EnergyPathways PLC - Company Update
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
RNS Number : 5320K
EnergyPathways PLC
15 April 2024
15 April 2024
EnergyPathways plc
("EnergyPathways" or the "Company")
Company Update
EnergyPathways plc (AIM: EPP), a company developing integrated energy solutions, is pleased to
provide the following update regarding operational and strategic progress as it seeks to deliver
clean, home-grown energy for Britain through follow-up gas development and energy integration
growth at its wholly owned and operated Marram gas project ("Marram" or the "Marram Project").
Key Highlights
·
Outcome of outstanding licence applications expected in H1'24
·
Progressive engagement with regulators to enable fast-track development of Marram
·
Material progress on Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) workstreams including
commencement of discussions with infrastructure hosts
·
Developing a fully electrified Marram subsea development concept to be 100% powered
with renewable energy for a best-in-class decarbonised development aligned to
Government energy strategy
·
Progressing longer-term growth strategy for development of a clean energy hub to harness
the large untapped gas resources, wind energy and high-quality geo-storage reservoirs of
the UK Irish Sea
Operations Update
Following recent communications from the regulator, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA),
EnergyPathways now anticipates learning the outcome of its outstanding licence application in
Q2'24 rather than in Q1'24 as previously guided by the NSTA. EnergyPathways anticipates
feedback on its other licence requests within the same timeframe.
The Company has applied to the NSTA and the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and
Decommissioning for Marram's Field Development Plan approvals and has submitted a licence
variation request to the NSTA to enable a fast-track Marram development to proceed. Meanwhile,
the Company continues to progress Marram towards Final Investment Decision; its Environmental
Statement has been completed and a navigational risk assessment is being undertaken by Anatec
Limited, a market leader in risk-based decision making.
The Company was delighted to be invited by the NSTA to speak at the Offshore Energies UK
hosted Share Fair conference, a key industry business development and supply chain event that
was held on 20 March.
EnergyPathways continues to engage with all relevant authorities and stakeholders as it seeks to
outline its strategic vision of delivering innovative net-zero developments for the UK energy
system and has submitted requests to the NSTA for energy storage licenses. Additionally, the
Company also recently commenced discussions with infrastructure hosts and has received thirdparty reports on infrastructure technical studies.
In terms of wider progress within the Marram FEED process, the technical team is progressing
engineering and design for an all-electric, zero-emission subsea production system with industry
stakeholders, including Verlum, Advanced Mechatronics and Proserv and has also commenced the
next phase of FEED for drilling and completions engineering with Zenith Energy.
As previously disclosed, EnergyPathways has formed a partnership with subsea engineering
houses Mermaid Subsea Services and Cortez Subsea of the MCS Group and the partnership is
progressing tie-back development concept engineering. In addition, the Company is progressing
supply chain engagement and scheduling of lead times for certain long lead items including
subsea controls, electro-hydraulic umbilical, wellheads, subsea flowline and other major items.
EnergyPathways' electrification development design for Marram demonstrates clear alignment
with the NSTA's net zero objectives for new gas developments and will potentially qualify for
financial incentives under Government decarbonisation schemes. We have also received interest
from renewable energy generators, energy off-takers, debt financiers and major engineering
houses in support of our decarbonisation project.
Strategic Update
In parallel with progressing EnergyPathways' "ready-to-go" Marram Project, the Company
continues to implement its longer-term strategy, which envisages the development of an energy
hub to harness the large untapped gas resources, wind energy and high-quality geo-storage
reservoirs of the UK Irish Sea, that will build on its foundation Marram Project. EnergyPathways
believes that its integrated energy strategy offers unique integrated energy transition solutions to
support the UK's fragile energy security and net zero targets.
