioned in the early 1990s. Now, with hundreds of offshore farms in operation worldwide, wind energy provides power for millions of homes and the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has its sights set on achieving 392,000MW of installed capacity in Europe by 2030.

Headquartered in Glasgow, the founding city of the UK’s first windmill for electricity, Interocean Marine Services (Interocean) has been a trusted partner to the offshore energy sector for over 18 years, delivering safe, professional, and high-quality services worldwide. Its core expertise lies in marine assurance, structural inspection, and operational support. Working closely with drilling contractors, asset owners, and classification societies, Interocean plays a critical role in enhancing the safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability of offshore operations. Interocean operates a global network of offices in the UK, Norway, Ghana, Angola, Canada, and the UAE, providing specialist services that ensure regulatory compliance and extend asset life.

Leveraging almost two decades of experience across the oil and gas, marine, and new energy markets, Interocean plays a key role in supporting the continued development of the offshore wind sector, including the proactive management of ageing turbine assets.

Looking to ensure optimal performance for its assets, Interocean was approached by a wind turbine operator to perform a comprehensive internal structural campaign utilising Interocean’s industry leading remote inspection techniques. As one of the first

companies globally to be approved by ABS and DNV to perform UTM inspections using UAV technology, Interocean is setting a new benchmark for safety and efficiency in offshore asset inspections.

Inspecting the internal structure of wind turbine blades with drones is an emerging method that enhances safety, efficiency, and data quality. Unlike traditional rope access or manual entry, drone-based internal inspections reduce human risk and allow for faster, high-resolution data collection in confined spaces.

Ahead of mobilisation, a comprehensive written instruction is prepared that details the methods that will be used and controls that are to be implemented so to deliver quality results in a safe and timely manner. The turbine is subsequently locked out and tagged out (LOTO) to ensure safety, before a structural assessment is completed to confirm the integrity for internal entry and drone operation. Interocean’s enterprise grade collision-tolerant drone; equipped with high-definition cameras, thermal imaging, and lighting, delivers high-resolution data with enhanced datasets to provide early defect detection and preventing potential structural failures, which is aligned with HSE and engineering best practices.

For this project, the drone was flown along the internal structure, capturing 4K video, thermal images, and LIDAR data. Particular attention was paid to bond lines, leading edges, internal stiffeners and structural steelwork, and trailing edges for signs of cracks, delamination, or water ingress. A live video feed allowed immediate assessment by engineers and data was recorded for detailed post-flight analysis. The non-invasive technique guaranteed faster deployment and inspection time, leading to reduced downtime, lowering overall maintenance expenses.

Interocean completed all inspections ahead of schedule and to client’s specification, delivering measurable performance improvements and reinforcing the long-term viability of the infrastructure.

High winds, confined spaces, and working at height make wind farms one of the most hostile offshore environments. By utilising UAV technology, Interocean drastically reduces the risk to personnel safety, whilst simultaneously producing precise, high-resolution integrity inspections in a matter of minutes.

Interocean remains committed to reducing personnel exposure to risk, enhancing operational efficiency and digitising its inspection processes. By continuously integrating innovative technology, the company is reinforcing its position as an industry leader in safe, efficient, and cost-effective maritime and offshore operations. 

Charting the Course: Digital Tools Supporting Offshore Wind in Challenging Conditions

Renata Grabowsky, Principal Product Marketing Manager – Offshore Structures, DNV

Offshore wind is gaining momentum worldwide as countries work toward reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy security.

Targets are becoming more ambitious — seen in pledges such as the one made at COP28 to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Yet, these ambitions are increasingly met with economic and technical challenges. Developers are facing rising interest rates, inflation, regulatory complexity, and delays in supply chains. These factors have led to the postponement or cancellation of several projects.

Recent developments have underlined the severity of these challenges. Ørsted’s decision to cancel Hornsea 4 off the coast of East Yorkshire sent ripples across the industry, while SSE’s scaled-back investment plans in the UK highlight a recalibration of risk in a volatile financial environment. Bloomberg and Reuters have reported similar stories from other markets, citing inflation and permitting delays as key hurdles.

Despite this, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic. According to DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook (ETO) 2024, the cost of fixed-bottom offshore wind is projected to fall from $88 per megawatt-hour (MWh) in 2030 to $61 by 2050. Floating offshore wind could see a more dramatic reduction—from $280 to $82 per MWh over the same period. These trends signal long-term viability, particularly when supported by appropriate planning and design tools.

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) 2025 Offshore Wind Report provides updated insights. It forecasts 410 GW of cumulative offshore wind capacity by 2032, with China, the UK, and the U.S. leading deployments. The report highlights that while global installations reached 12.8 GW in 2024—setting a new record—the sector is at a tipping point. Policy delays, permitting bottlenecks, and cost inflation continue to be significant barriers. Nevertheless, GWEC underscores that offshore wind remains essential to meeting climate targets, and that accelerating digital innovation is central to scaling deployment efficiently.

In regions such as Norway, electricity demand is expected to double by 2050, reaching 260 terawatt-hours. Offshore wind is considered the most scalable domestic energy source to help meet this demand. However, according to DNV, delays in new development could lead to an annual shortfall of about 10 TWh in the early 2030s.

As offshore wind moves into deeper waters and harsher marine environments, design complexity increases. Foundations must be tailored for specific conditions and turbines are larger and exposed to more dynamic forces. These shifts require design methods that account for multiple variables at early stages—where decisions have large impact on long-term project success.

Digitalization as a Strategic Tool

To tackle these intertwined challenges, the industry is increasingly leaning on digital technologies. Digitalization enables more precise design, integrated workflows, better risk management, and faster decisionmaking. In an environment where both margins and timelines are tight, the right software tools can be as crucial as choosing the right site—both have a profound impact on whether a project advances smoothly or becomes mired in costly revisions and delays.

Two tools in particular—Sesam and Bladed are being used by developers, consultants, and designers to better understand how wind turbines and their supporting structures perform under real-world conditions.

