John Underhill - Oil, Gas & Renewables: Why It’s Not Either Or

This episode is one of the most balanced and honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast. John Underhill, Professor at the University of Aberdeen and Director for Energy Transition, joins me to break down what’s actually happening in the energy world right now. This isn’t about picking sides. It’s about understanding reality. We get into the North Sea, the role of oil and gas in the transition, the truth behind emissions reporting, and why energy has suddenly become such a political battleground. John brings decades of experience across academia and industry, and gives a perspective that cuts through a lot of the noise. We also talk about: • Why the UK has become more dependent on imports • The unintended consequences of how emissions are measured • The real challenges of transitioning from oil and gas to renewables • Why job losses in traditional energy are not being replaced like for like • Whether the North Sea still has a future • The idea of “energy addition” rather than just transition • Why energy has become so divided and politicised • And what a realistic energy future actually looks like If you want a proper, grounded view of where we are and where we’re heading, this is one worth listening to. 00:00 – Intro 00:24 – Introduction to John Underhill 01:27 – Working in the North Sea during its peak 02:49 – Academia vs industry experience 05:17 – What a day looks like in energy today 07:37 – Why energy has become centre stage 11:49 – The role of oil and gas in the transition 14:19 – The global reality of fossil fuel dependence 16:47 – Addition vs transition mindset 19:41 – The truth about emissions reporting 23:26 – Are we just shifting emissions elsewhere? 26:04 – Domestic vs imported energy and carbon footprint 29:45 – Global emissions and energy realities 32:00 – Impact on communities and jobs 37:10 – Can renewables replace oil and gas jobs? 40:23 – The reality of offshore wind jobs 42:41 – Skills gaps and retraining challenges 47:09 – How much is left in the North Sea? 49:41 – Tax policy and investment challenges 55:39 – Why energy has become so divided 58:16 – The real state of the energy transition 01:00:51 – Challenges with hydrogen and new technologies 01:03:14 – Public perception and community pushback 01:06:22 – Proudest career moment 01:08:54 – Independent thinking in energy 01:13:42 – Unique career experiences and insights 01:18:12 – Final thoughts