By utilising its foundation 46 BCF gas project, Marram, EnergyPathways intends to demonstrate
its ability to deliver a high-value development with ultra-low emissions intensity of 4-6 kg
CO 2e/boe, representing a carbon footprint that is ~90% lower than LNG imports and can reduce
CO 2 emissions by 100,000 tonnes per annum. A key focus through the ongoing FEED process is
to ensure that the production from Marram is wholly powered by renewable energy and that the
facilities will be engineered for energy storage re-use. Initial studies indicate that Marram has high
quality geo-storage reservoirs suitable for gas and hydrogen storage. Accordingly,
EnergyPathways has submitted energy storage and production licence requests to the UK
regulator and responses are expected in H1'24. In the event of successful award for all these
licenses, Marram's storage capacity could potentially be increased 3-fold with the integration of
the nearby Knox, Lowry and Castletown gas discoveries (~140 BCF), increasing the hub's energy
supply potential to 60 million cubic feet of gas per day.
The East Irish Sea region lies in close proximity to one of the major grid constraint boundaries in
the UK. This, together with six existing offshore wind farms with 7-8 GW of existing and planned
capacity, makes it an ideal location for energy storage and backup gas power generation. The
Company's regional focus is based on this and the belief that the East Irish Sea is a unique
environment for short cycle developments, possessing ideal reservoirs and location for energy
storage, optimally located to link new carbon-capture gas-fired power stations with nearby CO 2
storage, to provide low-cost, decarbonised and reliable power. The Company's proposed long
duration energy storage hub will be capable of storing an estimated 7 TWh of energy.
The proposed energy hub could be connected to regional CO 2 storage, the HyNet North-West
hydrogen hub and industrial demand centres to produce reliable and cost competitive "net-zero
ready" gas power generation. EPP will also be positioned to manufacture high value-added net
zero energy products (hydrogen, ammonia and methanol) and take advantage of opportunities for
price arbitrage during periods of high gas demand.
Commenting on the update, EnergyPathways' CEO Ben Clube said:
"We are pleased to report on positive progress with regard to the decarbonised development
concepts that underpin our FEED studies for the Marram Project and the follow-on developments
targeted by the Company. We believe that this initiative positions the Company well to navigate
the Marram Project through the current uncertainty in the UK's oil and gas regulatory
environment. We maintain supportive dialogue with the NSTA and understand that we will learn
the outcome of our outstanding licence application in H1'24.
We are also making good progress with all the various workstreams that comprise the FEED
process, as we seek to deliver the fast-track development of our high-value and strategically
important Marram Project.
Our focus is to ensure that Marram is a best-in-class decarbonised development that is not only
fully compliant with Government and NSTA directives, but also aligns with Government strategy
to support decarbonised energy solutions. Our longer-term strategy, to create an energy hub that
provides an optimal solution for the UK's energy security and transition objectives, will build on
Marram's foundation position and the competitive location of the UK Irish Sea. In that regard, we
intend to undertake third-party studies to optimise the development of the licences that we have
applied for, to enable quick and inexpensive transition of depleted fields into gas storage,
including potential hydrogen storage, supporting value added energy solutions including
decarbonised back up power generation."
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU
Regulation 596/2014 (which forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to the European
Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).
Enquiries:
EnergyPathways
Ben Clube / Ben Hodges
Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000, c/o
Buchanan (Financial PR)
Email : info@energypathways.uk
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Adviser)
Jo Turner / Louise O'Driscoll / Sandy Jamieson
Tel: +44 (0)20 7213 0880
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Joint Broker)
Richard Hail / Adam Cowl
Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470
Optiva Securities Limited (Joint Broker)
Christian Dennis / Daniel Ingram
Tel: +44 (0)20 3137 1903
Global Investment Strategy UK Limited (Joint Broker)
Callum Hill / James Sheehan
Tel: +44 (0)20 7048 9000
For further information on EnergyPathways visit www.energypathways.uk and
@energy_pathways on X (formerly Twitter).
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated
future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business
conditions, competition for qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues,
new legislation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties
resulting from working in a new political jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of
exploration, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of prospecting rights, uncertainties
regarding the timing and granting of regulatory and other third party consents and approvals,
uncertainties regarding the Company's or any third party's ability to execute and implement future
plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events.
Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous
known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors.
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