Sesam is used for structural and hydrodynamic analysis of offshore assets. Originally applied in the shipbuilding and oil and gas sectors, it has been adapted to meet the specific demands of offshore wind. It enables engineers to model and assess the structural behavior of foundations under various environmental conditions for the entire project lifecycle, from early concept stage up to decommissioning.

In practical terms, this means users can test foundation performance under different scenarios and adjust design parameters before construction begins. The cloudbased compute capability allows for faster processing of complex models.

For NSG Engineering, an offshore engineering consultancy, Sesam plays a central role in their workflow. “We use Sesam to assess the structural behaviour of foundations and substructures,” said a representative from NSG. “Its modelling capabilities and analysis options give us confidence in the results, and in turn, allow us to provide reliable input to our clients.” NSG also reported a 35% reduction in engineering hours on their projects by integrating Sesam into their design and verification processes.

Bladed complements Sesam by simulating the aerodynamic, structural, and control behaviour of wind turbines. It provides engineers with the ability to evaluate how turbines respond to site-specific wind, wave, and operational conditions. This allows for early identification of design risks and opportunities for performance improvement.

By using Bladed in the design phase, developers can refine turbine configurations and control strategies based on long-term performance projections. This supports efficient use of materials and helps reduce uncertainty during certification and construction.

The software is also widely used to support turbine certification, a critical step in securing investment and stakeholder confidence. As turbines grow in size and complexity, so too does the need for accurate dynamic modelling.

The benefit of using Sesam and Bladed together is the ability to link turbine load cases directly into the structural design process. This integration ensures that foundation engineers are working with realistic and up-todate load inputs, helping to avoid overdesign or unforeseen fatigue issues.

COWI, a global engineering consultancy, has implemented both tools across several offshore wind projects. By combining turbine simulation outputs from Bladed with structural models in Sesam, they have reduced the need for late-stage redesigns and shortened project timelines. The result is a more coherent engineering process with fewer handover errors and increased design confidence.

A Broader Shift: Toward Collaborative, Data-Informed Engineering

The offshore wind industry continues to expand, but the conditions under which it operates are changing. More demanding sites, larger turbines, and increased public and private scrutiny require better tools to support early-phase decision-making.

As highlighted in DNV’s latest ETO report and echoed by the GWEC, the pathway to lower energy costs and scalable offshore wind depends not only on technological innovation, but on how well these tools are applied across the value chain.

The use of digital tools like Sesam and Bladed reflects a broader shift towards integrated design methods. These methods do not eliminate complexity but allow engineers to work with it more effectively. They help identify constraints early and ensure that projects move forward with fewer delays and cost overruns.

By embedding simulation and structural verification into the early phases of project development, companies can improve the quality and reliability of offshore assets. As the market grows more competitive and complex, such capabilities may prove essential in distinguishing successful projects from those that stall. 

Powering Offshore Wind with Two Decades of Subsea Expertise

As the offshore wind industry expands to meet the demands of global decarbonisation, reliable subsea support is essential for project success across all phases—from seabed assessment to long-term asset maintenance.

Film-Ocean, a subsea services provider headquartered in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, has spent over two decades delivering high-specification Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) solutions to support the offshore energy infrastructure worldwide.

Film-Ocean operates a versatile fleet of ROV systems, ranging from micro-class to workclass vehicles, capable of operating in both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind environments. These systems are equipped to support key operations including preand post-installation inspections, seabed/ BOP surveys, cable routing and integrity assessments, and anchor positioning. The company also carries out unexploded ordnance (UXO) surveys, an important task in offshore construction planning.

The ROV fleet is supported by integrated Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS) and Tether Management Systems (TMS) designed for efficient deployment and retrieval in challenging sea conditions. Film-Ocean’s ROV systems are equipped with a broad range of inspection tools, including multibeam sonar,

laser scanning, HD and 4K cameras, 3D data acquisition, photogrammetry, Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM), and Ultrasonic Testing (UT). These capabilities enable high-resolution visual and dimensional data collection, which is essential for informed asset management.

In support of floating wind developments, FilmOcean offers a patented a mooring system chain measuring tool that has classification from ABS, BV, DNV-GL and Lloyds Register. The equipment has been used on over a hundred assets globally to provide cost-effective, realtime results that can be used to quantify the mooring systems performance. Both interlink and link lengths can be measured accurately with repeatable results.

Results are recorded in real time and measurements are recorded using very accurate linear variable displacement transducers (LVDT). This equipment can be deployed on chains with a range of industry standard bar diameters. High pressure hydraulic system and precision contact points require minimal marine growth cleaning

saving operational time. The system can be used on all of Film-Ocean’s ROV fleet except for the Micro Class ROV systems.

Additional services include cathodic protection (CP) inspections, flooded member detection (FMD), cleaning of subsea infrastructure, and internal inspections of ballast tanks and overboard valves. These operations are often performed from a single launch location, improving efficiency and reducing vessel time.

Film-Ocean is experienced in delivering UWILD (Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Dry-Docking) campaigns, many of which have direct relevance to floating wind platforms due to the overlap in inspection requirements. The company’s experience in both the UK Continental Shelf and wider international markets—including Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea— demonstrates its operational reach and ability to mobilise effectively across regions.

During 2025, Film-Ocean continues to expand its capabilities with new technical personnel and a full work-class ROV fleet in active deployment. Projects such as the Atom WorkClass ROV operating off West Africa reflect the company’s capacity to deliver complex inspection and maintenance operations in deepwater environments.

Film-Ocean’s experience, combined with ongoing investment in tooling, training, and international delivery, positions the company as a reliable partner for offshore wind operators. With a focus on technical execution and asset longevity, Film-Ocean continues to supporting the global shift to clean energy through robust and adaptable subsea inspection services.

UK warned it is likely to fall short of 2030 wind target

Report by energy research firm BNEF comes as rising costs and poor returns hamper Labour pledge on clean energy

Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government has made clean energy one of its key goals and said in December that it wanted at least 43 gigawatts of offshore wind generation to be built by 2030.

