The MOET research programme (Figure 1) has been specifically designed to create an understanding of the key environmental, social and economic drivers that will support an effective and timely offshore energy transition. To do this and to create a new, national capability that will support future policymaking and marine planning, we will harness our internationally recognised expertise in:

Figure 1: MOET research concept. BGS © UKRI.

Support for this five-year project was awarded for multi-centre national capability research by NERC and commenced in 2022. An early decision by BGS, NOC and PML was to target MOET research in the offshore areas where the UK Track-1 and Track-2 Industrial Decarbonisation Clusters plan carbon dioxide storage (Figure 2). Initial research in the first two years of the project has focused on the southern North Sea to support stakeholders in the Teesside and Humberside industrial clusters. Research to support north-west England and Scottish clusters in the East Irish Sea and outer Moray Firth is conducted in years three to five. Outputs from the research programme are guided by a stakeholder group, initiated in the first year of the project, comprising invited and interested industry, regulatory, policy and decision- maker stakeholders.

Figure 2: Seabed bathymetry data taken from EMODNET DigBath bathymetry (UK waters) and GEBCO bathymetry (non-UK waters). BGS © UKRI.