Exploring Multi-Use potentials in the Euro-Mediterranean sea space

Historically, renewable energy technologies have been seen as a source of competition by the oil and gas industry. However, the oil and gas industry is now one of the primary sources of investments in renewable energy technologies. The oil and gas industry in California, in particular, has been making significant investments in renewables and leveraging the latest renewable energy technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of oilfield applications. This study analyzes the latest advances in renewable energy solutions, their impact on energy transition efforts in the state, and the potential of further developing conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources in California. This paper has focused on conducting a thorough review of literature related to the latest advances in renewable energy technologies and energy transition efforts in California and the applications of these technologies in reducing the carbon footprint of oilfield activities, along with examples of renewables as a complementary resource to oil and gas. Furthermore, the availability of conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources in the state has been summarized. The potential of developing these resources in the future is analyzed in detail. The literature includes a comprehensive set of references ranging from peer-reviewed journal publications and proceedings to data from market studies and other non-technical publications and market predictions by renowned experts. The position of renewable energy resources either as a competing or complementary source to oil and natural gas in California and the impact of these resources in energy transition efforts in the state are discussed. Examples of the use of renewable energy technologies to improve various processes within oil and gas production operations are provided, and the prospect of further developing conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources in the state has been investigated to conclude the impact of both these energy sources to the regional energy supply and demand dynamics. In addition, the benefits, drawbacks and challenges in scaling up the use of these energy sources are discussed in detail. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of renewable energy resources, energy transition efforts, and the future of conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources in California. It serves as a single source of reference to the oil and gas industry in laying out relevant data and information related to renewable energy resources from the point of view of oil and gas market dynamics and closes the gap in highlighting the latest advances and the future of the energy industry in California.

This paper provides an analytical and methodological framework for examining the concept of effectiveness in the context of labour provisions in trade agreements. The main contribution of this article is to develop a sophisticated and multi-disciplinary concept of effectiveness of labour provisions in trade agreements. Labour provisions should be considered to be a multifaceted ‘policy mix’. While examining the process of how impact is brought about, a differentiation should be made between proximate (mostly legal, institutional and political) and distant (mostly socio-economic) outcomes. A mixed method approach that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to evaluate effectiveness of labour provisions is suggested. We propose an analytical framework that is illustrated by a set of indicative case studies. The paper highlights that different elements of labour provisions can have effects on what we term ‘capacity’ in various shapes and levels, including the capacities of states, civil society actors and firms. In turn, such improvements in capacity can contribute to outcomes in the form of strengthened legal frameworks and domestic institutions, increased civil society advocacy and increased compliance at the level of firms. We argue that labour provisions are usually aimed at generating proximate outcomes before contributing to more distant outcomes, such as the improvement of labour rights and working conditions. For the design of labour provisions as a policy tool, this means that in specific trade agreements, the various elements of labour provisions should be used in a manner that effectively target those aspects of capacity that are seen as deficient and which are considered to most likely have an impact on labour rights and working conditions. Our framework implies that the effectiveness of labour provisions can be analysed with respect to different aspects of the process, e.g. with respect to different types of capacity, or with respect to the ultimate target – the improvement of working conditions and labour rights. In terms of methods, effectiveness of labour provisions can be measured and evaluated using quantitative or qualitative methods, depending on the particular aspect of capacity that is of interest as an outcome, and depending on the type of available data on capacity, working conditions and labour rights.

Maritime Arbitration In Nigeria: Examining The Challenges And Future Prospects Of Alternative Dispute Resolution In The Maritime Sector

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive has become the key instrument for marine conservation in European seas. We review its implementation, focusing on cetacean biodiversity, using the examples of Spain and the Regional Seas Convention, OSPAR. The MSFD has been widely criticised for legal vagueness, lack of coordination, uncertainty about funding, and poor governance; its future role within EU Integrated Maritime Policy remains unclear. Nevertheless, the first stages of the process have run broadly to schedule: current status, environmental objectives and indicators have been described and the design of monitoring programmes is in progress, drawing on experience with other environmental legislation. The MSFD is now entering its critical phase, with lack of funding for monitoring, limited scope for management interventions, and uncertainty about how conservation objectives will be reconciled with the needs of other marine and maritime sectors, being among the main concerns. Clarity in governance, about the roles of the EU, Member States, Regional Seas Conventions and stakeholders, is needed to ensure success. However, even if (as seems likely) good environmental status cannot be achieved by 2020, significant steps will have been taken to place environmental sustainability centre-stage in the development of Integrated Maritime Policy for EU seas.

