UK-based research bodies from the renewables and oil & gas sectors will join forces to tackle technology challenges including cheaper floating wind foundations and recycling of turbine blades, as the nation chases its 2050 net-zero emissions goal.

The new Energy Transition Alliance (ETA) has been formed as a five-year collaboration by the Aberdeen-based Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.

The ETA will be funded in its first year by the OGTC and ORE Catapult, and will then look to government and industry to secure funding in future years.

UK energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK’s innovation will drive a more sustainable oil and gas industry and the development of our world-leading renewables sector on the path to net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Collaboration across the energy sector will be essential to achieving our climate goals, and it is great to see the Energy Transition Alliance working towards developing new technologies, creating green jobs and helping the transition to a cleaner future.”

The partners said the ETA will embark initially on five projects.

One will centre on finding ways to reduce the cost of floating wind foundations by up to 30% and another will seek to cut the cost and size of currently available AC/DC conversion technology.

The new alliance will also issue a call to industry as it looks to develop technologies that could reduce the cost of powering offshore oil and gas platforms with electricity generated onshore, seen as key to reducing the carbon footprint of North Sea oil and gas operations.

A fourth project will be a “deep-dive study” of the UK supply chain in a bid to maximise its full potential in the production, installation and decommissioning of offshore renewables. It is hoped this could lead to the creation of 27,000 jobs in offshore wind by 2030, the alliance said.

The fifth project will look at developing a commercially viable solution for the cost-effective recycling and re-processing of wind turbine blades.

North Sea decarbonisation

Scotland Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said the new alliance strongly complements the Scottish Government’s recently launched £62m ($80m) funding package designed to support the energy sector of the devolved nation, which has a target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045, five years earlier than the UK as a whole.

“The establishment of the alliance also supports the work of our Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council to grow supply chain opportunities as we approach the forthcoming ScotWind leasing round,” said Wheelhouse.

“The technologies supported by the alliance will boost digitalisation and automation and accelerate North Sea decarbonisation as well as supporting Scotland’s aspirations for offshore wind and floating wind.

“This will benefit the wider Scottish energy sector and supply chain, maximise the economic benefits and support sustainable jobs in the long term, fully in line with our commitment to a just transition.

Colette Cohen, OGTC chief executive, said: “The creation of the ETA comes at a pivotal time for our industry and the future of the North Sea as we transition to a net zero basin. Technology, innovation and a willingness to work cross sector will be essential if we are to successfully deliver on our net zero goal.

“This alliance is an exciting step towards a more integrated energy future for the UK. Our partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult harnesses the expertise of both organisations to accelerate the UK’s energy transition.”

This article first appeared in Recharge's sister publication Upstream

Transition

Renewables and fossils form alliance to aid UK net-zero push