But a report by energy research firm BNEF predicts that only 33GW will be in operation by then, and said there would be a “few years” of delays to achieving the goal.

“It is hard to build major offshore wind projects. There are not even enough vessels,” said Arhnue Tan, one of the researchers behind the report.

Developers are increasingly concerned about the viability of offshore wind projects, with potential returns squeezed by elevated financing costs, supply chain problems and expectations of a fall in long-term power prices.

The world’s largest offshore wind developer, Ørsted, earlier this month halted work on one of the biggest projects in the North Sea, a 2.5

gigawatt farm called Hornsea 4 that would have powered more than a million homes.

Hornsea 4 won a contract from the government last year guaranteeing it a fixed electricity price of £58.87 per megawatt hour, but Ørsted said it could not make the economics work.

Last week SSE, the FTSE 100-listed energy company, said it would slow down its investment in Berwick Bank, a project to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm in the outer Firth of Forth, and in the second phase of Arklow Bank in the Irish Sea.

SSE blamed bottlenecks in the planning system for the decision to cut its investment.

Chief executive Alistair Phillips-Davies told the FT that Berwick Bank, which could power as many as six million homes, “has been on ministers’ desks for about three years now”.

While there are 16.6GW of offshore wind projects currently in the pipeline, current market conditions suggest that only a fraction of them will go ahead, and there could also be more cancellations of existing projects, according to BNEF.

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A key moment for the industry will come this summer, as the government launches the seventh allocation round for offshore wind, where subsidies for projects will be awarded.

Despite the challenges in offshore wind, BNEF said the UK was on track to easily meet its 4750GW target for solar power.

Tan added it would still be possible to hit the overall goal of only 5 per cent of electricity generated by gas by 2030, despite the predicted shortfall in additional wind turbines, if there was “reasonably windy weather”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero said the government “categorically rejects these claims”.

“We have a strong pipeline of projects to deliver 4350GW offshore wind by 2030 and our mission-led approach ensures we can steer our way through global pressures and individual commercial decisions to reach our targets,” they added. 

Equinor Resumes Empire Wind 1 Construction as US Gov’t Lifts Stop-Work Order

The US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has notified Equinor that the stop-work order for the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project, issued on 16 April, has been lifted. Equinor said on 19 May that the company will now resume construction work on what will be the first offshore wind farm to connect to New York City’s grid.

The order was lifted following dialogue with regulators and federal, state, and city officials, according to Equinor, whose CEO Anders Opedal thanked US President Trump “for finding a solution that saves thousands of American jobs” and New York Governor

Hochul for “her constructive collaboration with the Trump Administration” that helped advance the project. “I knew this critical project needed to move forward and have spent weeks pushing the federal government to rescind the stop work order to allow the

workers to return and ensure this important source of renewable power could come to fruition“, Governor Hochul said in a statement after the order was rescinded.

“After countless conversations with Equinor and White House officials, bringing labor and business to the table to emphasize the importance of this project, I’m pleased that President Trump and Secretary Burgum have agreed to lift the stop work order and allow this project to move forward. Now, Equinor will resume the construction of this fullypermitted project that had already received the necessary federal approvals.”

Equinor’s CEO also thanked New York City Mayor Adams, congressional leaders, labour groups and other advocates who have maintained their support for the project, as well as the Norwegian Prime Minister Støre for the support and the Minister of Finance Stoltenberg for raising the issue with the US administration.

The developer, which recently said the Empire Wind 1 was at risk of missing this year’s offshore construction window due to the stopwork order and was considering cancelling the project as one of the options, now aims to carry out the planned activities during this offshore installation window and for the project to reach its planned commercial operation date in 2027.

The company also said on 19 May that it would engage with suppliers and regulatory bodies to reduce the impact of the stop-work order, and that it would perform an updated assessment of the project economics in the second quarter of this year. 

Aspen’s Floating Wind Delivery Consortium to Deliver Thousands of Jobs and Billions in UK Investment

Cerulean Winds announced that its 1GW Aspen floating wind project in the Central North Sea is expected to support more than 1,000 jobs and attract a total investment of £10.9 billion across its 50-year lifespan.

Aspen is being delivered by world-class partners with technical expertise and experience in delivering large scale offshore projects. Under a project charter, the contracting parties of the consortium –NOV, Siemens Energy, Bilfinger, Ocean Installer, alongside Haventus – anticipate directly creating more than 1,000 UK jobs, committing £1 billion in domestic spending, and unlocking nearly £1 billion in additional inward investment.

“This project has the potential to support thousands of skilled jobs and billions in investment to the UK. From a base in Scotland, Cerulean Winds and our delivery partners want to grasp the opportunity of creating a floating offshore wind supply chain industrial base in the UK” said Dan Jackson, Founding Director of Cerulean

Winds. “Having our delivery partners already in place, working together to a shared goal means that we’re able to accurately predict the benefits that Aspen can deliver.”

The Ardersier Energy Transition Facility will serve as the strategic hub for the Aspen project making it the UK’s first dedicated assembly, delivery and operations centre for floating offshore wind (FLOW). By anchoring this vital part of the supply chain in Scotland, the project will help establish a fully integrated industrial ecosystem – ensuring that long-term economic value is retained within the UK.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks, who visited Ardersier Energy Transition Facility on Monday 12th of May as a guest of Cerulean Winds, said: “The clean energy transition is

well underway in Scotland – thanks to stateof-the-art offshore wind projects, like this one at the Port of Ardersier, that will help us deliver on our Plan for Change and clean power by 2030 mission.

“Today’s commitment from Cerulean Winds and its partners shows exactly how this transition will bring good jobs and growth to Scotland, as Britain’s fast expanding renewable energy powerhouse.”

The £10.9 billion investment includes £5.9 billion during development and construction and £100 million annually during 50 years of operations. This expenditure is expected to provide £4.1billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK, £2.8billion of which will be in Scotland. 

