I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all NECCUS members, Board, event sponsors, partners, and my incredible team, following my first year in post. Your invaluable contributions, continued support, involvement, and hard work throughout 2024 have been the driving force behind our success: we delivered 19 events – including our annual conference, DCS24, and a new webinar series – and participated in 12 international events.

Highlights of the year included the launch of our first Special Interest Group (SIG), the Maritime Opportunity SIG – look out for recommendations to government from this group this year. We also collaborated with Scottish Enterprise on Supply Chain Roundtables (Aberdeen and Glasgow) and aim to publish the outputs from these workshops at DeCarbScotland 2025. The challenges identified were raised by myself and Mark Hughes in our meeting in November with the Scottish Government Minister for Climate Action, Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, along with concerns around the timelines for projects in Scotland. Other useful meetings with politicians included a joint dinner with the ECITB hosting the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, Richard Lochhead MSP discussing supply chain and skills; and the Peterhead Port Authority House of Commons breakfast hosted by Seamus Logan MP, which Ed Miliband MP attended too. I have also been representing member views and concerns on the Scottish Energy Advisory Board (chaired by the First Minister) and the Grangemouth Future Industry Board Leadership Forum (co-chaired by the Secretary of State, Ed Miliband MP, and Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin MSP).

We sadly said goodbye to NECCUS Founder and Chair, Alan James, as he stepped down at the 2024 AGM – but welcomed on Board three new Directors – Dr. Peter James McFadzean of Equinor, Marcus Hunt of SGN, and David Sheldrake of VWS Westgarth. Their expertise will be invaluable in helping NECCUS grow and deliver even greater value to our Members. Looking ahead, our AGM will take place on 21 May in Aberdeen, where there will be opportunities to stand as a Director.   

The NECCUS Team have also put a lot of work into the development of improved services to members: changing the newsletter format; updating and redeveloping the Members’ Knowledge Channel; delivering a new Member webinar series; alongside organising site visits to Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station, Viridor and Tarmac; and introducing Member blogs. If you’d like to host a site visit, contribute your news to a blog or newsletter item, or take part in a webinar, we’d love to hear from you. Please find our key team contacts below. Additionally, we’ll be launching an introductory webinar for the updated Knowledge Channel soon and are planning themed knowledge exchange webinars for 2025.

Another first for NECCUS last year was to have a stand at All-Energy in Glasgow. During the event, we were visited by the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Màiri McAllan, hosted three of our members on the NECCUS stand, and delivered a session on industrial decarbonisation. We look forward to returning in May 2025 – again, please get in touch if you are interested in participating.

But of course, our main focus at the moment is our upcoming annual conference, DeCarbScotland 2025. Building on last year’s success, we aim to grow attendance and Member involvement. The event will take place at a new venue, right next to Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh’s ancient volcano, often identified as the birthplace of geology. We are still confirming speakers, but see the latest confirmed agenda and purchase your tickets on the DeCarbScotland website. Additionally, if you are interested in sponsoring, please take a look at the sponsorship options available.

I’m looking forward to another packed year ahead as we await announcements from government on Track-2 and Track-1 expansion; and watch the development and progress of the Track-1 projects, alongside the rapid growth in industrial decarbonisation projects worldwide. It will be an exciting year.

Dr Philippa Parmiter
CEO
NECCUS

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