Today a study on industrial decarbonisation and energy efficiency roadmaps to 2050 was published [1].
UKPIA welcomes the focus on the UK refining sector, which faces a level of investment challenge that threatens the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry, not least due to the cumulative cost impact of existing and new legislative requirements.
UKPIA provided information on refinery emissions and the sector as a whole. UKPIA also made recommendations on the use of scenarios for refinery activity projections and emissions through to 2050. The latter will largely be influenced by the rate of decarbonisation achieved in other sectors. For this reason, the pathways identified in the report for the refining sector are somewhat limited in value as possible ways forward.
Chris Hunt, UKPIA’s Director General, commented: “The pathways identified are purely illustrative given the level of uncertainty regarding decarbonisation in other sectors and the cripplingly high costs identified for key options”. He continued: “The study’s recognition of the challenges facing our sector is encouraging, along with the endorsement of its strategic and long term importance. However, we hope to see more action from Government, particularly in light of the report’s comments on costs, financing and the need for a level playing field”.
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Enquiries to: UKPIA Press Office, Tel. 020 7269 7600
Notes to editors:
- UKPIA represents eight oil refining and marketing companies that operate the six major oil refineries in the UK and source over 85% of the transport fuels used. UKPIA members also own around 1,800 of the 8,591 filling stations in the UK.
- For a copy of the report “Industrial Decarbonisation & Energy Efficiency Roadmaps to 2050: Oil Refining”, click here.
- The report, commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Department for Business Innovation and Skills, forms part of a wider study of the potential for decarbonisation and improvements energy efficiency for eight energy intensive industry sectors, which makes a useful contribution to the debate on how collectively the UK can deliver an orderly transition to a low-carbon economy, whilst continuing to ensure resilient and competitive energy supplies, supporting economic growth and rebalancing the economy.
[1] WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff/DNV, “Industrial Decarbonisation & Energy Efficiency Roadmaps to 2050: Oil Refining”.