The oil and gas industry is not doing nearly enough to meet Transition targets, says the IEA. Only 1% is invested in non-core activities. That needs to rise to 15% within 10 years. The IEA’s article summarises their comprehensive report “The Oil and Gas Industry in Energy Transitions”, released this month. It explains how the industry’s existing skills and “deep pockets” make them ideally placed to invest in low-carbon fuels (Hydrogen, Biomethane, Advanced Biofuels) that are capital intensive and early stage. Another area they should focus on is Carbon Capture, desperate for investment and take-off. There are emissions “quick wins” in reducing methane leaks and flaring, as well as using renewables to power their new upstream and LNG developments. The report says oil and gas will still be needed, even with a rapid transition to clean energy, to meet total global power demand. But the Sustainable Development Scenario will see oil and gas revenues decline. Companies and the nations that depend on that money will have to change. The wisest of them will re-think themselves as “energy” rather than “oil and gas” operators, allowing them to diversify and capture the already growing revenues from the rise of electric power, and the potential of those new technologies.
Oil and gas companies are facing a critical challenge as the world increasingly shifts towards clean energy transitions. Fossil fuels drive the companies’ near-term returns, but failure to address growing calls to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could threaten their long-term social acceptability and profitability.
The oil and gas industry now needs to make clear what clean energy transitions mean for it – and what it can do to accelerate clean energy transitions.
Whatever path the world follows in its efforts to limit the rise in global temperatures, intensifying climate impacts will increase the pressure on all industries to find solutions.
Using existing skills and “deep pockets”
While some oil and gas companies have taken steps to support efforts to combat climate change, the industry as a whole could play a much more significant role through its engineering capabilities, financial resources and project-management expertise, according to the IEA’s Oil and Gas Industry in Energy Transitions report, which was released today.
“No energy company will be unaffected by clean energy transitions,” said Dr Fatih Birol [Executive Director, IEA]. “Every part of the industry needs to consider how to respond. Doing nothing is simply not an option.”
The landscape of the oil and gas industry is diverse, meaning there is no single strategic response but a variety of approaches depending on each company’s circumstances.
Quick and easy emissions cuts
“The first immediate task for all parts of the industry is reducing the environmental footprint of their own operations,” Dr Birol said. “As of today, around 15% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions come from the process of getting oil and gas out of the ground and to consumers. A large part of these emissions can be brought down relatively quickly and easily.”
Methane leaks, flaring, renewables integration
Reducing methane leaks to the atmosphere is the single most important and cost-effective way for the industry to bring down these emissions. But there are ample other opportunities to lower the emissions intensity of delivered oil and gas by eliminating routine flaring and integrating renewables and low-carbon electricity into new upstream and LNG developments.
Capital intensive opportunities: CCUS, Hydrogen
“Also, with their extensive know-how and deep pockets, oil and gas companies can play a crucial role in accelerating deployment of key renewable options such as offshore wind, while also enabling some key capital-intensive clean energy technologies – such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage and hydrogen – to reach maturity,” Dr Birol added. “Without the industry’s input, these technologies may simply not achieve the scale needed for them to move the dial on emissions.”
…but only 1% is being invested in non-core activities
Some oil and gas companies are diversifying their energy operations to include renewables and other low-carbon technologies. However, average investment by oil and gas companies in non-core areas has so far been limited to around 1% of total capital spending, with the largest outlays going to solar PV and wind.
…few signs of change
Some oil and gas companies have also diversified by acquiring existing non-core businesses – for example in electricity distribution, electric-vehicle charging, and batteries – while stepping up research and development activity. But overall, there are few signs of the large-scale change in capital allocation needed to put the world on a more sustainable path.
Target: 15% invested in hydrogen, biomethane, advanced biofuels
An essential task is to step up investment in the fuels – such as hydrogen, biomethane and advanced biofuels – that can deliver the energy system benefits of oil and gas without net carbon emissions. Within 10 years, these low-carbon fuels would need to account for around 15% of overall investment in fuel supply if the world is to get on course to tackle climate change. In the absence of low-carbon fuels, transitions become much harder and more expensive.
A coalition of governments, investors, companies and more
“The scale of the climate challenge requires a broad coalition encompassing governments, investors, companies and everyone else who is genuinely committed to reducing emissions,” said Dr Birol. “That effort requires the oil and gas industry to be firmly and fully on board.”
Oil and Gas will still be needed
Low-carbon electricity will undoubtedly move to centre stage in the future energy mix. But investment in oil and gas projects will still be needed, even in rapid clean energy transitions. If investment in existing oil and gas fields were to stop completely, the decline in output would be around 8% per year. This is larger than any plausible fall in global demand, so investment in existing fields and some new ones remains part of the picture.
Shifting from “oil and gas” to “energy” makes sense
In some cases, company owners may favour sticking with a specialisation in oil and gas – possibly shifting more towards natural gas over time – for as long as these fuels are in demand and investment returns are sufficient. But these companies will also need to think through their strategic response to new and pervasive challenges.
An SDS strategy will see revenues decline
The stakes are particularly high for national oil companies charged with the stewardship of countries’ hydrocarbon resources – and for their government owners and host societies that typically rely heavily on the associated oil income.
National oil companies account for well over half of global production and an even larger share of reserves. Some are high performing, but many are poorly positioned to adapt to changing global energy dynamics. Global energy trends have prompted a number of countries to renew their commitment to reform and to diversify their economies, and fundamental changes to development models in many major resource holders look unavoidable. National oil companies can provide important elements of stability for economies during this process, if they are operating effectively and alert to the risks and opportunities.
This report was produced in cooperation with the World Economic Forum (WEF). It was presented to government and industry leaders during the WEF’s Annual Meeting in Davos on January 21.
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This article is taken from the IEA Newsroom and is published with permission
Images are taken from “The Oil and Gas Industry in Energy Transitions” where the full report can be downloaded
Danny Hall says
“The wisest of them will re-think themselves as “energy” rather than “oil and gas” operators, allowing them to diversify and capture the already growing revenues from the rise of electric power, and the potential of those new technologies.”
Yes, absolutely. Just as some of the large, powerful railroad companies in the U.S. in the early 1900’s failed to define themselves are transportation companies, and didn’t invest in new technologies. Once thought to be invincible and “backbones” of the U.S. economy, they disappeared rather quickly as the automobile and the airplane quickly took over.
Cormac Madden says
Investment in deep geothermal is also a good fit for fossil fuel companies. It seems to be neglected.
Tim Beesley says
Very much agreeing with this. My thoughts concur. I also wonder if there are transferable skills within the off shore industry that could be applied to develop wave and tidal power projects?