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New event invites energy leaders to be part of the future

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Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) is hosting the inaugural North Sea CCS & Hydrogen Summit 2026, taking place on June 1-2 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh.

Connect with industry leaders, regulators, investors and the supply chain delivering the energy transition. See first-hand how the UK’s carbon capture and storage (CCS), and hydrogen projects and infrastructure are critical for the country’s energy future and resilience.

‘An Integrated and Resilient North Sea’ is the theme of the summit, which brings together UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) and European perspectives from across industry, government and regulators to unlock the decarbonisation and growth opportunity for the North Sea region.

“With exceptional North Sea expertise, infrastructure and geology, we have a unique opportunity to lead Europe’s energy transition,” said Enrique Cornejo, OEUK energy policy director.

“OEUK’s North Sea CCS and Hydrogen Summit provides the opportunity to hear live updates on early CCS and hydrogen projects, gain insights into evolving markets and regulatory frameworks, and participate in technical discussions that encompass the essential role of shared infrastructure, harmonised technical standards and cross-border coordination in reducing risk.

“We’ll explore what is being done to unlock investment and lay the foundation for a resilient, integrated North Sea network that enables CO2 and hydrogen to move seamlessly across national systems, helping to underpin a competitive, secure and sustainable energy future for the UK and Europe.”

Enrique Cornejo, OEUK energy policy director (Image: OEUK)

The event programme reflects the sector’s early growth and ambition, and how it is moving decisively from concept to deployment. It will explore what is being done to strengthen the evolving business case and confront the real-world challenges of interoperability, quality specifications, regulatory alignment and carbon storage readiness.

Enjoy networking opportunities with welcome drinks and dinner on June 1, followed by a full day of conference sessions and exhibitions on June 2.

Attendees will hear directly from live projects that have reached final investment decision and are now moving into delivery, gaining valuable insights into how these developments are shaping the emerging CCS and hydrogen landscape.

The summit also offers investor, legal and insurance perspectives as new markets, products and risk frameworks take shape, alongside guidance from regional regulators on evolving policy and cross-border collaboration.

The power of partnership: why OEUK membership matters

With more than 450 member organisations, OEUK represents a broad and diverse community across oil and gas, offshore wind, geothermal, hydrogen and CCS.

Its members benefit from value-adding insights, targeted networking, profile-raising opportunities and reduced costs for OEUK events.

OEUK works closely with members to understand their business goals, providing tailored support to help maximise their membership.

The organisation delivers industry-led events where members shape the agenda and collaborate to identify and promote good practice, supported by the latest market intelligence, comprehensive insights, award-winning guidelines and updates on legislation and policy.

It works to raise the profile of the UK offshore energy sector, foster open dialogue across technical, fiscal, safety, environmental and training issues, while actively engaging with governments, regulators and other external stakeholders on key initiatives and programmes.

Meet like-minded energy leaders as an OEUK member (Image: OEUK)

A modern industrial Scotland, secured by homegrown energy

OEUK’s recently launched Scotland Manifesto 2026 comes at a crucial time for the offshore energy sector and the country’s energy future.

Its core message is clear: “Back a modern industrial Scotland. Secured by homegrown energy.” In practice, this means recognising that there is no simple choice between oil and gas and renewables. The reality is we need both.

Scotland’s offshore energy sector, spanning oil and gas, offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture, already supports more than 128,000 jobs and contributes £24 billion annually to the Scottish economy. Harnessing this breadth of expertise is essential for delivering energy that is secure, affordable and low carbon.

The current state of the industry presents both huge opportunity and pressing challenges.

On one hand, the UK’s North Sea resources and infrastructure provide a strong foundation for the energy transition. Decades of experience mean we have world-class supply chain companies and skilled people ready to drive expansion in renewables, hydrogen and carbon capture.

On the other hand, investment is being tested by uncertainty. OEUK’s Scotland Manifesto highlights that rising imports are driven by policy choices, not geology, and warns of potential industrial decline if new projects are not progressed.

“It does not have to be this way,” said David Whitehouse, OEUK’s chief executive.

“With an integrated approach that builds on our strengths, Scotland’s industrial future can be anchored for decades to come. Decarbonisation must deliver re-industrialisation.”

David Whitehouse, OEUK chief executive (Image: OEUK)

OEUK is calling on all political parties to put pragmatism before polarisation and unite behind an integrated energy future for Scotland and the UK.

That means supporting investment in new oil and gas developments, fixing outdated infrastructure charges, advancing carbon capture projects and treating our domestic energy supply chain as a strategic national asset.

David added: “With policies that encourage homegrown energy production and innovation instead of pitting traditional and renewable energies against each other, Scotland can build on its existing strengths to create a modern industrial future built on secure, affordable and cleaner energy.”

Book your ticket for the OEUK North Sea CCS & Hydrogen Summit 2026 at oeukccsandhydrogensummit.co.uk

To find out more about OEUK membership, visit oeuk.org.uk/membership/about-membership

This story is also published in Insight Energy magazine, covering the latest news from the UK's energy sector. Read the latest edition here. 


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