"We need to focus on what we can control to turn resolutions into reality"

According to statisticians, one in three people reading this will have already abandoned their new year's resolution.

Last Friday was "Quitters Day", called thus because it is the day when people are most likely to give up on their 2025 ambitions. The trouble with goal-setting in January is that we typically choose resolutions that are too ambitious and difficult to keep.

Any psychologist will tell you that a more effective approach is to break new habits down into mini-goals, or small positive steps towards something bigger. This is the lens through which I like to view the energy transition. 

The goal of net zero emissions, much like personal resolutions, is daunting when viewed as one monumental shift. Instead, progress lies in making incremental steps, such as innovating in reducing emissions and renewable energy.

Take the UK’s oil and gas industry, for example. While some seek an immediate halt to exploration, this sector plays a critical role in keeping the lights on today. Our close brush with a potential blackout in the UK last week should serve as a reminder of this crucial fact.

The intermittent nature and recent lack of wind and solar power, again proves the need for a balanced approach to energy supply and security. The concept of a ‘transition’ is being lost. There’s a growing gap between old and new energy production to meet the UK’s demands, and it’s hitting the public where it hurts– their purse. A phased approach that includes investments in carbon capture and hydrogen technology, and a commitment to projects, can provide a bridge to a more sustainable future while safeguarding jobs and energy security.

Which brings me to the new year’s resolution that I would like to see adopted in our energy sector: let’s focus on the things we can control. The UK oil and gas industry currently faces a state of uncertainty. Several projects, including Shell's Jackdaw gas field and Equinor's Rosebank oilfield, are encountering legal challenges from environmental groups citing the Finch ruling. 

These challenges have led to delays and increased scrutiny of new fossil fuel developments, leaving the future of multiple projects in the UK uncertain. While the courts decide, the industry must focus on what it can control. Strengthening the case that North Sea production is cleaner than importing should be one such area.

The UK North Sea oil and gas industry has made notable progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, and between 2018 and 2023, the sector achieved a 28% overall reduction. But we can, and must, go further.

The business which I lead, D2Zero, is one that is grounded in the realities of the transition, with dual focus on servicing and decarbonising the vitally important oil and gas sector, whilst accelerating the transition to renewable energy.

Our companies are collaborating with each other – and with industry – across four key areas of the energy transition: emissions reduction; clean hydrogen; power efficiency and resilience management; and carbon capture and storage.

Score, the largest company in our group, has been leading by example, demonstrating that cutting emissions is not just the right thing to do, it’s also good for business. By conducting detailed valve diagnostics and proactive maintenance, Score has saved operators millions whilst eliminating tonnes of CO2 by preventing unplanned shutdowns and minimising flaring events.

One striking example involved a client, where Score identified an anomaly on their offshore installation that was contributing to fugitive emissions. Score's Emissions Elimination services helped the client reduce 66kt CO2e per annum, resulting in a benefit to the business of over £4million per annum.

These tangible benefits show how profitability and sustainability can go hand-in-hand. They also highlight the importance of adopting a practical approach to the energy transition.

Another way D2Zero is helping clients on their decarbonisation journey is through electrification. The recently launched Government's Clean Power 2030 Action Plan commits to reform planning and consenting processes to eventually “build the grid that Britain needs”. Whilst UK infrastructure catches up, two of our companies, Powerstar and nexos, are helping clients optimise their power efficiency through microgrids and Battery Energy Storage System’s (BESS) to drive greater resilience, reliability, and efficiency.

Turning resolutions into reality requires focusing on what we can control and setting realistic, incremental goals. Unlike personal resolutions, the stakes in the energy transition are too high for failure, we can’t simply start over next year. We must hold each other accountable as individuals, organisations, and governments to ensure we continue to make progress in 2025 towards a balanced and secure energy future.