Drilling the North Sea’s controversial Jackdaw gas field is the best option for the climate, Labour has been told.
DNV, a global leader in measuring energy industry emissions, has told Miatta Fahnbulleh, the Energy Secretary, that Jackdaw would be among Britain’s greenest sources of gas if she approved production.
In a submission to a public consultation on Jackdaw, analysts said that carbon emissions would in fact rise if Ms Fahnbulleh and Andy Burnham rejected the project as Britain would be forced to rely on imports.
The assessment bolsters the case for the Prime Minister to approve Jackdaw and its sister project, the Rosebank field off Shetland. Campaigners have opposed Jackdaw and Rosebank on environmental grounds, arguing that the emissions from the project will harm the planet.
However, DNV’s assessment makes clear that relying on home-grown gas would in fact be the more climate-friendly option.
The Norwegian company is a global leader in assessing the technical claims, including emissions, of energy projects and has audited thousands of projects around the world.
It said that North Sea gas from the UK and Norway would always be the greenest option for sourcing gas supplies, when compared to importing liquefied natural gas (LNG).