Future of Scottish offshore wind facing “watershed moment”, industry chief tells delegates at All-Energy

The offshore wind sector in Scotland is facing a “watershed moment”, according to the Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, the trade body for Scotland’s renewable energy industry.

Scotland has an offshore wind pipeline worth more than 40GW with five projects consented, eight in planning, and a further 22 under development. This places Scotland in the top ten of global offshore wind markets.

However, industry has warned that major investment decisions expected in the weeks ahead are being undermined by ongoing uncertainty over damaging plans for zonal pricing and how volatile transmission charging will be sustainably reformed.

New reports in recent weeks have revealed:

• Scotland’s offshore wind pipeline is expected to unlock between £29 billion and £35 billion in public value over the next 40 years

• Renewable energy projects account for around £75 billion out of £100 billion in potential total investment value in the Highlands and Islands by 2040

• Reform of Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges could save consumers £16.2 billion between 2028 to 2050

• Uncertainty caused by zonal pricing would turn a purported £8.9 billion benefit into a £9.6 billion cost for consumers.

The warning from Scottish Renewables comes on the back of news that Ørsted has halted the development of its Hornsea 4 Offshore Wind Farm in England.

Meanwhile, the UK Government is expected to open the Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 7 (AR7) for bids soon. CfDs guarantee clean energy generators a set price for their electricity and this year’s auction will be critical for the success of the mission to achieve clean power by 2030.

Speaking at the All-Energy conference in Glasgow (May 14), Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, warned that mounting policy uncertainty is hampering investor confidence across the sector. She said:

“Scotland’s offshore wind potential clearly offers significant benefits for our economy and energy security. It is also clear that the UK Government will fail to meet its clean power objectives if it does not deliver vital Scottish offshore wind projects.

“Whilst green shoots are appearing, we can only drive future growth with a sustainable policy framework that will secure much needed private investment in renewable energy projects. This will give Scottish projects the confidence they need to navigate the increasingly challenging conditions at this watershed moment for our industry.

“To maximise this year’s AR7, offshore wind developers in Scotland need immediate certainty over auction parameters, electricity market reform and transmission charging arrangements. The Scottish and UK governments also need to pick up the pace on the delivery of efficient consenting and new grid infrastructure

“Offshore wind is good for jobs, supply chains and has the potential to make household bills more affordable, so both governments should put their shoulder to the wheel on creating the best possible environment to build these vital projects in Scotland.” 

ScottishPower Renewables renews agreement with Enspec

RCE contract awarded to power quality engineering firm Enspec Power Ltd

ScottishPower Renewables has signed a four-year maintenance framework with Enspec Power Ltd for annual maintenance services of reactive compensation equipment installed across a number of its windfarms in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

Headquartered in St Helens and with bases in Manchester and Washington in the north east, Enspec Power will carry out annual maintenance on ScottishPower Renewables’ statcom transformers, shunt reactors and capacitor banks at a number of its operational windfarms.

Joe Mitchell, Operations and Maintenance Director at ScottishPower Renewables said: “With an operational portfolio of over 3GW, which is enough to power the equivalent of over 2.1 million homes, the servicing and maintenance of our assets and all associated equipment is paramount, for the efficient operation of our network, and critical in enabling us to deliver against our performance commitments.”

“We’re pleased to be working with Enspec Power again to ensure the performance of our installations is maximised whilst supporting the UK supply chain.”

Tony Cook, Enspec Powers’ Director of Site Services, commented: “We’re delighted to be continuing our work with SPR, and helping them to continue to provide reliable power to their customers.”

“Reactive compensation equipment is essential for windfarms to generate and export green electricity.”

“Enspec prides itself on proactive maintenance to ensure the reliability and resilience of these expensive assets allowing them to operate safely and efficiently throughout the operational life of the windfarm. We look forward to building on our strong working relationship with SPR.”

The agreement covers equipment installed on SPR’s Carland Cross, Clachan Flats, Wolf Bog, Lynemouth, Beinn Tharsuinn, Beinn an Tuirc II, Mark Hill, Dun Law Ext, Arecleoch, and Kilgallioch windfarms – which, together, have a combined capacity of over 576MW from 292 turbines. That’s enough electricity to power the equivalent of over 360,000 homes. 

The development of health and safety in wind farms

The growth of wind energy in the UK has been significant, with wind farms playing a crucial role in the Energy Transition and the UK’s journey to Net Zero

Malcolm Gunnyeon and Claire Campbell, Brodies LLP

However, with this growth comes a greater focus on the organisations with responsibility to ensure the health and safety of those working in and around these installations, both on and offshore.

The duty of wind farm operators

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. places a duty on employers to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of employees and anyone who might be affected by their operations. For those who work with turbines, this means implementing robust safety measures to protect workers from the unique risks associated with these installations and, for onshore operators, additional measures to protect members of the public in the vicinity of turbines and other related infrastructure.

Key risks of working with turbines

Wind farms present several specific health and safety risks, including:

1. Working at height: maintenance and inspection tasks often require workers to operate at significant heights, posing a risk of falls.

2. Electrical hazards: the high voltage equipment used in wind turbines can present serious electrical hazards.

3. Mechanical risks: moving parts of wind turbines can cause injuries if not properly guarded.

4. Environmental conditions: workers are often exposed to harsh weather conditions, which can exacerbate other risks.

Fatal Accident Inquiry recommendations

A technician, Antonio Joao Da Silva Linares died on 15 March 2017, after falling at the top of a wind turbine at the Kilgallioch Wind Farm. A Fatal Accident Inquiry into his death found that by mistake he had not attached his

harness to a fall arrest system, which would have prevented his death.

Following the Inquiry, the Court made three recommendations focussed on preventing a similar accident in the future:

• Joint health and safety drills involving all contractors and subcontractors should be conducted to ensure all personnel involved in rescue operations are properly prepared.

• Suitable stretchers to keep casualties horizontal and minimize chest pressure should be available on site. These will facilitate safer and more effective rescues in an emergency, reducing the risk of further injury during evacuation.

