How is the current push for energy security influencing your business?

Colin Elcoate

CEO at Alderley

It has taken a global energy security crisis for us to recognise the true value of the energy that drives our economies and makes our lives possible.

Hydrocarbons are once again valued for the reliable, affordable, ‘always-on’ energy they provide. In addition to nuclear, renewables and emerging complementary technologies such as hydrogen, they are central to a balanced energy portfolio.

We welcome recent UK government commitments to refocus on the North Sea and seek secure homegrown energy sources. This reflects a common-sense approach in difficult times, without forgetting the long-term goal of net-zero by 2050. However, to make this happen, we need to elevate the UK supply chain’s importance and role, which must be supported to compete for the new opportunities emerging in the domestic energy sector.

Alderley has invested in new capabilities to equip us and our clients for the new market reality. We’ve invested in digital, consultancy and aftermarket services to improve energy assets’ efficiency and performance, and have launched a training centre at our HQ in the South West to develop the next generation of talent.

We welcome recent UK government commitments to refocus on the North Sea

If we are to build a new vision for UK energy, we must prioritise British content that will enable the country’s supply chain to reinvest future profits into a skilled and talented new workforce that can tackle the energy challenges of the mid-21st century.

Alderley provides end-to-end integrated solutions for the global energy industry, helping clients to meet the challenges and needs of an energy system in transition. The company maximises the value and efficiency of its clients’ energy assets – from concept to operation and beyond – through its advanced consultancy, digital, systems and projects, aftermarket services and training solutions.

 

 

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James Phipps

Managing Director at Cokebusters

There are two competing factors: the resurgence of hydrocarbon demand, and delays to planned turnaround work, due to production demands. Cokebusters has started a journey of diversification. However, as downstream manufacturing services are a core feature of the business, we are able to react to increased demand.

Despite challenges to the global supply chain and workforce availability, customers of such services continue to try and hold prices down, even against a backdrop of reduced availability. While this supports income, it creates stress on cost control.

During the pandemic, many maintenance turnarounds were pushed out to later dates due to reductions in workforce mobility. Maintenance was based on criticality only.

During the pandemic, many maintenance turnarounds were pushed out to later date

As the pandemic wound down, we realised the scale of the backlog. Thereafter, the consequences of energy price rises and supply threats created something of a stall, with many operators deferring maintenance again to sustain and increase production. The consequences of these decisions, while understandable, will serve to not only create a greater backlog, but possibly also a threat to integrity and productivity.

Cokebusters provides innovative technology services for the energy sector, with its headquarters in the UK, a regional office in the US and a global partnership network. It deploys purpose-built equipment and skilled labour to decoke/descale complex heat exchanger tubing systems on petrochemical and power generation complexes, and also develops and deploys patented intelligent pigs to inspect and provide integrity status of the same.

 

 

 

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Fintan Duffy

Managing Director at Re-Gen Robotics

There is consensus in the industry that the expected increase in demand by 2050 cannot be met with today’s renewable technologies alone, and that fossil fuels will continue to play a role. This is compounded by supply disruptions triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war.

In the short term, a small number of tank cleans have been delayed to bolster supply, but most continue regardless. Our system can be adapted to suit individual client needs and timeframes, providing safer, faster and cheaper tank cleaning, along with intelligent in-reporting capabilities to evaluate and improve the process in future.

Following every clean, clients receive CCTV and intelligent performance reporting that monitors energy consumption and waste generation – vital for conserving funds and running a cleaner, greener business. Many oil companies are investing in technologies to improve efficiency, carbon intensity and economics across their portfolios. The entire industry is going through a shift involving new modes of green fuel that could be stored.

Innovation and agility are part of our DNA, and we are ready to meet customers’ needs to develop new cleaning technologies and processes, dictated by changes that may come from the materials they store.

Re-Gen Robotics is a Zone 0, EX certified, remote controlled ‘no man entry’ robotic tank cleaning company. Its self-contained system includes vacuum, jetting, cranage and robotics. Fully submersible robots are designed to operate in the most inhospitable environments, and with specialised access cranes, remote camera systems and engineering expertise, any tank size or shape can be cleaned.

Innovation and agility are part of our DNA, and we are ready to meet the needs of our existing and new customers

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James Brazier

Operations Director and General

Manager at Serck

All economies require energy to produce goods and services and provide humans with social and economic wellbeing and development. As such, energy is a critical resource, and energy security is a priority for many governments worldwide. The current high energy prices, energy demand and supply line disruptions have highlighted this even more.

Both developed and developing countries face numerous energy challenges, including inadequate and unsuitable energy sources, energy supply uncertainties, high and fluctuating prices of energy, and environmental pollution and degradation due to the production, distribution and use of energy.

Projects are coming under scrutiny as rapidly increasing costs cause budget overruns

These factors have led to rising raw material prices, longer lead times, shorter validity periods and material scarcity, resulting in higher costs and longer delivery times – which are ultimately passed down through the supply chain.

Projects are coming under scrutiny as rapidly increasing costs cause budget overruns. The supply chain is also under increasing strain due to shipping delays, which are disrupting manufacturing processes and schedules.

The push for energy security has put into sharp focus the need for governments to become more self-reliant in energy needs; this will hopefully result in new local projects to meet these needs.

Serck is a heat exchanger service provider and manufacturer, servicing the oil, gas, petrochemical, nuclear, process, power and water industries. It also provides technical and repair/refurbishment support services, with specialist welding of exotic materials including titanium, inconel and super duplex. For plant maintenance and turnaround projects, Serck specialises in design engineering, manufacture, fabrication, repair, refurbishment, hydro-jet, chemical and foam cleaning of shell and tube heat exchangers.

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