The Pioneering Projects in Hydrogen session will showcase how first-of-a-kind projects and infrastructure are developing and how they are positioning the North Sea at the heart of the low-carbon hydrogen economy. Focusing on the reuse of existing gas infrastructure, the session will explore how projects can deliver hydrogen for both power generation and industrial decarbonisation. It will highlight the partnerships, delivery challenges and policy frameworks needed to move hydrogen from pilot projects to commercially viable, system-wide solutions.

This session will explore how the business case for CCS in the UK is evolving outside of Track 1 and how to ensure a route to market for these projects. Speakers will discuss where the business case needs to move to and how to manage different investor sets, varying use bases and demand, and the policy levers that can be used to unlock movement in projects, driving scale and cost reductions. They will also address the role of regulated revenue frameworks and opportunities for shared infrastructure.

Pioneering Projects in CCS will showcase the landmark carbon capture and storage developments in North Sea countries. These include East Coast Cluster, HyNet, Northern Lights, Project Greensand, Porthos and Aramis. Speakers will explore how CCS moved from ambition to execution through deliberate system design and sequencing, and provide insights that can contribute to an integrated and interoperable North Sea CCS system.

The Evolving Business Case for Hydrogen session will explore how hydrogen value propositions are shifting as policy frameworks mature and policies shape demand. It will examine what is needed to move from pilot projects to regional networks to interconnected infrastructure. It will highlight how integration with CCS and existing energy infrastructure can unlock scale and cost reduction across the North Sea.

This session will examine how activity across the value chain can de-risk key elements of hydrogen projects and support early hydrogen deployment. It will explore the role that government-backed market creation has had and the elements needed to enable a commercially viable, self-sustaining hydrogen sector — underpinned by scale, cost reduction and infrastructure build-out. Speakers will focus on what industry and policymakers must do now to transition from support-led growth to long-term market competitiveness.

This session will explore the role that harmonised approaches can have on CCS across the North Sea. Speakers will highlight how industry standards and guidance can ensure a functional North Sea CCS system and still deliver flexibility and innovation for first-of-a-kind projects. Panellists will also have the opportunity to discuss the interface between industry standards and regulatory activity.

This session will explore how de-risking mechanisms, scale and effective build-out of critical infrastructure can unlock investment in early CCS projects across the North Sea. Panellists will discuss how these tools can catalyse scale, reduce costs, and crowd in private investment. It will also explore the elements needed to transition to a mature, self-sustaining CCS market critical to the UK’s net zero ambitions.

This session will explore how a One Basin approach and harmonised standards can reduce complexity, cost and risk for hydrogen deployment across the North Sea. Speakers will examine the need for aligned technical, safety and regulatory standards to enable cross-border infrastructure, scale investment and support a truly integrated hydrogen market. The discussion will highlight practical steps industry and governments can take to deliver consistency while accelerating project delivery.