Paul Goonan
Group Director
nZero Group Ltd was formed by a group of British business people, passionate about engineering solutions to change the UK domestic and industrial energy landscape – and beyond. We invested in Thyson Technology in 2016 and invested in Orbital Gas Systems in 2022.
A key factor behind the combination of the two businesses is that we believe the time is right to build on our established capabilities. Using the exceptional talent of both businesses will position nZero Group as the UK’s leading measurement and control partner across the natural gas, petrochemical, biomethane and decarbonisation sectors.
Over the next 5-10 years, the opportunity for both businesses to grow profitably is significant, and together we will be stronger, sharing best practices, knowledge, and resources.
There are considerable opportunities for our business development and project teams to support the delivery of UK decarbonisation to meet Net Zero by 2050.
Our Mission
Our desire is to have the whole team engaged and passionate about making a difference in the UK’s drive to decarbonise, and providing a better future for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come.
We feel passionately about ensuring everyone understands why we get up in the morning; life is short and we want our people to work together, striving to do something that matters.
Setting our Why is an important step in helping our teams, customers, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders, understand the reason why we exist.
We feel passionately about ensuring everyone understands why we get up in the morning; life is short and we want our people to work together, striving to do something that matters.
Setting our Why is an important step in helping our teams, customers, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders, understand the reason why we exist.
Our
Why
Innovating our energy system to sustain our way of life whilst protecting our planet.
Our
How
Solving complex strategic challenges for Energy Producers, Transporters, and Industrial Users across the energy sector bringing together new and existing technologies.
Our
What
We are the engineers, manufacturers, installers and maintainers of all our solutions.
Our vision and values
VISION AND VALUES
Values
Safety
Creating the feeling of security through our attitude, training, accreditations, and processes, with safety at the heart of every decision we make whether it’s for people, in the workplace, at our client sites and in the solutions we build.
Service
We treat our colleagues, our customers, our partners how we want to be treated, continuously striving to provide outstanding service levels with honesty, positivity, responsiveness, and excellent communication that creates positive lasting relationships.
Success
Success has many definitions, and we will always strive to achieve it not just for our business, but for our people in their careers, life and health, and for our customers, partners and shareholders.
Sustainability
Building a resilient business, looking after our environment, helping our customers, partners and stakeholders build a long-term successful future.
Strength
Our solutions are all borne of our amazing people. Coaching and developing talent who work with pride, confidence, discipline, and determination staying at the forefront of technology across national energy infrastructure, raising industry standards and expectations, whilst pushing boundaries.
Our leadership team is unrivalled in this sector
nZero Group is the parent/holding company of both Orbital Gas Systems and Thyson Technology. The directors and shareholders of nZero Group are Matt Allen, Neil Stuchbury, Nick Maguire, Karl Daniel, Russell Brown, Ron Smith (non-executive chair), and Andy Leach (non-executive director), who represents our majority shareholder and funder NVM private equity, based in Manchester.
They are the same directors who have been running Thyson, three of whom were previously long-standing employees of Orbital.
With the mix of skills and experience across the nZero Group board and the Senior Management teams of Orbital and Thyson, we have a leadership team unrivalled in this sector; a combination of seasoned business leaders and highly experienced engineers, with vision, commitment, and energy to see Thyson and Orbital deliver, innovate, thrive, and grow.
We believe that the time is right to embrace the exceptional talent of both businesses and position nZero Group as the UK’s leading measurement and control partner across the natural gas, petrochemical, biomethane, and decarbonisation sectors.
We believe that the time is right to embrace the exceptional talent of both businesses and position nZero Group as the UK’s leading measurement and control partner across the natural gas, petrochemical, biomethane, and decarbonisation sectors.
The story so far...
Both Thyson and Orbital have enjoyed sustained growth throughout their histories in different industrial measurement and control markets and more recently, converging in similar markets whilst maintaining their roots. Over the past few years our traditional markets have been more difficult to navigate in terms of demand for our niche capabilities. Increased competition and external factors leading to lower energy infrastructure investment, such as the UK Government’s delay in launching a new support mechanism for Green Gas, has resulted in fluctuating workloads and reduced revenues, leading to a financially challenging period for both businesses.
As we emerge from the COVID pandemic, our markets are more attractive again and demand is increasing. Ofgem’s new investment cycle (RIIO2) has come to life, the new Green Gas Support Scheme in biomethane has been launched, and we are experiencing sustained higher oil and gas prices; all of which is leading to an increase in positive investment decisions in the midstream and upstream sectors.
