Investing in Tomorrow: A North Sea Energy Future
Friends, colleagues, it’s fantastic to be here with you today, surrounded by the energy and innovation that defines this city. We stand at a pivotal moment, a time of change, but also of immense chance. For over fifty years, the north Sea and the skilled workforce here have been the backbone of our nation’s energy supply. That legacy is something to be incredibly proud of,and it’s a foundation we can – and must - build upon.
We aren’t talking about simply replacing one industry with another. We’re talking about evolution, about leveraging decades of expertise to forge a new energy landscape.This means a significant, sustained commitment to the technologies of tomorrow – carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and the growth of a hydrogen economy. Just recently, the Energy Secretary highlighted our £200 million investment in the Acorn project, a collaborative effort spanning Scotland and the North East, poised to create thousands of skilled jobs focused on vital CO2 infrastructure.
But technology alone isn’t enough. A prosperous transition demands that everyone benefits, that working people feel secure and empowered.That’s why our Clean Power mission is designed to unlock over £40 billion in private investment annually, driving not just clean energy production by 2030, but also ample industrial and economic growth.
This isn’t about leaving anyone behind. It’s about equipping our workforce with the skills they need to thrive in this new era. We’ve already taken concrete steps, working with the Scottish Government and industry to launch the skills Passport, streamlining the process for oil and gas workers to transition into emerging roles. We’ve moved from years of discussion to tangible progress in a matter of months thru genuine partnership. Here in Aberdeen, we’ve launched pilot programs offering tailored training and support, and we’re ensuring offshore wind developers contribute directly to skills development.
I know there’s a diversity of viewpoints in this room, and that’s a strength. A healthy debate is vital to both our democracy and our industry. My commitment to you is this: we will listen, we will collaborate, and we will work with every single one of you to achieve our shared ambition – a thriving North Sea that continues to power the UK for generations to come.We refuse to accept the limitations of the past. The workers and communities of the North Sea deserve a government that prioritises investment in the future, and manages this transition with reason and cooperation. That’s the government I’m proud to lead, and with your partnership, we will deliver.Look around this conference. Three halls filled with over 500 companies,innovators,and experts – showcasing everything from floating offshore wind to the innovative repurposing of existing pipelines for hydrogen transport. This isn’t a distant dream; it’s the energy transition happening right now.
This is a plan that unites industry, government, and local communities. A plan that unlocks the incredible potential of the North Sea. We won’t wait for the future to arrive. We will build it, together, leveraging the phenomenal skill and experience of this city to write the next chapter of our energy story – a chapter we can be just as proud of as the last.
The time to build that future is now.
Thank you.
