Offshore Industry: Fossil Fuels

(asked on 10th February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, 9 February 2022, Official Report, col 956, if he will publish the evidence base for that Minister’s statement that continued support for the UK’s oil and gas sector is essential for the UK to achieve its climate change targets.


Answered by
Greg Hands Portrait
Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This question was answered on 25th February 2022

Fossil fuel use such as unabated gas-fired electricity generation currently plays an important role in keeping Great Britain’s electricity system secure and stable. This role will decrease in the future as clean energy technologies continue to develop. The Government will introduce a climate compatibility checkpoint to assess whether any future licensing rounds remain in keeping with the UK’s climate goals, including net zero.

The North Sea Transition Deal sets out a path for the UK to manage the transition away from fossil fuels, with a goal of achieving a net zero basin by 2050 and achieving a managed energy transition, which leaves no-one behind. The Deal will support workers, businesses, and the supply chain as the UK transitions to a net zero future by harnessing the industry’s existing capabilities, infrastructure, and private investment potential to exploit new and emerging technologies such as hydrogen production, Carbon Capture Usage and Storage and offshore wind, as well as offshore decommissioning.

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