COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION IN NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is providing £9 billion of capital investment into low carbon infrastructure and delivering substantial economic benefit to the UK. The project has also led to collaborations and trade between UK & Norway. Hear from Equinor and Port of Tyne and a case study from North Star Renewables and Vard on the collaboration to bring new SOV’s to the project.

Presentation – Lower Emissions Oil and Gas Production

By Tom Brighton, Energy Advisor, Norwegian Energy Partners

Oil and gas extraction will continue for decades to come under any global temperature increase scenario. It is therefore compelling that it is extracted at the lowest possible GHG emission. This presentation addresses the challenges and several solutions from Norwegian Energy Partners member-portfolio which can deliver significantly lower emissions in the production of oil and gas. 

About Tom: Tom has had a 38-year career in the international oil and gas industry, initially in the service sector before spending 23 years working for operating companies Total, BG Group and finally Shell. Tom’s final role with Shell prior to retiring in summer 2020 was Well Engineering Manager, Shell UK.  He is now an independent consultant to the energy sector and a non-executive board member of Montrose Port Authority. 

Tom’s experience with oil and gas development and decommissioning projects along with his current roles are well aligned with his aspiration to play an active part in the UK energy transition. 

CASE STUDY: Dogger Bank overview

By Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager, Renewables, Equinor

About Tom: Tom joined Equinor in April 2021 as North East Stakeholder Manager, focusing on Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm under construction. Tom represents Equinor’s Renewables Division in North East England, working alongside Dogger Bank partners to engage with and build relationships across the community, industry and the supply chain. Tom is also a board member of NOF.  

Case Study: We will find a way – Bringing resident subsea drones to market

A brief overview of the factors (Trust, understanding, problem-solving) that were key to Modus achieving the world’s first resident subsea drone contract for Equinor. Key areas for discussion: Approach to Equinor; getting through the door; arc of relationship; collaboration and trust as part of contractual and operational framework.

By Ash Sheppard, Chief Strategy Officer, Modus Subsea Group Ltd

About Ash:  I am responsible for developing the group’s strategy and defining it within the organisation to ensure strategic goals are met and colleagues understand how their work connects to overarching corporate objectives. I lead Modus’ Autonomy program and I am focussed on developing collaborative relationships to bring resident drones / AUVs to market. 

About Modus Subsea Services:

 Modus has been providing safe, innovative, and cost-effective ROV and trenching services globally for over a decade. For the last four years we have been operating Saab Sabertooth HAUVs in ROV replacement roles – in both monitored and full autonomy – to evaluate capability and performance of subsea drones. This has equipped Modus with unparalleled knowledge of the capability and detailed understanding of the technology and development requirements for fully autonomous subsea resident applications. Modus is now transforming its business to focus solely on HAUV operations.

CASE STUDY: Delivering State of the Art Service Operation Vessels through coloration between the UK & Norway?

By Andrew Duncan, Renewables Director – Offshore Wind, North Star Renewables and Thomas Brathaug, Principal Naval Architect Conceptual Design, Vard

​About Andrew: Having spent more that 15 years involved in the marine aspects of Offshore wind construction and O&M through the evolution of WTIV jack up vessels, CTV’s and walk to work vessels, Andrew’s role at North Star is to lead the companies SOV offering and long term infrastructure support with a customer focused, innovative and efficient fleet of bespoke vessels.

North Star Renewables

Founded in 1886, we own and operate the largest wholly UK-owned fleet engaged in the UK’s offshore industry in the North Sea, providing comprehensive operational experience of the seas around the UK coastline. Our clients rely on our advanced vessels and the unrivalled experience of our highly trained crews to provide offshore infrastructure support 24/7 365 days of the year.

We are recognised as a fully professional and proven mission-critical service partner, particularly in relation to long-term contracted infrastructure support. We combine safety, innovation and efficiency to ensure that we always deliver exceptional levels of support to all our customers in one of world’s most challenging and demanding marine environments, leveraging our 135 years of experience.

About Thomas: Thomas Brathaug is Principal Naval Architect in the concept development team. With 14 years of experience in designing ships aimed at Offshore wind, he is responsible for the development of the renewables concept portfolio within Vard.  

Vard

VARD is one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels. Headquartered in Norway and with approximately 8,000 employees, VARD operates shipbuilding facilities in Norway, Romania, Brazil and Vietnam. Through its specialized subsidiaries, VARD develops power and automation systems, deck handling equipment, and vessel accommodation solutions, and provides design and engineering services to the global maritime industry   

Fincantieri Oil & Gas S.p.A, a wholly owned subsidiary of FINCANTIERI S.p.A. is the majority shareholder of VARD with around 98 % of the shares. FINCANTIERI is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups. 

Presentation: Port of Tyne – Tyne Transformed

By Matthew Beeton, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Tyne.

About Matthew: Matt’s career began with a graduate programme at Rolls-Royce Aerospace. He has over 20 years’ experience in the road, rail and aerospace industries having held director positions at Rolls-Royce, Bombardier, Serco plc, Northern Rail and National Express. Matt joined the Port of Tyne in 2019 with extensive experience in transforming business strategy, driving efficiency through smart technology, increasing customer satisfaction and improving safety performance.

