DWF at All-Energy 2026: Infrastructure, integration and the next phase of the energy transition

DWF's Energy team was pleased to host a networking lunch alongside the All-Energy Conference 2026 in Glasgow, the UK’s largest gathering of clean energy stakeholders – bringing together a cross-section of developers, investors, advisers and infrastructure specialists from across the energy and transport sectors.  With attendees spanning EV charging, offshore wind, maritime, energy advisory and insurance, the session provided a valuable forum for practical, open discussion on how infrastructure delivery models must evolve to support the UK’s net zero ambitions.

A market moving beyond single technologies

A consistent theme throughout the discussion was the industry’s shift away from standalone technologies towards integrated energy platforms.

Participants highlighted the growing convergence of:

• EV charging infrastructure
• On-site renewable generation (particularly solar)
• Battery storage and flexibility solutions
• Real estate-led deployment models

This reflects a broader recognition that project viability increasingly depends on combining multiple revenue streams and optimising land use, rather than relying on a single technology or asset class.

The role of real estate and delivery structures

The conversation reinforced the importance of structuring projects in a way that aligns:

• Land rights and site control
• Funding and investment models
• Operational delivery and long-term revenue sharing

In particular, there was strong engagement around how leases, concessions and partnership structures need to adapt to accommodate multi-technology infrastructure – an area where DWF continues to see significant client demand, particularly across EV charging and distributed energy projects.

Engagement with Ion Ventures – common themes

While Dan Taylor of Ion Ventures was unable to attend, DWF has been in active dialogue with ion Ventures in advance of the event, including wider discussions on market conditions and project delivery challenges.

Those discussions, and the presence of Olly Stopford from Ion Ventures at the lunch, helped reinforce a number of themes that were echoed more broadly across the session:

• Grid constraints and connection reform
  Ongoing challenges around grid access and the pace of reform continue to shape project pipelines and investment decisions across the UK market.
• Battery energy storage and flexible infrastructure
  The growing importance of battery storage as a core component of energy projects, both as a standalone asset and integrated with generation and demand-side infrastructure.
• International versus UK project dynamics
  A recognition that while UK delivery presents challenges, opportunities remain strong in other jurisdictions, reinforcing the need for flexible, cross-border investment strategies.
• Platform-based delivery models
  A move towards structuring projects as scalable platforms rather than individual assets, aligning generation, storage and demand within a single commercial framework.

These themes closely align with what DWF is seeing across its client base, particularly in relation to BESS, EV infrastructure and hybrid energy schemes.

Looking ahead

The discussions at All-Energy underline a clear direction of travel for the sector: a move towards integrated, infrastructure-led delivery models, supported by more sophisticated legal and commercial frameworks.

For DWF, this aligns directly with the work we are undertaking across EV charging, renewable generation, battery storage and wider infrastructure projects – supporting clients to navigate the complexity of land, regulation, funding and delivery in a rapidly evolving market.

This article is part of a follow-up series exploring key takeaways from All-Energy 2026.

See our insights in collaboration with Re-Power, Amplify EV and Luminous Energy, for a deeper dive into sector-specific developments.

If you would like further information or advice, please contact the author below.