Future of the sector as the UK transitions to net zero by 2050
The sector is able to deliver the fuel our economy and society needs while increasing their low carbon content to meet the UK’s net zero goals.
Demand for road transport fuels has declined over recent years due to improvements in vehicle efficiency and the increasing use of hybrid and electric vehicles. Over the same period, the biofuel content of petrol and diesel has also increased, leading to a further decline in demand for crude oil derived petrol and diesel. These trends are set to continue under Government transport decarbonisation policies.
Petrol and diesel engines will, however, continue to be a large part of the vehicle fleet, as will hybrids, beyond the 2035 ban on new vehicles which are not zero emission at the tailpipe. Reducing emissions of such vehicles can deliver greenhouse gas savings early and support the development of low carbon fuels that will be required in the much longer-term, for example for aviation and Heavy Goods Vehicles.
UK offers advantages in terms of transition to net zero which could make it a world leader as we move to net zero, with good geology for Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), proximity to the European market and strong import/export infrastructure, and transferable workforce expertise from both upstream and downstream oil sectors to support key technologies such as hydrogen, carbon capture and low carbon fuels.
The downstream oil sector will need to consider how it can contribute to decarbonisation goals, whilst providing security, reliability and affordable products to wider society. To do this we need a clear vision for the future of our industry.
The series of reports below do just that as well as considering in depth the multiple technologies available to reduce the emissions of our industry as well as its products.
Use the links on the right to learn more about the future of the UK's downstream oil sector and the decarbonisation potential or use the links below:
2020 Transition, Transformation, and Innovation
2021 Future of Mobility
2022 Future Skills for the Downstream Sector