In addition to this, the UK and many other countries are making significant commitments to tackle the climate crisis. This is creating a growing demand for companies like Orbital and Thyson to provide a blend of existing technologies and innovative solutions to decarbonise, supporting customers’ commercial and technological challenges to meet the targets they have set themselves or have been set by Government.
This increasing market demand will need to be met, and the most successful businesses will be the ones with exceptional talent and sufficient manufacturing capacity to deliver. Both the Ellesmere Port and Swynnerton operations are critical to our combined future strategy; an outstanding team striving for the same goal is vital to the success of both businesses and the Group.
As we emerge from the COVID pandemic, our markets are more attractive again and demand is increasing. Ofgem’s new investment cycle (RIIO2) has come to life, the new Green Gas Support Scheme in biomethane has been launched, and we are experiencing sustained higher oil and gas prices; all of which is leading to an increase in positive investment decisions in the midstream and upstream sectors.
In addition to this, the UK and many other countries are making significant commitments to tackle the climate crisis. This is creating a growing demand for companies like Orbital and Thyson to provide a blend of existing technologies and innovative solutions to decarbonise, supporting customers’ commercial and technological challenges to meet the targets they have set themselves or have been set by Government.
This increasing market demand will need to be met, and the most successful businesses will be the ones with exceptional talent and sufficient manufacturing capacity to deliver. Both the Ellesmere Port and Swynnerton operations are critical to our combined future strategy; an outstanding team striving for the same goal is vital to the success of both businesses and the Group.
Resources
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[Tuesday 23 April 2024]
Oxford Flow partners with nZero Group to deliver zero-carbon fuels for domestic heating
Oxford Flow, the flow control equipment specialist, will provide its IM-S gas regulators as part of a partnership with Thyson Technology, an nZero Group company, on SGN’s H100 Fife Future of Gas project, in Scotland.H100 Fife is a first of its kind project to employ a direct supply of clean power to produce hydrogen in Buckhaven and Denbeath that will bring renewable hydrogen into homes, providing zero-carbon fuel for domestic heating. In the project’s first phase, the network is expected to heat hundreds of local homes using clean gas produced by a dedicated electrolysis plant, powered by a nearby offshore wind turbine.Oxford Flow will supply IM-S gas regulators equipped with PRX2L pilots and PB1 balancers to nZero Group, which will make up part of its twin stream active-monitor station. IM-S offers an increased flow capacity and has been designed and verified for use with up to 100% hydrogen, comfortably exceeding the UK government's target for Britain's gas networks to be ready to deliver a 20% hydrogen blend. Furthermore, Oxford Flow has engineered the regulator to eliminate the diaphragm, the most common failure and wear point in conventional gas regulators, contributing to a minimum service interval maintenance interval of up to ten years and eliminating the risk of leaks.Faris Churcher, Business Lead – Gas & Energy Transition at Oxford Flow, commented: “Our partnership with nZero Group is another step in an exciting direction toward our ongoing support of the energy transition of our gas networks here in the UK. We’re thrilled to be supporting another hydrogen to grid project, and it’s positive to see gas networks and suppliers getting behind innovative technology as we transition from natural gas to hydrogen. IM-S has been engineered for use with both, and it makes sense that as we look at how we blend hydrogen into our networks, we work together to utilise technology that is guaranteed to support that shift for the long term.”The nZero Group, through its ownership of Thyson Technology and Orbital Gas Systems, two UK leading measurement and control partners across the natural gas, low carbon hydrogen, CCUS, petrochemical, and waste to energy sectors, aims to help the country achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions whilst growing the talent base through its knowledge and track record. This partnership with Oxford Flow is just one example of how it solves complex strategic challenges for energy transporters, producers and industrial users, bringing together new and existing technology.Matt Allen, Managing Director at nZero Group, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Oxford Flow to deliver the H100 Fife project. Oxford Flow’s commitment to engineering innovative solution and its drive to support the transition to net zero from its inception was clear to us – but the quality of its products and ongoing support stands it apart. It’s difficult to find solutions that have been 3rd party verified for use with up to 100% hydrogen, but Oxford Flow has put in that work, and it has given us immense confidence that this is the right partnership.”In addition, Oxford Flow has also been awarded a contract directly from SGN to provide training for six to eight H100 technicians on the use and maintenance of its IM-S gas regulators.About Oxford FlowOxford Flow designs and manufactures innovative pressure control equipment using technology developed at Oxford University. Engineered to be more compact and lighter than conventional technology, Oxford Flow’s control valves and regulators eliminate the most common points of failure, leakage, and emissions; significantly reducing cost and maintenance for oil & gas, gas distribution and transmission, water and process industries.The IM series range offers excellent pressure or flow control for gas distribution, gas transmission, fuel gas control, and various industrial applications. The compact design utilises the patented piston control system to deliver superior process control in a full stainless steel construction. The unique design employs a single piston instead of a diaphragm, increasing reliability and reducing maintenance costs.About nZero GroupnZero Group is the parent/holding company of Orbital Gas Systems and Thyson Technology. Orbital Gas Systems has a rich history in delivering operational technology such as gas quality measurement, fiscal metering, pressure reduction stations, and odourisation solutions to the UK natural gas industry, while Thyson Technology’s pedigree was formed by delivering complex integrated analytical solutions to a range of industries, including offshore oil and gas, petrochemical, and natural gas sectors.Both organisations have a significant installed base across the UK of biomethane gas to grid plants and share complementary firsts in hydrogen blending for gas networks and industrial fuel switching, with ambitions to serve the UK’s decarbonisation programme – and beyond.For further information, please visit:Media contact -
NEWS RELEASE
[Thursday 22 February 2024]nZero Group H100 Project Update Spring 2024
nZero Group, the UK’s leading measurement and control partner across the biomethane, hydrogen, natural gas and petrochemical sectors were awarded the H100 project in December 2023, partnering with Altrad Babcock for SGN.The measurement and control packages that we will deliver will facilitate the safe delivery of hydrogen to the homes of Fife. We’ve now reached an important stage in the H100 project - design freeze, enabling the team to move forward into the HAZOP. Those in the industry will understand the HAZOP is a critical stage in any design project, a due process which looks at all possible foreseeable events and operations to ensure the design is as safe as possible and amended if necessary.
This is a true nZero Group collaboration with the team encompassing both Orbital and Thyson engineers. Project Manager Graham Jones said,“We’re excited to be part of this pioneering decarbonisation energy project and delighted we have achieved this important milestone. The opportunity to engage with the challenges this project brings is allowing nZero Group to demonstrate our engineering capabilities and innovating mindset, and our ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding environment with all stakeholders.”
Managing Director Matt Allen said,“We’re absolutely honoured to be involved in this flagship project, the first of its kind in the UK, chosen to ensure the reliable distribution of 100% hydrogen through a new network to the Fife homes is safe and secure, and to provide innovative solutions and technologies to solve the difficulties this project presents. It’s been a good start, with excellent contributions from all concerned, with the respective teams working together in tandem and we’re excited to see the progress we’ve already made”.
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NEWS RELEASE
[Monday 27 March 2023]nZero Group exhibits at The World Biogas Expo 29-30 March 2023
nZero Group, which has been first in biomethane for over a decade, are exhibiting at this month’s World Biogas Expo 29-30 March 2023 on Stand A203 in the Research and Innovation Village, focusing on their decarbonisation solutions for the industry.The stand will be led by Russell Brown, Innovation and Technology Director, Andy Bidston, Sales Engineer and Andrew Lings, Solutions Specialist Decarbonisation, where they will be sharing innovative new solutions, one of which could completely mitigate propane injection, with potential OPEX savings of up to £300k pa, based on propane consumption of a typical 500 m3/hr Grid Entry Unit (GEU). Also, in sharp focus over the two days will be nZero Group’s Blend Optimisation solution, a must-see, which biogas producers and distributors should come and discover more about.Russell, Andy and Andrew continue to play a key role in specifying the nZero Group’s GEUs; each have an extensive background in both engineering and senior business development roles, in a wide range of energy, renewable and multinational businesses, making them ideal to answer any questions or discuss the challenges the industry will face over the next decade.nZero Group is on a mission to support decarbonisation of the gas network, its track record includes having designed, installed, and now maintaining 50+ operational GEU sites, generating an annual green gas supply for the equivalent of 250,000+ homes. nZero Group companies completed the first biomethane to grid development project in the UK and the first commercial biomethane to grid project, as well as the first biomethane to grid project in Ireland. In addition, nZero Group was the first to blend Hydrogen into the natural gas network for domestic and commercial use, for industrial fuel switching; first to implement non-venting pressure control instrumentation; and the first to design CO2 optimisation algorithms to reduce propane Opex costs. There will be many more firsts coming into focus on our decarbonisation journey.nZero Group Sales & Marketing Director, Neil Stuchbury said,“With the growing demand we’re experiencing for innovative and sustainable solutions across a key set of industries, which includes hydrogen, oil & gas, and biomethane, we’re increasingly the partner of choice for many significant projects. Our attendance at World Biogas Expo gives us an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our ability to understand customer needs, with the innovation and technology they require.”