• The industry should utilise technology to detect when a person disconnects from a fall arrest system, to ensure an immediate response to potential fall hazards.

Following publication of the Sheriff's determination, the HSE emphasised the importance of these recommendations and urged the wind turbine industry to collaboratively consider technological improvements, including:

• Interlocks on Gates/Fall Arrest Systems to prevent accidental disconnection.

• Ergonomic improvements to assist safe transfer between systems and anchor points.

• Alarm systems to provide an immediate alert of disconnections.

The HSE encouraged stakeholder groups to coordinate industry actions in response to these recommendations.

Occupational health concerns

The HSE has also recently received reports from a wind farm operator about significant occupational health concerns related to wind turbines. In response to those reports the HSE issued two letters to the renewable energy sector, highlighting urgent concerns and making recommendations for how they should be addressed.

The notifications issued by the HSE highlighted that the presence of dust deposits containing hazardous substances, including metals and metal compounds such as lead, had been identified within the generator room and nacelle/hub of two wind turbine generators, giving rise to serious concerns about the potential health risks faced by technicians working in those areas.

To address the issue, the operator in question has implemented precautionary measures. Technicians are now equipped with powered respirators and sealed unit vacuum cleaners to ensure thorough cleaning prior to servicing. Additionally, targeted health surveillance programmes have been initiated, and information about the new risk has been promptly shared with the technicians. Further measures to prevent employee exposure to lead have also been put in place.

The HSE has confirmed that it will work closely with the relevant duty holders to gather more information and will ensure that any further findings are promptly shared with the industry. In the meantime, the HSE is urging all wind farm operators to take immediate action to address this newly identified risk.

Risk assessment and mitigation

Although the full extent of this issue is not yet known, it cannot be ignored. Duty holders must incorporate this information into their risk assessments and management processes. Good practice will include alerting maintenance teams to the issue, revisiting design risk assessments to identify potential sources of dust within wind turbines, assessing health risks associated with these dusts, and implementing appropriate control measures to protect the health and safety of employees. Any operator who ignores this information will find themselves in a very difficult position should an incident occur. 

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Wind Energy Technology: The Game-Changing Potential of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs)

As the quest for sustainable energy sources intensifies, wind energy has firmly established itself as a leading contender.

With traditional horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs) dominating the landscape, a transformative technology is emerging that promises to revolutionize the industry: Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs). This innovation brings a fresh perspective to harnessing wind power, offering unique advantages that could address some of the limitations faced by conventional wind energy systems.

Understanding Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Unlike the widely recognized HAWTs, which have blades that rotate around a horizontal axis, VAWTs feature blades that rotate around a vertical axis. This fundamental difference in design opens up new possibilities for both application and performance. VAWTs can be categorized into two main types: the Darrieus model, which resembles an eggbeater, and the Savonius model, characterized by its curved, S-shaped blades.

Key Advantages of VAWTs

1. Omnidirectional Wind Capture: One of the most significant advantages of VAWTs is their ability to capture wind from any direction without the need for orientation mechanisms. This makes them particularly well-suited for urban environments or areas with highly variable wind patterns, where wind direction can change rapidly.

2. Lower Installation and Maintenance Costs: VAWTs have a simpler and more compact design, with many of their components located near the ground. This simplicity not only reduces the cost and complexity of installation but also makes maintenance easier and less expensive. There is no need for tall towers or complex pitch control systems, common in HAWTs.

3. Reduced Noise and Visual Impact: VAWTs typically operate at lower rotational

speeds, resulting in less noise and reduced visual impact. This makes them ideal for deployment in urban and residential settings, where noise pollution and aesthetics are significant concerns.

4. Enhanced Safety: The design of VAWTs reduces the risk of catastrophic failure. In the event of extreme weather conditions, their lower height and more robust structure provide greater stability and resilience compared to HAWTs.

Innovative Applications of VAWTs

One of the most exciting aspects of VAWTs is their versatility in applications that were challenging for traditional wind turbines. Here are a few examples:

1. Urban Environments: VAWTs can be installed on rooftops or integrated into building designs, harnessing the wind energy available in urban landscapes. Their compact size and reduced noise make them a viable option for powering individual buildings or contributing to microgrids in densely populated areas.

2. Offshore Deployment: While HAWTs dominate offshore wind farms, VAWTs offer the potential to expand this sector further. Their ability to function in turbulent wind conditions and their reduced height make them suitable for floating wind farms, which can be situated in deeper waters where wind speeds are higher and more consistent.

3. Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems: VAWTs can be combined with other renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, to create hybrid systems that maximize energy generation. This approach is particularly beneficial for remote locations or microgrids, providing a more reliable and consistent energy supply.

Case Study: The Enlil VAWT Initiative

The Enlil project in Istanbul, Turkey, exemplifies the innovative application of VAWTs in urban environments. These VAWTs are installed alongside highways to harness the wind generated by passing vehicles. The energy produced is used to power nearby infrastructure, such as streetlights and electric vehicle charging stations. This creative use of wind energy not only contributes to sustainable urban development but also showcases the versatility of VAWTs.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite their promising potential, VAWTs are not without challenges. Their efficiency in converting wind energy to electricity has historically been lower than that of HAWTs. However, ongoing research and development are addressing these issues, resulting in significant advancements in efficiency and performance.

Moreover, there is a need for greater awareness and education about VAWTs. As with any emerging technology, widespread adoption depends on understanding its benefits and overcoming skepticism within the industry and among the public. Policymakers and industry leaders must continue to invest in research, development, and demonstration projects to showcase the viability and advantages of VAWTs.

Conclusion

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines represent a groundbreaking advancement in wind energy technology. Their unique design and inherent advantages make them a compelling alternative to traditional horizontal-axis turbines, particularly in urban environments and challenging locations. As research and innovation continue to drive improvements in efficiency and performance, VAWTs hold the potential to become a significant player in the global transition towards renewable energy. Embracing this technology could unlock new opportunities for sustainable power generation, paving the way for a cleaner and more resilient energy future. 

