From policy and energy security to delivery, integration and innovation – D2Zero companies have kicked off the year by shaping the conversation and getting projects moving.
Across the UK, our leaders have contributed to national debate on what it will take to deliver a transition that strengthens both decarbonisation and long-term resilience, with a clear focus on practicality, investment confidence and real-world delivery.
At the same time, our businesses have continued to demonstrate the depth of capability across the group, from supporting global energy markets and accelerating offshore renewables readiness, to advancing hydrogen deployment in new sectors.
Leading the debate for a pragmatic transition
In a Scotland on Sunday opinion piece this month, Nicola MacLeod, General Counsel and Director of Corporate Affairs at D2Zero, argues the UK cannot secure its energy future through renewables alone.
Referencing comments made by Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos, she warns that energy security can no longer be outsourced to global markets or deferred to future technologies.
Nicola highlights the historic and ongoing role of the North Sea in supporting UK energy security, jobs and public revenues, noting that oil and gas still meet the majority of national energy demand. While welcoming the Hamburg Declaration and plans for a shared offshore wind grid in the North Sea, she argues offshore wind does not remove the need for secure domestic oil and gas production during the transition.
She warns that policy instability and fiscal uncertainty are undermining investment, supply chains and skills, increasing reliance on imports. Her central message is that energy security must be treated as a system-wide strategy, spanning renewables, oil and gas, infrastructure, skills and supply chains.
You can read the full piece here.
A new generation of integrators
In a new Energy Voice opinion piece, nexos COO Scott McGinigal argues the UK energy transition is now being held back less by ambition and more by delivery friction. Referencing Cornwall Insight research, he highlights that almost half of energy professionals see grid and storage constraints as the biggest threat to net zero, with developers facing long queues, rising costs and planning timelines that don’t match transition targets.
While welcoming reforms such as Ofgem’s TMO4+ overhaul and the move to a “First Ready, First Needed, First Connected” model, Scott argues the challenge has moved beyond policy into infrastructure delivery. He says modern energy projects require modularity, offsite fabrication and — critically — a new generation of integrators capable of connecting complex systems like hydrogen, carbon capture, battery storage and grid assets from the outset.
He outlines how nexos combines capabilities across its group to support this integrated delivery model. You can read the full piece here.
Busy start to the year at Score Group
Score Group began January with a strong focus on industry engagement, energy transition readiness, and capability growth. The team exhibited at the Trinidad & Tobago Energy Conference in Port of Spain, joining regional and global leaders to discuss deepwater development, downstream collaboration, and technologies supporting the Caribbean’s sustainable energy future. Score also attended the Geotherm Expo & Congress in Offenburg to gain insight into the global geothermal market and explore emerging opportunities.
In Scotland, the business took part in Scottish Renewables’ Offshore Wind Conference 2026 in Glasgow, where government, developers and supply-chain leaders examined the priorities for delivering Scotland’s offshore wind pipeline.
In recognition of its transition capability, Score was granted Fit for Offshore Renewables status, building on existing Fit for Carbon Capture and Storage, Fit for Hydrogen and Fit for Nuclear accreditations.
Elsewhere, HycAero secured full Airbus approval for Zinc Nickel plating and associated heat treatment processes. Apprenticeship applications also opened for March 2026.
Fuel Cell Systems flies into new territory
Meanwhile, hydrogen is emerging as a practical route to decarbonise aviation operations, with trials demonstrating real-world operational and sustainability benefits. Across the UK and Europe, airports are increasingly deploying hydrogen technology — particularly for ground support equipment and turnarounds — to reduce emissions and support net-zero goals.
Fuel Cell Systems has played a key role in these early adoption efforts by providing modular refuelling infrastructure and technical support.
At Bristol Airport, its HyQube refueller underpinned Project Acorn, the first airside hydrogen refuelling trial at a major UK airport, helping to gather invaluable data on safety and logistics for industry standards. Similarly, trials at Exeter Airport supported hydrogen use in aircraft ground operations, generating insights on refuelling processes and safety frameworks.
At Amsterdam’s Schiphol, hydrogen-powered ground vehicles have also been trialled, further evidencing how green hydrogen can assist airports in reducing operational carbon footprints and accelerate wider adoption of hydrogen energy in aviation.
You can read more about the project here.
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