View from the Street: If not this, then what? Communications opportunities and challenges for energy projects in 2026
Published
Tom Gillingham
Of the various communications challenges facing the Scottish and UK energy sectors five stand out for 2026 as we all emerge, blinking, into the first working week of the year.
Holyrood campaign – projects in focus
With the next Scottish election set to be one of the most multi-polar in recent memory, local campaigns will be bitterly fought. In many areas, energy projects will be key flashpoints – and local candidates across the political spectrum will be given the latitude to campaign as they see fit on these, regardless of their party ‘HQ’ view. For this reason, early engagement and clear explanation of project benefits on a constituency level will be more important than ever, especially in this age of disinformation and reactive campaigning. Given the potential for surprise results, an even-handed approach is important and (despite the headline positions of some parties), jobs, community engagement and future energy security are all still messages that can resonate.
Zero ‘net zero’ by 2026?
‘Net zero’ was a catch-all bogeyman for anti-renewables campaigners in 2025, becoming a linguistic shortcut no longer worth taking for anyone working in renewables. Though it requires more effort, a relentless and positive focus on the tangible benefits of energy projects must become the only game in town.
Net zero’s linguistic cousin, ‘energy transition’ also needs urgent attention.
Rather than imagining a world based on what we can’t have, we must better celebrate the ingenuity of those seeking to harness Scotland’s existing and potential energy abundance – whether that’s pumped storage hydro, green hydrogen or tidal – all whilst doubling down on the North Sea basin’s vital role as an enabler.
Keeping tomorrow’s lights (and cars, and heating and datacentres) on
There is a view in some parts that Scotland already produces ‘enough’ electricity – therefore any new projects are unnecessary. There is an urgent need to communicate the reality of a soaring need for much, much more electricity. Provisional figures from Imperial College London for Drax Electric Insights show electricity consumption in the UK rose by 3 per cent in 2025, the fastest annual increase since 2001 – and this is just the start.
Scottish AR7 woes
The upcoming allocation round could be bereft of Scottish offshore wind projects, and this could precipitate some very difficult decisions. This moment of relative peril is an important communications moment, as highlighted by the joint statement put out by Scotland’s ports before the Christmas break.
Without descending into investor-spooking doom-mongering, there should be a unified industry follow-up underlining the real (and resolvable) impacts of issues like the decreased CfD budget, the higher transmission network use of system (TNUoS) charges for Scottish projects, and the still slow pace of consenting. We can also expect furore either way when the UK government decides on Ming Yang’s proposed Scottish manufacturing facility. Regardless, Scotland’s wind resource has been taken for granted, and this conceit from both governments risks another massive missed industrial opportunity.
Gas morass
There is a speculative geopolitical scenario where either Russia or Iran return to global oil and gas markets in 2026. A lower energy risk premium could have a downward impact on energy prices in the short term. While this would ease inflationary pressure and potentially push down commercial and domestic bills, it represents a formidable communications challenge. If gas is perceived to be abundant and cheap again (it’s a huge if, given the fiendishly complex series of events required for the reintegration of either of these suppliers into global markets) it will prompt renewed focus on the cost of renewables.
Given all of this, and after years of answering seemingly endless questions from politicians and opposition groups, there’s perhaps an understandable desire for project teams to keep their heads down and hope for the best. I’m not convinced this is a viable strategy.
Of course, answering questions is the right thing to do, but industry should also feel able to ask questions back – specifically ‘if not this, then what?’. Opposition without alternatives means only one side currently bears responsibility for solutions. Supported by clear messages and rebuttals, this question can start to restore some balance to the discourse around projects, whilst underlining a generational economic opportunity for many areas.
Every element of the energy sector and its supply chain is inherently complex, but can impact the lives of us all. Therefore, clear, human communication has never been more important.
None of the challenges ahead are easy, but there’s surely a virtue to be made of working hard to overcome those and in doing so, improving the lives of people up and down the country.