Authored by Dylan Langford, Associate Director

Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, Eni, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips score $29 billion

In the midst of geopolitical and economic upheavals, trade wars, climate change concerns, volatility and drop in energy prices rounded with uncertainty that continues to cloak the global oil market outlook, the European and U.S. oil majors – the UK’s duo Shell and BP, France’s TotalEnergies, Norway’s Equinor, and Italy’s Eni alongside U.S.-based trio: ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips – have managed to come on top yet again, displaying the resilience of the energy sector with performance and quarterly results that show a combined profit of around $28.73 billion.

Given the current brand of challenges the world at large is facing, energy security remains at the forefront of countries’ current and future agendas to stave off, mitigate, and manage potential energy supply shortfalls, disruptions, and crises. At the end of April 2025, the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the UK government hosted an international summit that revolved around the future of energy security, looking at the geopolitical, technological, and economic factors affecting energy security at the national and international levels.

While reviewing the trends shaping global energy security and reflecting on the tools needed to address traditional and emerging energy security risks, the summit gave decision-makers a chance to discuss and delve into changes in demand, supply and trade of major fuels; the expanding role of electricity in many energy systems; the growth of clean energy technologies and their supply chains; and the availability of the minerals and metals required for many clean energy technologies.

The summit ended with a strong signal of renewed international cooperation and resolve to confront a major global challenge of securing the energy systems of today and tomorrow. Emphasizing the need for a “holistic approach to energy security,” the summit spotlighted the overlapping pressures that are reshaping the global energy system, as clean technologies – such as wind, solar, nuclear and battery storage –are being deployed to lend a helping hand in curbing reliance on fossil fuel imports and protect consumers from price volatility.

While safeguarding oil and gas supplies and maintaining emergency response mechanisms remain critical, the IEA points out that participants also agreed on the need to encapsulate newer dimensions SPONSORED BY

into the future energy security pursuits and roadmaps, such as cybersecurity, extreme weather events, supply chain resilience for critical minerals and clean technologies, and integration of electrified and decentralized systems.

This showcases the importance of energy access and affordability as fundamental to national and international security. While emission reduction efforts need to be upped, delegates are said to have acknowledged the rise in affordability concerns even in advanced economies, where low-income households are disproportionately affected by energy costs.

The potential of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to improve forecasting, efficiency, and resilience was widely acknowledged, as energy systems have become more digital and interconnected, but the growing exposure of critical infrastructure to cyber threats was flagged, illustrating the need to embed resilience from the outset through regulation, investment and international coordination.

According to the IEA, participants were adamant that transitions to clean energy must be just and fair, as fossil fuels will likely remain part of the energy mix for years to come, particularly in sectors where alternatives remain limited.

The quarterly results season and the profits reported by oil and gas heavyweights seem to back the International Energy Agency’s belief that fossil fuels will continue to have their spot in the global energy mix for the foreseeable future.

European energy giants take slice of over $14.53 billion profit pie

Since the income attributable to its shareholders totaled $4.78 billion in Q1 2025, compared to $928 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $7.36 billion in Q1 2024, Shell explained that the quarterly increase reflected lower exploration well write-offs, operating expenses, and higher Products margins.

The UK giant reported adjusted earnings of $5.58 billion in Q1 2025, which were up from $3.66 billion in Q4 2024 and $7.7 billion in Q1 2024, alongside its adjusted EBITDA of $15.25 billion in Q1 2025, which was higher than $14.28 billion in Q4 2024 but lower than $18.7 billion in Q1 2024. 

Transocean rig embarks on its Gulf of America drilling job with BP

An ultra-deepwater drillship, owned by the Switzerland-based offshore drilling contractor Transocean, has kicked off its assignment with the UKheadquartered energy giant BP in the Gulf of America, formerly the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The rig owner’s Deepwater Invictus drillship won a 1095-day deal with BP last year, which came with a day rate of $485,000, contributing approximately $531 million in backlog, excluding additional services and a mobilization fee.

TWMA Secures Major Contract With BP In The UK North Sea

Drilling waste management specialist, TWMA, has been awarded a contract with bp to provide drilling waste management services in the UK North Sea. This agreement reinforces TWMA’s position as a trusted provider of innovative solutions to the global energy industry.

The three-year agreement, which includes options for renewal, commenced in October 2024 and underscores TWMA’s capability to deliver high quality solutions to support major operators in meeting their operational and sustainability goals.

The scope of work will utilise TWMA’s cuttingedge technologies, including its RotoMill, enabling the safe and efficient processing of drilling waste directly at the wellsite. By reducing the need for transportation and maximising recycling and reuse, TWMA’s

While confirming the start of this assignment in the U.S. Gulf, the Swiss giant highlighted: “The Deepwater Invictus has begun operations for BP, and this team is ready.

“Transocean and BP team members recently wrapped up a comprehensive engagement session at our Houston corporate office focused on building a safety-first, highperformance culture. Great work, Team Invictus.”

The 2014-built Deepwater Invictus DSME 12000 ultra-deepwater drillship is capable of operating at 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) of water depth and drilling up to depths of 40,000 feet (12,192 meters).

BP, which disclosed an underlying replacement cost (RC) profit of $1.38 billion in Q1 2025, is busy with many hydrocarbon projects around the globe, including its gas project off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, for which it booked Subsea Integration Alliance (SIA) earlier this month.

Meanwhile, one of Transocean’s rigs recently came to Australia to search for more natural gas in the Otway Basin, thanks to an assignment with ConocoPhillips. 

RotoMill minimises environmental impact while driving down costs and improving operational efficiencies.

Halle Aslaksen, Chief Executive Officer as TWMA said: “This renewed contract with bp is a significant achievement for TWMA and highlights the strength of our innovative drilling waste management solutions and the trust leading operators continue to place in us. It underscores the value of our expertise in delivering results for the UK North Sea region and reinforces our commitment to supporting bp in achieving its operational goals.”

This contract award represents another step forward in TWMA’s mission to support operators to optimise operations whilst achieving sustainable energy production worldwide. 

