Page 14 - EurOil Week 05 2022
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EurOil POLICY EurOil
UK oil lobby rebrands itself to reflect
low-carbon tech focus
UK NORTH Sea oil and gas association OGUK getting involved in CCS and blue hydrogen
announced on January 31 that it would be projects in the UK. Some of Offshore Energies’
European majors have rebranding itself as Offshore Energies UK, to members are involved in projects including
taken similar steps in reflect an expansion in its remit to cover low-car- Acorn Hydrogen & CCS, Drax Zero Carbon
recent years. bon technologies such as offshore wind farms, Humber and Net Zero Teesside.
hydrogen energy and carbon capture and storage Meanwhile, the line between the oil and
(CCS). gas industry and renewables has also become
By changing its name, OGUK is following in increasingly blurred, with leading hydrocarbons
the footsteps of a number of European oil and producers now embracing wind and solar power
gas companies that have rebranded themselves projects that once they would have shunned.
to stress their commitment to the energy tran- Indeed, oil and gas companies were among the
sition and, in some cases, distance their image big winners in the recent Scotwind leasing round
from hydrocarbons. Notable examples include for wind farms off Scotland in early January.
Norway’s Statoil, which changed its name to “Our members are investing in cleaner ener-
Equinor in 2018, and Total, which became gies, boosting the technologies needed to sup-
TotalEnergies last year. port jobs, communities and the UK’s energy
Offshore Energies said it remained commit- security – and to drive the transition to low-car-
ted to championing oil and gas, but would seek bon energy,” Offshore Energies CEO Deirdre
to support those interested in hydrogen, offshore Michie said in a statement. “Following an exten-
wind and CCS, describing the shift as a “natu- sive strategic review, we recognised that we too
ral step.” The move follows a one-year strategic need to evolve to reflect what is happening in our
review and was approved by Offshore Energies’ sector. Working with our members, we are driv-
board in December. ing forward towards the net-zero energy future
Oil and gas companies are increasingly we will want to see.”
P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 05 03•February•2022