Port of Tyne

The Port of Tyne is one of only two deep-sea ports in the North East operating in sectors including bulk energy, offshore, freight, automotive logistics, cruise and ferry as well as port-centric logistics. It is one of the UK’s most progressive ports and home to the UK’s first and only Maritime Innovation Hub.

The Port is implementing its transformational vision to lead the industry in collaboration and innovation, to be the UK’s first smart port and to be carbon neutral by 2030. We are Nissan’s home-port, a key link in Drax/LPL’s renewable fuel supply chain and support a growing offshore renewables cluster. The Port’s 200-acre development platform (Tyne Clean Energy Park) is home to Equinor / SSE’s O&M base for Dogger Bank, the world’s largest wind farm.

Panel discussion – Where are the opportunities for greater emissions reduction? What are the key challenges to delivering these?

Speakers

Tom Brighton

Tom Nightingale

Matthew Beeton

Thomas Brathaug

Moderated by Mark Bruce, VP Regional Sales UK & Ireland, Kongsberg

Mark has been with KONGSBERG working in a number of Sales roles before being appointed as Vice President, Regional Sales UK & Ireland in 2019. Mark has a diverse maritime background having worked across many different sectors of the industry and has experience in the Oil & Gas industry prior to joining KONGSBERG.

With a family history of working in maritime, Mark joined the Royal Navy in 2005, completing a degree in Marine Engineering. He served on both Type 42 and Type 23 Warships during his Naval career.

Kongsberg Maritime

KONGSBERG is a leading global technology corporation delivering mission-critical solutions for Maritime, Defence Aerospace and Digital Customers.

KONGSBERG has a long-term commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gases and the presentation will share the Company’s sustainability strategy to reduce carbon emissions across the supply chain.

Facilitated by Tom Brighton, Energy Advisor

Consideration of the environmental and human impact on supply chain products and solutions will be an ever-present throughout the energy transition. This session will address what the supply chain is already doing in improving sustainability efforts whilst continuing to maintain profitability and what it can achieve in the years ahead

KEYNOTE: Sustainability in the Kongsberg Supply Chain

Presentation summarizing KONGSBERG Climate and Supply Chain strategy for Sustainability and Carbon emissions reduction, to deliver 2030 and 2050 targets.

Rob Anthony, SVP Global Supply Chain in Kongsberg Maritime. 24 years experience in Rolls-Royce Plc and KONGSBERG in Procurement and Supply Chain, working in Civil Aerospace, Defence and Maritime sectors. Have lived and worked in UK, Germany and Norway. Additional responsibility as UK Country Manager since start of 2022.

PRESENTATION: The Gas System of the Future

Digital Twins have long been heralded as a solution to future energy industry challenges. Millions of decisions concerning real-world assets’ design, construction and operation will be taken based on their digital twins. Some digital twins will represent a simple component; others span entire facilities or systems. The ‘Gas System of the Future’ aims to explore the commercial, societal and operational benefits that could be derived from the deployment of unified digital twin on our energy network, both current and future.  

by William  Osborne, Senior Innovation Consultant, DNV

About William: Will is a senior innovation consultant in the Growth, Innovation and Digital team at DNV. The team aims to drive growth through digitalisation in support of the energy transition, the move towards cleaner energy sources and decarbonisation. He works on innovation activities and projects across the energy system business area and in his current role he is involved with Digital Twins and Digital Twin assurance activities, identifying opportunities where digital twins could add value and providing assurance that they can be trusted to support decision making. He is also the project manager for the SIF funded ‘Gas System of the Future Digital Twin’ alpha phase project and is working with a multidisciplined team from different organisations. Prior to this he held a senior structural engineer position in the Jack-up, Geotechnical and Metocean team, providing consultancy and marine warranty services for Jack-up vessels in both oil and gas and renewables.

PRESENTATION: Step One in the Supply Chain: Providing Sustainable Power

By Jake Woods, Digital Transformation Manager, PX Group

About Jake: As Digital Transformation Manager for px Energy Solutions, Jake works across the px Group to identify, manage, and implement technological and digital upgrades that help improve business processes, optimise operations and drive our growth and innovation agenda. Jake joined the company in 2018 after the transfer of Saltend Chemicals Park to px Group ownership. Jake is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, previously the youngest senior leader in the history of the Saltend Chemicals Park and a winner of the Top 30 under 30 (Hull & Humberside).

CASE STUDY: The role of sustainability in creating a competitive industry and supply chain

The presentation will consider the drivers to sustainability now being seen as part of creating competitive advantage rather than simply a challenge to cost competitiveness. It will look from an industry perspective at key areas that supply chain can target to address both the environmental and social aspects of rapid offshore wind growth.