Archer and Repsol Sign

Major Five-Year Contract for late life and P&A services

Archer, a leading provider of drilling and well services, has signed a fiveyear contract with Repsol Resources UK for platform drilling services, facilities engineering, coil tubing, wireline services, and downhole well service technologies. The agreement includes a two-year optional extension.

This strategic partnership will support latelife operations and plug and abandonment activities on Repsol’s extensive platform portfolio including Piper, Claymore, Tartan, Saltire, Auk, Arbroath, Montrose, Beatrice, and Clyde. A key component of the contract is the P&A scope, covering approximately 130 wells.

Dag Skindlo, CEO of Archer, is proud to announce this milestone win “We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Repsol through this major long-term agreement within our strategic focus on P&A services. We have robust technical and attractive commercial offerings within late life and P&A, and our team is committed to delivering operational excellence, innovation, and sustainability in the decommissioning of these assets.” 

Subsea7 awarded contract offshore West Africa

Subsea 7 has announced the award of a sizeable1 subsea contract in West Africa.

Subsea7 will be responsible for transporting and installing flexible pipelines, umbilicals, and associated subsea components for the connection of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel as well as the pre-laying activities for an upcoming drilling campaign.

Project management and engineering work will begin immediately at Subsea7’s offices in Sutton, UK and Suresnes, France, and offshore activity is expected to start in 2026. 

Stakeholders Wary of Partial Decommissioning of Offshore Wind Farms

The earliest wind farms installed in the EU are coming to the end of their planned 20-30-year lifespans.

Current guidance, such as Article 60(3) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the OSPAR Commission’s Decision 98/3, indicates that decommissioning should involve the complete removal of all seabed installations. This is also specified in national law in some territories.

However, there is ongoing debate over the potential advantages of partial removal, leaving some structures on the seabed. Benefits of partial decommissioning might include reduced costs, preservation of ecosystems that have developed around artificial structures, and prevention of future activities that disturb the seabed, such as trawling or dredging.

A study conducted by researchers from Wageningen Marine Research in the Netherlands highlights the need for clear regulations and defined liabilities so that the best options for decommissioning can be considered in advance, rather than close to when it is due to take place. However, the researchers also acknowledge that today’s preferred decommissioning methods may become obsolete, and change depending on societal attitudes and ecological findings.

In the Netherlands, two offshore wind farms are due to be decommissioned in the near future: Egmond Aan Zee (by 2027) and Prinses Amalia (by 2028). Dutch legislation requires that the wind farm owner should submit a plan for decommissioning to the

Dutch government, which involves leaving the site “in an equal state” to how it was beforehand.

The researchers conducted one-to-one interviews with 19 stakeholders involved in the decommissioning. These included regulatory actors, wind power industry representatives, and other users of the North Sea, including nature conservation and research groups.

The researchers report significant differences in expectations between stakeholder groups, including differences in interpretation of what full decommissioning entails, which hampers planning actions. For example, operators and contractors reported varying targets for removal depth of monopiles (between two and five meters), despite legislation explicitly stating an obligation to remove all structures to 6 meters below the seabed.

There was also uncertainty over whether complete decommissioning would also involve removal of scour protection (materials placed around monopiles on the seafloor, to protect it from erosion due to changed flow patterns).

Some stakeholders recognize the potential benefits of partial decommissioning, others have expressed concern about potentially setting a precedent and emphasize the ‘unnatural’ characteristics of these structures. Environmental groups argue that restoration of the marine environment prior to wind farm construction should be favored over ‘artificial reefs of convenience’, for instance.

The study identified 10 decision-making criteria as being most significant for respondents, divided into three categories:

Environmental: including biodiversity change, habitat alteration and nature protection potential;

Economic: including cost of decommissioning, material recycling opportunities, commercial fishery implications, and liability costs;

Social: including future access to the ocean, recreational opportunities, and political compatibility.

Within both the economic and social categories, liability costs were considered a critical issue, according to the researchers. They say that currently the attribution of liability for any loss, damage or injury due to structures left behind after partial decommissioning is unclear. Operators were unwilling to consider partial decommissioning without resolving this issue. Governments also seem unlikely to take liability responsibility, say the researchers, which would be essential for operators to revisit their position.

The researchers present five recommendations for adopting a flexible and participatory approach to decommissioning decisions.

These are:

• Begin planning for decommissioning in good time;

• Integrate stakeholders throughout the process;

• Agree on what types of ecosystems settled in offshore wind farms are most ‘valuable’ or ‘desired’;

• Consider post-decommissioning issues such as responsibilities and liabilities;

• Make decisions case by case and incorporate lessons learned

The researchers note that a shift to partial decommissioning would require legal changes that are likely to take several years. It is therefore unlikely to be an option for the two wind farms that are the focus of this study. Nonetheless, conducting pilot projects at these sites could provide the opportunity to gain on-the-ground experience to support future management decisions. 

Shell-Reliance-ONGC JV Complete India’s Frst Offshore Decom Project

x The Panna-Mukta and Tapti (PMT) joint venture partners, consisting of Shell (through BGEPIL), Reliance Industries (RIL), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), have completed India’s first offshore facilities decommissioning project with the removal of mid and south Tapti field facilities

The PMT JV, operator of the Tapti fields under a production sharing contract with the Government of India, comprises of ONGC with a 40% participating interest, and RIL and BG Exploration & Production India Ltd (BGEPIL-Shell) with 30% each.

The project involved removal of five wellhead platforms, associated infield pipelines, load-in at the onshore dismantling yard and the safe plugging and abandonment of 38 wells – all executed in line with the approved decommissioning plan. Production from the Tapti fields ceased in March 2016.

The PMT JV awarded major contracts to Indian companies Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for offshore execution and Chowgule Shipyard (CLSPL) for onshore dismantling.

Decommissioning expenditure: US$45Bn in the next five years

Offshore operations have now been completed safely, and dismantling is underway at CLSPL’s facilities in Ratnagiri, further strengthening India’s domestic capabilities in offshore and onshore energy infrastructure.

