Summer updates: June Newsletter

We had an amazing Summer meet-up with the entire MapStand team in Sheffield recently 🙌

We took part in a productive product planning workshop and discussed our company goals for the next 12 months, ending the work day with a delicious meal and drinks 🍜🍻

It was energising to have the whole team together to align our focus for the next year! We're already looking forward to the next one 🌍

Diego from the MapStand team attended the Solar & Storage Live España in Valencia this month, a fantastic event organised by Terrapinn.

The event offered valuable insights into the evolving Spanish energy landscape. Key discussions highlighted the growing importance of energy storage in managing cumulative demand and ensuring power supply stability - especially relevant in light of recent regional outages.

Speakers also stressed the need for stronger project fundamentals, with PPAs and offtaker agreements now critical to securing financing, beyond just traditional investment and site development.

At MapStand, we understand the importance of local market dynamics, grid capacity, and infrastructure. We’re proud to support energy stakeholders with data-driven solutions tailored to the needs of the Spanish market and beyond. 

Get in touch with us if you'd like to explore how our datasets can support you.

 

Visiting the National Energy System Operator Control Room 🙌

Sharon and Charlie had the pleasure of joining other members of the Young Energy Professionals (YEP) Forum for a visit to the National Energy System Operator Control Room recently.
 
Charlie said, "It was inspiring to see in person where the moment-to-moment supply and demand across Great Britain is balanced - these people keep the lights on!

The control room’s organisation, communication, and redundancy strategies were fascinating to see in action. I also enjoyed learning more broadly about how NESO is preparing for the challenges of the ongoing transition - it’s clear that data is king. I had many questions answered, and even more brought to mind, continuing my excitement about the energy industry.

It was great to meet so many passionate people from across the sector and learn more about NESO’s operations. Thank you to NESO, YEP, and everyone who made the day so memorable and informative."

 

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has outlined the next steps to scale the UK hydrogen economy - including infrastructure support, market mechanisms, and refined subsidy rounds.

At MapStand, we’ve been tracking this evolution closely. Our analysis of HAR2’s 27 shortlisted projects (targeting 875 MW) reveals key trends:

🔍 Key Insights:
• Project Scale: HAR2 projects are 225% larger than HAR1 (avg. 37 MW vs 11 MW)
• Regional Growth: Scotland now hosts 30% of shortlisted projects, up from 18%
• Market Maturity: Applications now include ammonia, steel, and refining
• Challenges: Grid constraints, permitting, and offtake risk remain critical hurdles

With HAR2 awards expected in 2026 and HAR3 launching the same year, we expect a continued shift toward larger, more commercially mature projects - especially where offtake is secured and infrastructure is viable.

MapStand helps energy stakeholders stay ahead with geospatial data and market insight. Is your project positioned for scale, resilience, and regional advantage?

 

 

Funding Expected for Scotland’s The Acorn Project Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Initiative

The UK government has announced funding for the Acorn CCS project at St Fergus, Aberdeenshire - developed by Storegga with Shell, Harbour Energy, and North Sea Midstream Partners.

Acorn will transport CO₂ from industrial emitters for secure storage beneath the North Sea, with 240 Mt CO₂ storage capacity licensed. Phase 1 targets 0.3 MtCO₂/year, scaling to 5–10 MtCO₂/year by 2030.

Why it matters:
🔹 Scotland’s only active CCUS network
🔹 Key to meeting UK CCUS targets (20 - 30 Mt by 2030)
🔹 Reuses oil & gas infrastructure to cut costs and accelerate delivery

The Longship Project now operational as the world’s first cross-border, open-source CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure

The Longship project, developed by Northern Lights JV (Equinor, TotalEnergies, Shell) and backed by the Norwegian government, is now live - the world’s first cross-border, open-access CO₂ transport and storage system.

Phase 1 Highlights:

🔹 Stores up to 1.5 Mt CO₂/year, scaling to 5 Mt/year by 2025
🔹 Captures CO₂ from Heidelberg Materials and Hafslund Celsio
🔹 Ship-to-shore + 100 km pipeline to offshore “Aurora” reservoir
🔹 Commercial deals signed with Yara, Ørsted and others

MapStand’s geospatial data shows Europe could reach 344 Mt CO₂ storage/year by 2030, far beyond the EU’s 50 Mt goal - but a major gap remains.

How MapStand supports CCS success:

📍 Mapping full value chains - capture, terminals, pipelines, storage
📊 Tracking build-out timelines to inform Phase 2 investment
🌍 Visualising cross-border flows for pan-European CCS planning

Explore the full infrastructure layout and capacity insights via our Europe CCUS map on Esri.

If you'd like to discuss how we can support you with projects in 2025 and beyond, we'd love to hear from you. You can contact us here.

 

Thanks for reading. Speak to you soon!

Francis and the MapStand team