Morning, Monday, 15th September 2025
Online
This conference focusses on the future of the UK’s offshore sector. It will examine practical issues and strategic priorities for harnessing the full potential of the sector across energy production, employment, and economic development, alongside environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability.
Delegates will discuss the developing role of offshore wind, hydrogen, and other emerging approaches to offshore energy production, as well as how the role of oil and gas is expected to change during the transition. The development of carbon capture and storage, and other technologies aimed at supporting the clean energy transition, will also be considered. The agenda also examines how challenges can be addressed for marine spatial planning and co‑locating multiple uses within shared offshore areas.
The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss issues emerging in the Building the North Sea’s Energy Future consultation on the transition of the North Sea from oil and gas to clean energy. As the government considers its response, areas for discussion include calls for more streamlined regulation and coordinated infrastructure planning, strategies for managing the use of existing oil and gas alongside accelerated renewable, hydrogen and CCUS deployment, support for workforce transition, and how a coordinated approach across sectors might be achieved.
Delegates will also look at implications for stakeholders of the Industrial Strategy: Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, identifying offshore energy as a cornerstone of the UK’s clean growth ambitions, alongside commitment of funding for offshore energy in both the 2025 Spending Review and Industrial Strategy.
Clean energy transition
Sessions in the agenda examine the Government’s evolving strategy to position the North Sea as a clean energy hub, including the transition away from fossil fuels, support for emerging sectors, and implications of recent consultations - such as Building the North Sea’s Energy Future and the Oil and Gas Price Mechanism.
In addition to the role of existing oil and gas infrastructure during transition, areas for discussion include future licensing decisions, and uncertainty around the design of a longer-term fiscal framework following the Energy Profits Levy. Areas for discussion include investor confidence and certainty, the future mix of energy sources, and the challenge of balancing energy security with climate goals as part of a managed transition.
Spatial planning and coordination
With the offshore environment facing increasing demands, further sessions will assess how to balance competing priorities, including energy development, environmental protection, and commercial activity such as fishing and shipping. We expect discussion on challenges around co-location of technologies and marine users, particularly in relation to offshore wind, transmission infrastructure, and fishing, as well as the role of regulatory bodies in supporting effective coordination, spatial planning, and long-term governance.
Infrastructure, decommissioning and regulatory frameworks
Attendees will also consider infrastructure development and decommissioning, including how funding models and regulations can evolve to support both clean energy deployment and legacy asset management. Priorities for the North Sea Transition Authority and Great British Energy will be considered, along with the way forward on early planning for decommissioning - including options for repurposing existing platforms and pipelines for activities such as carbon storage or hydrogen transport.
Further sessions will examine the current trajectory of UK decommissioning costs, and priorities for innovation, including AI-driven efficiencies, to mitigate costs and free up capacity for reuse. Areas for discussion include regulatory flexibility, aligning spending and efficiency targets with supply chain capabilities, and clarity on responsibilities for GB Energy and the NSTA, and coordination and governance.
Fair transition
Strategic options for delivering a just and inclusive offshore transition will be discussed, looking at issues for communities, workforce planning, skills and training, and regional growth.
Proposals such as a skills passport for offshore workers will be examined, as well as strategies to ensure high-quality employment in low-carbon sectors, considering how to align reskilling with local opportunities, address fair pay and working conditions, and engage communities historically linked to oil and gas.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from DBT; NISTA; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
