On March 13, 2025, I had the opportunity to attend DeCarbScotland 2025, a transformative event focused on Scotland’s ambitious journey towards net-zero emissions. The conference brought together key industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities in decarbonisation, with a particular emphasis on CCUS, GH2 , and the role of the supply chain in driving these initiatives.
Re-Engineering Infrastructure: Challenges and Opportunities
The day began with an insightful session chaired by Dr. Bryony Livesey, which explored the role of the Scottish Cluster in repurposing existing oil and gas assets for decarbonisation. This discussion highlighted the potential for adapting pipelines, wells, and storage facilities to support the development of carbon capture infrastructure. Speakers from Acorn, National Gas, SSE Thermal, and Ineos (Project Willow) shared their perspectives on the technical, logistical, and community engagement aspects of CCUS projects. The session underscored how legacy infrastructure can be a vital asset in Scotland’s decarbonisation efforts.
Green Hydrogen Network and Connections
During the networking and exhibition time, I connected with professionals from across the energy and decarbonisation sectors. Many of these discussions centered around green hydrogen, an area closely aligned with my future projects. I had valuable conversations with representatives from EDF, Veiola, Scottish Enterprise, and others, i was introduced by the Pathfinder Tool from the Northside Transition. Very fruitful!
Plenary 2: DNV’s Energy Outlook
The second plenary session delved into DNV’s UK Energy Transition Outlook, offering a comprehensive view of the UK’s roadmap to decarbonisation by 2050. The discussions highlighted the role of large-scale electrification, renewable energy expansion, and infrastructure upgrades in achieving net-zero targets. Speakers from DNV, Natio
nal Gas Transmission, Energy Transition Zone (ETZ), and SSEN offered meaningful perspectives on the progress made, as well as the challenges that remain in accelerating the energy transition.
Driving Change: The Supply Chain’s Role
Later in the day, I attended a session focused on the role of Scotland’s supply chain in supporting CCUS and industrial decarbonisation projects. Chaired by Emma Watt, the session presented findings from reports by NECCUS, Scottish Enterprise, and Optimat, while also showcasing the work of Xodus Group and Forth Valley College. This session highlighted the importance of scaling up local supply chain capabilities, addressing workforce needs, and leveraging lessons from offshore wind to build resilience and capacity in the CCUS sector.
Reflections on the Day
Attending DeCarbScotland 2025 was an inspiring experience. The event provided a comprehensive overview of Scotland’s decarbonisation efforts, bringing together diverse perspectives on infrastructure adaptation, technology innovation, and community engagement. It was particularly impactful to see how Scotland is leveraging its existing assets and workforce to accelerate the transition to net zero.
On a personal level, the conference reinforced the importance of collaboration across sectors and the need to align my future projects.
