Oil and Gas Companies (Collaboration with Renewables Companies)

General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 7 November 2024.

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Photo of Audrey Nicoll Audrey Nicoll Scottish National Party

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to support oil and gas companies to collaborate with renewables companies to test and deploy new technologies. (S6O-03905)

Photo of Gillian Martin Gillian Martin Scottish National Party

We are committed to working in partnership with the energy industry to deliver a just energy transition. Our energy transition fund is supporting projects in the north-east that promote collaboration across offshore energy sectors. Those include the energy transition zone, which is transforming the region into a globally integrated energy cluster, and the Global Underwater Hub, which is using underwater expertise, technologies and skills to drive innovation and accelerate the transition. Separately, successful projects in the innovation and targeted oil and gas leasing rounds are using floating wind to electrify oil and gas infrastructure. That helps to decarbonise production while, crucially, enabling the offshore wind sector to expand.

Photo of Audrey Nicoll Audrey Nicoll Scottish National Party

Many oil and gas companies are already transitioning to renewables. However, during a recent visit to a company in my constituency that is doing just that, I learned of the challenges that are associated with the complexities and costs of scaling up its testing of floating tension-leg platform technology that could offer opportunities for foundation manufacturing in Scotland. What support can companies such as the one in my constituency access to enable them to scale up testing and move to market entry? Would the cabinet secretary be willing to meet me to discuss that further?

Photo of Gillian Martin Gillian Martin Scottish National Party

First, I would be absolutely delighted to meet the member and the company that she is speaking on behalf of. As set out in our innovation strategy, the Scottish Government is committed to developing world-leading economic clusters, including in offshore wind. Companies and investors who wish to discuss funding and investment opportunities in the offshore wind sector should engage with the Scottish National Investment Bank and the enterprise agencies, which are best placed to advise on what support could be available. I also encourage the company, if it has not done so already, to get in touch with the Net Zero Technology Centre, which provides advice in that area as well as support to companies that wish to innovate.