This week CNOOC revealed production figures for its UK assets in a document that painted a "gloomy" picture of the operator's future in the North Sea, according to one analyst.

In this episode of Energy Voice Out Loud, Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff is joined in the studio by news editor Erikka Askeland and reporter Mat Perry.

Up first, Mat runs through CNOOC's production figures which explained why the Chinese operator decided to not electrify offshore operations through the Green Volt floating wind farm. Could CNOOC be looking to sell up? Even if it were, who's buying?

Next, Erikka discusses nuclear sites in Scotland after the UK government produced a report listing the best sites for the energy source. Although, the Scottish government is still firmly against new nuclear power north of the border as the country's last power plant is set to shut down by the end of the decade.

Finally, Ryan tells us about Shane Gorman's latest book. The son of David Gorman, a safety office who died during the Piper Alpha disaster 38 years ago, has written a book about how the North Sea's darkest day has shaped his life. Published on the anniversary of the last day Shane saw his father, the book was launched on Thursday 2 July. For those wishing to pay their respects to those who lost their lives in the Piper Alpha disaster, a service will be held on Monday 6 July at 1300 in the North Sea Memorial Gardens at Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen.

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Energy Voice Out Loud brings you news, analysis and expert insight from across the energy sector, covering oil and gas, renewables, policy, investment, the energy transition and the people shaping the industry.

For more energy news, analysis and insight, visit Energy Voice: https://www.energyvoice.com/

Listen to Energy Voice Out Loud:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5oOm2X6UsU1eybnTCoBFJx

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/energy-voice-out-loud/id1508117133

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Energy Voice Out Loud brings you news, analysis and expert insight from across the energy sector, covering oil and gas, renewables, policy, investment, the energy transition and the people shaping the industry.

This week, shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho lambasted a “scandal” within NESO after she claimed senior managers had ordered operators to hide how close the gird was to failing last month.

In this episode of Energy Voice Out Loud, Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff is joined by renewables reporter Michael Behr and E-FWD editor Ed Reed

First up, Ed discusses the situation with NESO and the politicisation of the grid and the upgrades it needs to deliver on the UK's clean power ambitions. This came after Coutinho pointed to the frequency of the grid dropping below the normal operating limit of 49.80Hz on 23 June. NESO ultimately disputed claims, but there is proving to be a shortage of analysts and industry commentators willing to put their heads above the parapet on the matter. What is the current state of decommissioning in the North Sea and what is causing contracts to be awarded? Our trio of reporters discuss and ask you to provide you two cents.

Next, Micheal talks us through the rules for the next allocation round (AR). This week the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced the strike price ceilings for the various technologies that are able to take part in AR8. Deepwater wind was added to the same pot as floating and this has led to a debate as to whether this technology will be the hot new thing in UK waters. Also, the trio of reporters ask if the AR scheme is still fit for purpose and what should replace it if not.

Finally, Ryan asks if all that cash that is set to be spend on UK North Sea decommissioning is finally set to be delivered. This week, Apache handed out contracts for work on its Beryl platform and ACE Winches founder Alfie Cheyne opened a new firm with managing director Ross Anderson, Blue Ocean Decom.

For more energy news, analysis and insight, visit Energy Voice: https://www.energyvoice.com/

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Energy Voice Out Loud brings you news, analysis and expert insight from across the energy sector, covering oil and gas, renewables, policy, investment, the energy transition and the people shaping the industry.

This week Women in New Energy returned to Aberdeen for the fourth consecutive year. The event hosted a range of conversations regarding the importance of diversity in the energy industry and was kicked off by a keynote speech by Renewable UK's recently appointed CEO Tara Singh.

But, before she could head to Aberdeen, the Renewable UK boss was in Manchester for her organisation's Global Offshore Wind event, where news reporter Mat Perry caught up with her.

Back to W:NE, Aberdeen Features lead Ryan Duff spoke with Heather Hutcheon from Pinsent Masons about AI in the energy sector after she appeared on the show's opening panel. Heather explained how governance is important to deliver AI safely and effectively within the energy sector and reflected on the points made while she on stage at W:NE.

Finally, Ryan caught up with BP Jera Nex, and POWEful Women's Katherine Descamps about the shocking results of a survey answered by the attendees of W:NE. Kathrine said "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade", but are we using the wrong recipe?

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Featured in this episode: Women in New Energy 2026 returned to Aberdeen with conversations on offshore wind, AI governance, diversity, leadership and the future energy workforce. The episode features Tara Singh of RenewableUK, Heather Hutcheon of Pinsent Masons, and Katharine Descamps of JERA Nex bp and POWERful Women. The official podcast page describes Energy Voice Out Loud as news, analysis and expert insight from Energy Voice, and the latest W:NE 2026 episode is already listed on Podbean.

Suggested generic sign-off: For more energy news, analysis and insight, visit Energy Voice and follow us across LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and X. You can also follow Women in New Energy on LinkedIn for updates from the network and future events. Energy Voice’s public channels and the Women in New Energy LinkedIn page are listed online.

This week, Future Cleantech Architects hosted an event in Remscheid, Germany, where it launched its latest report. Aberdeen features lead, Ryan Duff, hosted a panel at the Future Cleantech Festival in which Clean Firm Power Report co-author Antoine Koen presented his findings.

Ryan and Antoine were joined by Maria Leis from Project Tempo, Karan Kochhar of IRENA, and Clean Air Task Force's Phil Cohen.

Their conversation ranged from public opposition to nuclear and the importance of the opinion of voters in shaping energy policy, to the viability of carbon capture storage and how geothermal and pumped storage hydro can pick up the slack when wind and solar generation drops.

This week the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers hosted its annual event in Aberdeen! This brought 6,000 people to the Granite City to discuss various aspects of the energy sector, both nationally and internationally.

Aberdeen features lead, Ryan Duff and news editor Erikka Askeland caught up with some of the delegates on the show floor, but first Erikka spoke with Katharine Descamps, offshore wind development leader for Jera Nex BP and Powerful Women ambassador; Scottish Energy Forum vice president and director of Veri Energy Donna Sutherland, and Georgina Worrall, head of Powerful Women about the group's latest.

Next, Ryan spoke with Andy Brooks, new ventures director for the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) about the future of licensing in the North Sea and how plans for the deployment of Transitional Energy Certificates (TECs) are shaping up. But that is not all the regulator is working on at the moment, the second carbon storage licensing round is set to be delivered and Andy gave insight into when we can expect to hear who the winners are.

Finally, Erikka caught up with BP subsurface boss Ariel Flores about the importance of bringing the EAGE conference to Aberdeen ahead of his firm announcing its latest rig contract for drilling in the North Sea.

BP wants to sell its North Sea assets, but does it really? The company is struggling to progress operations itself but the high price tag - a rumoured cool £2 billion - has posed challenges. There are ways round it, but it's going to depend on how motivated the supermajor is to find a buyer.

Meanwhile, renewables reporter Michael Behr was at OEUK’s CCS and hydrogen summit, where he spoke with the group’s energy policy director Enrique Cornejo. He shares a status update on the state of Scottish CCS and hydrogen, and how Europe will prove vital the country’s ambitions for both these technologies.

And finally, would whisky taste better if it was powered by hydrogen? That's certainly the direction plans are going in Cromarty, in light of a deal between ITM and Protium. Securing demand may well prove to be a more effective way to deliver supply, given the continued uncertainty over the much-delayed Hydrogen Strategy. Raise your glasses, please!