Press release issued on behalf of nZero Group by DXDMedia. For further information, please contact Deborah McCombie at deborah@dxdmedia.co.uk or call 07796 997447.
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Notes to editors:Orbital Gas Systems has a rich history in delivering operational technology such as gas quality measurement, fiscal metering, pressure reduction stations, and odourisation solutions to the UK natural gas industry, while Thyson Technology’s pedigree was formed by delivering complex integrated analytical solutions to a range of industries, including offshore oil and gas, petrochemical, and natural gas sectors.Both organisations have a significant installed base across the UK of biomethane gas to grid plants and share complementary firsts in hydrogen blending for gas networks and industrial fuel switching, with ambitions to serve the UK’s decarbonisation programme – and beyond.For further information, please visit: -
NEWS RELEASE
[Wednesday 11 May 2022]nZero Group acquires Orbital Gas Systems
Deal creates key industry contributor for UK transition to net zero industry
nZero Group has purchased Orbital Gas Systems from its US-based parent company, Orbital Energy Group (OEG), for an undisclosed multi-million-pound sum. The deal was formally announced to the New York Stock Exchange today.
The Cheshire-headquartered firm aims to become the UK’s leading measurement and control partner across the natural gas, petrochemical, biomethane, and decarbonisation sectors. It said that the acquisition would ensure the necessary skills and capacity are ready and aligned to help the country’s ambition to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Located in Stone, Staffordshire, Orbital Gas Systems specialises in the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of industrial gas sampling, measurement, and delivery systems. It has nearly 40 years’ expertise in the manufacture of a broad range of innovative technologies for the energy, power, and processing markets.
The newly-acquired business complements nZero Group’s facility in Ellesmere Port, where its subsidiary, Thyson Technology, operates.
It will see the enlarged group employ over 150 people with a combined turnover in the region of £16million. Over the next three to five years, the company expects to create more than 50 highly-skilled jobs, whilst continuing to invest in people to create its own talent for the future through apprenticeship and graduate programmes, minimising the impact of UK-wide skills shortages.
Both companies, which retain their existing names, will be led by managing director, Matt Allen, along with the support of a highly experienced leadership team.Matt Allen, managing director of nZero Group, commented:"We would like to welcome everyone associated with Orbital Gas Systems on board for what promises to be an exciting journey together and would like to thank OEG for this opportunity and the local Orbital Gas Systems management for their support.
“This deal represents a significant step forward in our strategy to become a key contributor in the UK net zero energy transition by bringing under common ownership two of the UK’s leading measurement and control partners across the natural gas, low carbon hydrogen, petrochemical, and waste to energy sectors.
“The UK and many other countries are making significant commitments to tackle the climate crisis. This is creating a growing demand for companies, like Orbital and Thyson, to provide a blend of existing technologies and innovative solutions to decarbonise, while supporting customers’ commercial and technological challenges to meet the targets they have set themselves or have been set by government.”Neil Stuchbury, director of sales and marketing at nZero Group, added:“There is critical energy infrastructure which must be maintained and enhanced over the next decade to ensure security of supply, through gas network asset investment and upstream/midstream processing facilities, whilst driving innovation for UK decarbonisation.
“We believe the most successful businesses within these sectors will have a balance of industrial expertise and offer world-class manufacturing facilities supported by exceptional talent with the right mindset to deliver quality and innovation.
“nZero Group has these qualities and will take the lead to succeed, attract new people, and seek strategic partnerships to deliver decarbonisation solutions. With our already world-leading hydrogen blending expertise, we are now positioned to build on these capabilities, ones the UK and the world will require to ensure safe and rapid progress is made to achieve net zero.”The acquisition was backed by NVM Private Equity, the majority shareholder of nZero Group. Pannone Corporate acted on the transaction as the company’s legal advisers, led by corporate partners, Tim Hamilton, Andy Walsh, Rosie Korcz, and Amy Chandler.Andy Leach, partner at NVM Private Equity, commented:“The combination of Thyson and Orbital creates a business with extensive resource, expertise and technologies that is well positioned in its niche markets.
