This week the market reacted to news of a ceasefire in the Middle East as the price of oil dropped over night, highlighting the difference between physical barrels and paper ones.

Host and Aberdeen features lead, Ryan Duff, north west correspondent Floyd March, and E-FWD editor Ed Reed discuss and the growing role of solar in the UK's energy mix while news reporter Mat Perry catches up with Black & Veatch.

Up first, Ed discusses the ceasefire and questions if it is what it first appeared to be, with no ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. He highlights that even if shipping returns, the oil and gas market will have to come to terms with a new normality as it is highly unlikely that conditions will return to those experience before the war broke out earlier his year.

Next, Mat spoke with Rafael Frias, Black & Veatch managing director for EMEA, about the rapidly expanding UK battery storage sector, and what progress is being made on overcoming longstanding issues with the grid.

Finally, Floyd speaks about the government's approval of the massive Springwell solar farm. The 3,100 acre site is set to produce 800MW of electricity, but some locals have raised concern about the transformation of Lincolnshire's countryside. This news also came as over £80 million was invested in ITM Power's electrolyser facility in Yorkshire as the firm gears up to deliver on orders made by Hydrogen Allocation Round winners. This move stands to create 250 jobs in the region.

This week, hydrocarbons remained the top of the global news agenda as the UK waited for its last supply of jet fuel from the Middle East. At the same time, the North Sea saw yet another operator vacate the basin by divesting its assets into a joint venture.

Host and Aberdeen features lead, Ryan Duff, north west correspondent Floyd March, and E-FWD editor Ed Reed discuss.

Up first, Ed rounds out a week of appearing on national radio shows to get us caught up the war in the Middle East and how nations across the globe are reacting to fuel shortages in the wake of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Next, news editor Erikka Askeland visited the St Fergus gas terminal to chat to North Sea Midstream Partners chief executive Angela Fletcher about the importance of gas in the UK's energy during a time of geopolitical uncertainty. And, of course, the pair had to discuss the future of the Acorn carbon capture storage project, which partner Storegga still hasn't found a buyer for.

Finally, Ryan discusses mergers and acquisitions after Viaro called time on its takeover of Deltic and TotalEnergies completed its buy-in to Neo Next+. This happened while Floyd March observed the unfortunate truth about M&A, it often results in job losses. He explained how another swathe of roles had been cut at the Lindsey refinery this week as Philips 66 edges closer to completing its purchase of the facility.

This week’s edition of Energy Voice Out Loud reflects on a busy news week for the UK energy sector.

Host and Energy Voice news editor Erikka Askeland and renewables reporter Michael Behr discuss the announcement that Danish wind turbine maker Vestas is in, and Chinese manufacturer Ming Yang is out. Some are relieved that the UK has backed the European wind sector but not all are pleased, including Scotland where Ming Yang was looking to build a factory creating 1,500 jobs.

Aberdeen features lead Ryan Duff is at the Offshore Energies UK much anticipated business outlook breakfast event to speak to Ben Ward, market intelligence manager. OEUK wants the UK to cut LNG imports and use North Sea gas instead, but will the NSTA help?

As the FSPO Petrojarl Rosebank makes its passage to the UK, Energy Voice reporter Mathew Perry explains why Greenpeace wants to paint its protest on the vessel’s hull and how the debate about whether the UK should or shouldn’t go ahead with the UK’s largest undeveloped oil field is now at the heart of Westminster.