The objective of this work is to use the Natural Gas Processing Units from offshore production as a source of green hydrogen generation and consequently its applications in renewable energy consumption activities. Brazil currently has six Natural Gas Processing Units from offshore production platforms. The units generate residential and industrial gas (methane), liquefied petroleum gas composed of butane and propane, besides others hydrocarbons in liquid state (isobutane, methyl butane, pentane). The Units were built in the proximity of the sea for receiving, treating, processing and distributing offshore natural gas. It is a process in which green hydrogen can be a part, adding values that will be added to the products resulting from natural gas. Green hydrogen will be produced from the electrolysis of seawater, for this, it will need electricity whose source will be wind or solar, which will be easy to generate in view of the abundance of these two renewable energies throughout the Brazilian coast. Green hydrogen is considered in European countries, especially in the European Union, one of the largest references as renewable energy. The characterization as green hydrogen is in its generation, which will result from the electrolysis of seawater, where the necessary electrical energy will come from wind or solar sources. In Brazil, there are investments and projects underway in seaports such as Pecem (Ceará), Suape (Pernambuco), Açu (Rio de Janeiro) and Antonina and Paranaguá (Paraná). In addition to the domestic consumption of green hydrogen production, including its use as an agent for ammonia generation, the main result will be its export to European and other countries, meaning another source of wealth generation. Consequently, we will have in the production of green hydrogen in the Offshore Natural Gas Processing Units another source that will be added to those resulting from the productions in Brazilian ports. As a competitive advantage, it should be noted that the units are already implemented and in operation. Thus, the installation of exclusive plants for the generation, movement, storage and distribution of green hydrogen will mean lower investments, use of available operational resources and more immediate economic return. In addition, the important thing will be the reduction of the greenhouse effect since the presence of green hydrogen should promote its combination with industrial and residential gas, or even replace these that are generated and supplied by Offshore Natural Gas Processing Units.

The global economy is increasingly focusing on the Oceans to meet its needs, for which maritime spatial planning is being fostered to promote this is done sustainably. Thus, assessing the current state and future development trends of the maritime sectors is key to evaluating the performance of the planning process. This is the aim of this study, in which the main maritime sectors related to the blue economy present in the archipelagos of the European Macaronesia Sea Basin, i.e. the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain), were identified and studied. The following maritime sectors were analysed: fisheries, marine aquaculture, marine biotechnology, coastal and maritime tourism, maritime transport, ship repair and maintenance, extraction of aggregates, deep-sea mining, offshore oil and gas, renewable ocean energies, and desalination. As part of the PLASMAR project, partners undertook in 2017–19 a literature review gathering scientific papers, official statistics and reports, which were complemented by interviews with experts from the economic sectors and public administration departments. Results show that while some maritime sectors are well established, others are emerging sectors with varying long-term growth potential. Besides, development patterns vary across the archipelagos. This study represents the first effort in the Macaronesia Sea Basin to set the basis of the current and future development conditions of the blue economy in applicability to maritime spatial planning processes at a regional level. The future post-pandemic context will provide a unique opportunity to promote the blue economy sectors and activities through the support provided by the EU Green Deal and Recovery and Resilience Plans, as well as with the actions envisioned under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). The European Macaronesia example –given its wide maritime territory, commitment, and capacities in terms of expertise and networking– presents a great potential to act as a good practice to extrapolate the new approach for a sustainable blue economy to other similar geographical settings such as island regions/states.

This study aims to analyze oil and gas management policies to support the implementation of renewable energy use by using VOSviewer, a bibliometric analysis tool, to examine the oil and gas management policy research landscape. The dataset consisted of 1308 articles which were collected from the Scopus database, accessed on June, 15th 2023, using keywords related to oil and gas, policy, and renewable energy, and also restricted to specific disciplines, including energy, environmental science, engineering, business, management, and accounting. The results of this study firmly show how important the role of renewable energy initiatives serve in the oil and gas industry. The implementation of renewable energy initiatives in the oil and gas industry not only contributes to enhanced operational efficiency and cost reduction but also promotes environmental sustainability. It was further identified that management policies play an essential role in facilitating the successful integration of renewable energy. These policies should emphasize renewable energy integration, the establishment of regulatory frameworks, the provision of incentives and subsidies, the promotion of collaboration, and alignment with institutional factors. A successful shift to renewable energy also requires change management strategies that include components like a clear vision, leadership commitment, goal setting, resource allocation, employee involvement, stakeholder engagement, and continuing evaluation.

The increasing complexity of maritime operations and the global push for digitalization have driven the adoption of electronic agreements as a means to enhance legal compliance, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability. This research investigates the legality and applicability of electronic contracts within the maritime sector, addressing gaps in previous studies by incorporating the perspectives of maritime professionals, educators, and recent graduates. The study aims to explore how electronic agreements can streamline port and shipping management, improve vocational maritime education, and promote sustainable practices. Key research questions focus on the effectiveness of electronic contracts, their integration into maritime curricula, and the operational challenges faced by industry professionals. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with qualitative data from interviews and questionnaires conducted with 10 participants, including experts, lecturers, and graduates. The results reveal a strong alignment between theoretical frameworks and practical applications, with overall indicators scoring 9/10, reflecting high levels of efficiency and acceptance. The findings demonstrate that electronic agreements facilitate faster transactions, reduce administrative costs, and enhance legal clarity. The integration of digital contract management into maritime education further prepares future seafarers for evolving industry demands. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and industry leaders, contributing to the advancement of maritime digitalization and sustainability.