“With the infrastructure investment that will be made in the UK over the coming years to decarbonise and deliver energy security, these markets are set for a sustained period of growth. The next few years will, undoubtedly, be an exciting period for nZero Group and its employees.”Press release issued on behalf of nZero Group by DXDMedia. For further information, please contact Deborah McCombie at deborah@dxdmedia.co.uk or call 07796 997447.
Notes to Editors:Orbital Gas Systems has a rich history in delivering operational technology such as gas quality measurement, fiscal metering, pressure reduction stations, and odourisation solutions to the UK natural gas industry, while Thyson Technology’s pedigree was formed by delivering complex integrated analytical solutions to a range of industries, including offshore oil and gas, petrochemical, and natural gas sectors.Both organisations have a significant installed base across the UK of biomethane gas to grid plants and share complementary firsts in hydrogen blending for gas networks and industrial fuel switching, with ambitions to serve the UK’s decarbonisation programme – and beyond.For further information, please visit:
FAQs
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nZero Group is the parent/holding company of both Orbital Gas Systems and Thyson Technology. The directors and shareholders of nZero Group are Matt Allen, Neil Stuchbury, Nick Maguire, Karl Daniel, Russell Brown, Ron Smith (non-executive chair), and Andy Leach (non-executive director), who represents our majority shareholder and funder NVM private equity, based in Manchester. They are the same directors who have been running Thyson, three of whom were previously long-standing employees of Orbital.
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The opportunity to acquire such a well-established, dynamic and knowledgeable business with an outstanding history of successful B2B project delivery in the UK energy sector was unmissable, and one which made complete sense to the Group owners.
Both Orbital and Thyson have strong reputations in instrumentation, measurement, and control of gases across the Gas Distribution and Transmission Networks, Biomethane to Grid, Petrochemical, and Oil and Gas sectors.
Exceptional talent can be hard to find, and this transaction will strengthen the Group’s attractiveness as a major employer in our operational sectors. Equally, across the Group, we will be improving our knowledge and experience, which translates into providing higher quality customer service and an even greater desire to achieve a right first-time engineering experience for our customers. -
Over the last decade, there’s been a crossover of people between Orbital and Thyson, with employees at all levels transferring from one business to another. In other words, there’s always been reasonable insight and understanding about what the other business is doing.
Orbital has a rich history in delivering operational technology such as gas quality measurement, fiscal metering and odourisation solutions to the UK natural gas industry, while Thyson’s pedigree was formed delivering complex integrated analytical solutions to a range of industries including offshore Oil and Gas,
petrochemical, and natural gas sectors. Both organisations have a significant installed base across the UK of biomethane to grid packages and share complementary firsts in hydrogen blending for gas networks and industrial fuel switching, with ambitions to serve the UK’s decarbonisation programme – and beyond. -
Thyson and Orbital both have their strengths and opportunities to improve, and by creating an environment that promotes the sharing of knowledge and best practices, both businesses will improve their performance together.
To enable this to be achieved, the initial Group structure will bring together the sales teams, service teams, and support functions such as finance, IT, SHEQ and HR. The Engineering/Project Delivery teams will continue to operate as they did before this transaction, with the added benefit of sharing knowledge, best practices, and resources (skills and manufacturing space) between the two businesses.
Matt Allen will continue as Managing Director of the Group with overall responsibility for the direction and leadership of both Orbital and Thyson.
Neil Stuchbury will continue as Sales & Marketing Director of the Group and will lead the sales team and marketing partners across both Thyson and Orbital.
Russell Brown will continue as Innovation & Technology Director of the Group and will lead the service and maintenance activities of both Orbital and Thyson, supported by a new Customer Service Manager, Richard McDowell.
Karl Daniel will continue as a Director of the Group, and will assume the role of Operations Director at Thyson, leading the existing Thyson senior management team of Jim Smith and Neil Ayre.
Nick Maguire will continue as a Director of the Group, and will assume the role of Operations Director at Orbital, leading the existing Orbital Senior Management Team of Jonathan Smith, Tristan Roberts and Andrew Wood.
Jonathan will become the Head of Commercial for Orbital, with a longer-term plan to widen his role across the Group, whilst Tristan and Andrew will continue in their existing roles.
Simon Main will be promoted to Group Financial Controller, reporting directly to Matt Allen, and will gradually assume the responsibility for the finance and IT functions of both Thyson and Orbital. -
This move will further sharpen the high levels of service, solutions, and collaboration each business provides to our customers, making both businesses more competitive through its quality of service and deliverability.
