North Sea Transition Deal

The stated aim of the North Sea Transition Deal is to maximise the "advantages for the UK's oil and gas sector from the global shift to clean growth". The document provides more detail on actions to achieve the emissions reduction targets set out in the Ten Point Plan and the Energy White Paper. The paper notes that it seeks to balance the need for emissions abatement from the oil and gas sector with the costs of abatement and to mitigate the risk of relocation of production abroad (carbon leakage). it sets an emissions reduction target for the sector of 60Mt reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, including 15Mt through the progressive decarbonisation of UKCS production over the period to 2030.

The deal sets out five key outcomes:
1. Supply decarbonisation - this outcome is focused on reducing operational emissions from the North Sea oil and gas sector to net zero
2. Carbon Capture, Usage & Storage - this outcome is related to government action and investment in CCUS infrastructure, including standards development
3. Hydrogen - to achieve this outcome the government commits to supporting RD&D in the hydrogen sector, including through re-structuring the existing market framework set out in the Gas Act, simplifying the planning process for hydrogen projects, maintaining gas sector infrastructure and establishing a revenue mechanism to stimulate private investment in the sector
4. Supply chain transformation - this outcome aims to establish a net zero supply chain, supported through R&D and other activities
5. People and Skills - this outcome is aimed at facilitating the re-skilling of industry workers.