A framework for sustainable utility scale renewable energy selection in South Africa

The green flings: Norwegian oil and gas industry’s engagement in offshore wind power

This article examines how oil and gas industry participants in Colorado reflect on the potential energy mix of the future. At a time when innovation is a dominant trope that casts entrepreneurs as agents who create dreams and craft worlds, providing the materials, technologies, and processes needed to decarbonize energy systems, my interlocutors also position themselves as experienced innovators. For them, petromodernity is a techno-scientific achievement that crystallizes the successful conjoining of wildcatter risk-taking, geoscientific knowledge, and engineering endeavour. While renewable energy sources now have widespread appeal among politicians, publics, and investors, these industry participants dismiss emerging energy transitions and renewable energy imaginaries. They mock and ridicule renewable energy sources, scorning them for being ‘factually impossible’ due to their lower energy densities relative to oil and gas. Turning to and mobilizing epistemologies of facts, they regard oil and gas as destined to enjoy great longevity. While they see their own industry as a harbinger of innovation, they deem renewable energy industries void of such potential. Exploring these mocking dismissals, this article shows how the oil and gas industry’s history and epistemes inform energy imaginaries and flourish in the championing of what I call ‘nostalgic innovation’. As such, I suggest that innovation is not only a key component in entrepreneurial capitalism, but also a powerful moral commentary on who is seen to deserve to play a key role in future configurations of life.

The organizational patterns of demersal assemblages (fish, crustaceans and cephalopods) in the Gulf of Lions were investigated on the basis of a set of six bottom trawl surveys performed between 1994 and 1999 (MEDITS programme). The use of a recent multitable method (STATIS-CoA) provided a detailed representation of the stable and variable parts of the spatial organization of demersal assemblages during the studied period. We showed that demersal assemblages of the Gulf of Lions were organized along a coast-open sea gradient. At the scale of the Gulf, we showed that this gradient can be split into three areas: 1) the coastal region and the continental shelf (10 to 200 m depth), 2) the upper slope (200 to 500 m) and 3) the deeper slope (500 to 800 m). Associated to this bathymetric structuring we found a species-richness gradient which decreases from the coast to the upper slope. Our analysis showed that this spatial organization pattern was highly persistent during the course of the study. However, some species caught in the slope area exhibited a strong variability of their spatial distribution mainly during the 1999 survey. From a methodological point of view, STATIS-CoA offers a rigorous theoretical framework for the simultaneous analysis of a three-dimensional set of data. Applied in the field of fisheries ecology, this method (1) constitutes a relevant way to analyse the spatial organization of species assemblages and its pattern of changes, and (2) could be of particular interest to treat the MEDITS data both at a local and at the North Mediterranean Sea scales.

Global climate change demands a rapid transition to renewable energy for sustainable development and carbon neutrality. However, existing frameworks often overlook the dynamics of renewable energy use across production, consumption, final production, and income perspectives of the economy, thereby limiting understanding of global energy transitions. This study addresses this gap using a multi regional input-output (MRIO) model to analyze renewable energy use globally from 2000 to 2021 through multiple perspectives. Our findings reveal significant disparities in renewable energy use across countries. The United States is the largest renewable energy user by four perspectives in 2021, while per capita renewable energy use reveals pronounced disparities, with heavily populated countries like China and India having notably low use levels. Furthermore, resource-exporting countries, as primary suppliers for global renewable energy, promote renewable energy use, making a substantial contribution to the energy transition. Sectoral analysis highlights the significance of electricity, gas, and water industries in renewable energy use. This study provides a comprehensive framework for analyzing renewable energy use, offering valuable insights to policymakers to accelerate equitable and sustainable energy transitions.

This article addresses the problem statement and objective by exploring the necessity, scope, and execution of digital transformation in the oil and gas industry from a psychological perspective. It highlights the cognitive barriers faced by non-ICT professionals, which are often overlooked in traditional approaches. The study integrates case studies and empirical evidence from a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative interviews with industry experts and quantitative surveys among employees, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the transformation process. The research emphasizes the integration of psychological theories with practical digital transformation strategies, illustrating key obstacles and solutions. By adopting a holistic approach that incorporates both technological advancements and psychological insights, the study aims to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of digital transformation efforts. Major contributions include identifying cognitive barriers, proposing solutions to overcome these barriers, and presenting real-world applications that demonstrate the successful merging of psychological insights and digital strategies in the oil and gas sector.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, faces the dual challenge of meeting growing energy demands while transitioning to a sustainable energy future. The economy's backbone, the oil and gas industry, is mostly dependent on fossil fuels for its operations, which raises carbon emissions and degrades the environment. Nigeria has a practical and strategic chance to preserve energy security, cut emissions, diversify its sources of income, cut operating expenses, and comply with international sustainability objectives by incorporating renewable energy (RE) into the oil and gas industry as the global movement toward decarbonization gains traction. With an emphasis on uses including solar-powered rigs, hybrid microgrids, and green hydrogen, this article examines the possibilities of integrating renewable energy into Nigeria's oil and gas sector. It addresses challenges specific to Nigeria, including infrastructure limitations, regulatory barriers, and socio-economic constraints, and proposes a framework for adoption. Case studies, including a hypothetical 3MW solar microgrid for drilling operations in the Niger Delta, illustrate practical applications. The study emphasizes the transformative potential of renewable energy to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.