By Sarah Pirie, Project Director, Aker Offshore Wind

About Sarah: Sarah Pirie has over a decade of offshore wind experience and is a project director supporting the development of Mainstream Renewable Power’s offshore wind portfolio.  She currently leads their bid for the Sørlige Nordsjø II in consortium with Statkraft and bp. Previously, she was Head of Development at Ocean Winds in the UK delivering c.2GW of offshore wind. 

Panel discussion: What are the challenges and opportunities for the supply chain to meet environmental and industry expectations?

Moderator:

Tom Brighton, Energy Advisor, Norwegian Energy Partners

Speakers:

Rob Anthony, Kongsberg Maritime

Sarah Pirie

William Osborne

SKILLS AND THE ENERGY TRANSITION

The Energy Industry is expected to see major growth over the coming years, led by investments in offshore wind, decarbonisation and ensuring energy security. This session will investigate skills shortfalls and how these can be addressed to support a successful energy transition.

Keynote

by Paul Parry, Business Manager – Energy & Industrial and Skills Group Leader, EnergiCoast

About Paul: A PhD qualified organic chemist from the University of Durham, Paul has a passion for education, science and engineering. With previous experience in the chemical and engineering recruitment sectors, Paul transitioned into the offshore energy sector as a Business Development Executive at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. He was then appointed as Head of Sales & Business Development for Maersk Training, prior to joining PTS in March 2018. Port Training Services is a specialist training provider operating across multiple industry sectors, including Ports and the Offshore Energy Sector and is heavily involved in STEM initiatives that promote pathways into offshore energy.   

PRESENTATION: Investing in skills for economic growth

By Karen Burgess, Sector Skills Facilitator, North East Local Enterprise Partnership 

About Karen: As a Sector Skills Facilitator at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Karen works at a strategic level with key industry clusters, including those within the energy sector, to forge partnerships and foster collaboration through the North East LEP skills programmes. With the aim to build an appropriately skilled workforce to enable economic growth in the region. 

North East Local Enterprise Partnership 

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership is a public, private and education sector partnership, responsible for promoting and developing economic growth in the local authority areas of County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland through the Strategic Economic Plan. 

PRESENTATION: Closing the skills gap to deliver the Energy Transition

How can clusters participate in closing the skills gap needed to deliver the energy transition, how to support our industry development and how to attract new industry leaders.

By Annie Kristie Korsmo, Head of Ecosystem, Energy Valley

About Annie: As Head of Ecosystem Annie is the key executive that oversees both partnerships and the dynamics in the industry, community engagement, and how the organization is shaping its presence. She will work closely with key shareholders, academia, and industry partners to develop added value across our ecosystem. Her role is also to lead and develop our team responsible for all our National and International events.

Annie has a solid track record of leading change in a fast-moving business environment and working with leading organizations from various international and national industries.

She has a background in hotel, travel, and destinations management, and holds a BSc(Hon) in Hospitality Management from Plymouth University, UK.

About Energy Valley: 

Energy Valley is an industry-driven technology cluster and has status as the Norwegian Center of Expertise (NCE) in energy technology from Innovation Norway. 

The cluster has national status, with a concentration of cluster members in the capital region (Notodden, Kongsberg, Asker, Bærum, Oslo, and Halden). 

Energy Valley runs several industrial development and innovation projects and export activities as part of Team Norway and through direct collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The cluster is also the largest owner in the incubator Energy Invented, which has recently been established as an AS and has applied for admission to SIVA’s incubator program. Additionally, Energy Valley is the Norwegian representative and member committee of the World Energy Council. 

PRESENTATION: Delivering the Energy Transition

The energy transition is happening, but do we have the skills needed to succeed? This presentation will look at why we must identify and address the skills challenges to deliver a workforce equipped to transform our future.

By Jason Brown, SVP – Head of Renewables UK, Aker Solutions

About Jason: Jason heads up the UK operation for Aker Solutions with a bias towards the renewables business and the energy transition. Jason has been in the energy business for more than 25 years, working on upstream and midstream projects primarily in the oil and gas business and geographically from Peru through to Sakhalin Island. Jason’s experience includes both on shore and offshore, LNG liquification and gasification projects, oil and gas processing and refining. 

Now, in his current role, Jason is responsible for transforming the UK business into a renewables and low carbon hub for Aker Solutions, executing CCUS, hydrogen and offshore fixed and floating wind projects. 

Presentation: Offshore Wind – Skills Opportunity

By Andrew Esson, Future Skills Lead, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

Andrrew will present a short overview of the skills work being carried out in the North East and nationally by ORE Catapult

About Andrew: Andrew joined ORE Catapult as Future Skills Lead in September 2022.  In this new role within ORE Catapult, he works closely with industry, education and training providers to develop a skills strategy and operating model that works at local, regional and national levels, with clear responsibilities for ORE Catapult.  Prior to joining ORE Catapult, Andrew held a variety of senior Energy industry roles, and was Chair of the Energi Coast Skills Group

PANEL DISCUSSION: Where are the key skills shortfalls right now and what can be done to address them?

Panel: Tom Nightingale, Jason Brown, Karen Burgess, Annie Kristie Korsmo, TBC, TBC

Moderated by Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager, Renewables, Equinor