The Tapti decommissioning project also played a pioneering role in shaping India’s regulatory and operational framework for offshore decommissioning.

Developed collaboratively with key stakeholders— including the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), and Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD), the project sets a benchmark for future offshore energy transitions, rooted in global best practices and adapted for Indian conditions.

“The safe and successful completion of the Tapti offshore project is a landmark moment for India’s offshore energy sector. This project sets a new benchmark for responsible decommissioning, made possible by global expertise, strong collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to safety and sustainability,” said Nipun Pradhan, Managing Director, BGEPIL and GM Shell Upstream India. 

Expenditure in offshore decommissioning projects will rise as new markets opt to remove production and subsea infrastructure projects are underway in Australia and India, and projects being planned in Thailand.

Offshore decommissioning opportunities are opening in new markets in Asia Pacific and South America while spending will accelerate in mature areas such as the US Gulf and North Sea.

Expenditure in offshore decommissioning is expected to grow by almost 8% year-on-year and on average over this decade from US$5.3Bn in 2021 to over US$7.0Bn in 2025 and more than US$10.3Bn in 2030.

Total global offshore decommissioning over the decade is estimated to be around US$75.2Bn, of which around US$30.0Bn is already spent.

According to ABL Group, a third of the total spend is focused on Europe, particularly the North Sea and offshore Italy, while 23% is in the Asia-Pacific region, 17% in the US Gulf, 12% in Latin America (mainly Brazil and Mexico), 10% in Africa and 4% for the rest of the world.

From 2025-2030, US$50Bn of expenditure is expected, with the fastest growth in Asia where

A huge amount will be spent decommissioning the Bass Strait oil and gas production infrastructure in southeast Australia in the coming decade.

Brazil also offers decommissioning opportunities, with ageing shallow and deepwater fields coming to the end of their operational life. For example, plugging and abandoning wells in the shallow waters of the Guaricema field in the Sergipe Basin started in April 2025, and in 2024, Petrobras was decommissioning its deepwater semi-submersible production unit P-19 in the Campos Basin.

According to ABL, between 2023 and 2030, 1,310 platforms and 675 subsea installations will need to be removed and 140 open-water suspended wells plugged and abandoned. About 14 floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels will be ready to be removed and either refitted and redeployed or sold for recycling. 

UPCOMING GLOBAL EVENTS

Accelerating Sustainability in Corporate Energy Travel

Pippa Ganderton, Director – ATPI Halo

A Roadmap to a Sustainable Future

Sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern, it’s now a central theme in boardrooms, strategy sessions, investor discussions, and operational planning across industries worldwide. While discussions around the energy transition often focus on reducing dependency on fossil fuels and investing in renewable sources, this is only part of the broader sustainability challenge. A truly sustainable future requires organisations to examine all aspects of their operations, especially those with hidden environmental costs, such as corporate travel.

Business travel, particularly in the energy sector, plays a pivotal role in global operations. Yet, it also represents a significant and often overlooked source of carbon emissions.

According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation, many companies are still in the early phases of identifying and implementing strategies to reduce travel-related emissions. This points to an urgent need for increased awareness, practical guidance, and industry collaboration to catalyse meaningful change.

To achieve global Net Zero targets by 2050, emissions must be reduced by as much as 45% by 2030. While many organisations are making strides in addressing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, those from direct operations and purchased energy, Scope 3 emissions, which include business travel, must not be neglected. For energy sector companies, where international workforce travel is often essential, tackling travel-related emissions is critical.

At ATPI, we recognise the complexities and imperatives of sustainable travel. As a leader in corporate travel management, we are dedicated to helping businesses identify decarbonisation opportunities and implement effective, tailored solutions that align with their broader environmental goals. Through thoughtful strategy and cutting-edge tools, we can drive real progress toward a more sustainable future.

ATPI Halo: Powering Sustainable Travel

To drive sustainable change, businesses must first reflect honestly on their current travel behaviours and actively seek areas for improvement. Travel is essential to many business outcomes, especially within the energy sector, and achieving sustainability doesn’t mean eliminating travel, but making it more responsible.

ATPI Halo is our comprehensive sustainabilityfocused travel suite designed to support energy sector clients in managing and reducing travel and

event-related emissions. The platform enables accurate measurement of CO2e emissions, provides strategic recommendations for reduction, and facilitates carbon compensation for unavoidable emissions. With features like real-time carbon reporting, customised carbon budgets, and planning tools, ATPI Halo empowers organisations to make informed, environmentally sound travel decisions.

While ATPI Halo is a client-facing tool, we also use it internally to guide our own sustainability practices. This includes investments in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), reducing reliance on carbon-intensive travel, and offsetting residual emissions through vetted carbon credit projects that support global communities affected by climate change.

Integrating sustainability into the travel booking and planning process helps to educate travellers, offering clear visuals and data that encourage greener choices, such as shifting from air to rail travel, avoiding premium cabins on shorthaul flights, and adhering to carbon budgets. Organisations can further drive change by incentivising sustainable behaviour, appointing sustainability champions, and embedding climate-conscious decision-making into corporate culture.

The Role of Responsible Partnerships

Sustainable travel extends beyond internal policy. A crucial, yet often underestimated step, is choosing suppliers who demonstrate credible and tangible sustainability strategies. Partnering with responsible vendors enhances a company’s sustainability profile and helps meet environmental targets. Despite this, only a third of companies currently factor in supplier sustainability when making procurement decisions.

Sustainability in the energy sector must be holistic. Alongside decarbonising operations and energy assets, organisations must look outward, ensuring that their entire value chain, including travel suppliers and logistics partners, is aligned with their environmental commitments.

Looking to the Future

ATPI has long recognised the significance of Scope 3 emissions and works closely with global offshore energy clients, across both renewable and traditional oil and gas sectors, to develop practical, innovative solutions. By combining expert insight, advanced technology, and a commitment to measurable outcomes, we provide a responsible and accessible path toward travel sustainability.

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