Latest Industry News: Edition 23

?Amazon Secures Power Purchase Contract with ENGIE?

Amazon has set out ambitious targets regarding sustainability initiatives and hopes to power all its operations with renewable energy by 2025, which is 5 years ahead of its original target. To achieve this, the multinational company has signed a corporate power purchase agreement with ENGIE at the end of January 2024.?

This electricity power agreement will enable Amazon to source 473MW of renewable energy from the Moray West offshore wind farm, located in Scotland.?

This wind farm is currently under construction and when in operation, will have an 882MW capacity. It is set to outsource clean electricity generation in later this year, using over 50% of its energy to help power Amazon’s activities.?

Amazon has also invested significant amounts into solar and wind projects, resulting in the company becoming the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in Europe.?

In 2023, ENGIE signed a total of 19 revolutionary deals across 5 countries, which covered over 1GW of ecological energy capacity to the region’s grids.

Tootbus Turning Electric

Tootbus London, a sightseeing bus company, plans to convert 100% of its fleet in London to electric vehicles (EVs) by the year 2029. The tourist bus company have explored innovative, low carbon solutions and have an ambitious objective of reducing greenhouse emissions by 50% by 2050. To align with these goals, the bus firm has partnered up with VEV, a company that provide electric fleet solutions, that will begin by providing Tootbus with 10 EV chargers. This partnership will assist Tootbus in achieving carbon-emission savings of 15,567kg annually. By 2029, 30 Tootbuses will have converted to EVs from Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) that was originally used to fuel these buses. This agreement will mark the world’s first green energy sightseeing bus company, showcasing Tootbus’ commitment to environmental practices. In addition, VEV, if planning permission is granted, are expecting to install solar power generation at the Tootbus Wandsworth depot to generate a significant 65,000kwh, powering sustainable bus travel and reducing reliance on the National Grid.

BCC Calls on Government for Increased Progression in UK’s Decarbonisation Journey

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the national representative body, has called on the UK government to accelerate its net-zero transformation. The BCC is working to develop green innovations and is providing effective training and support on net zero to boost the economy. The BCC believes that the UK has the potential to be world-leading in green innovation. The ‘Green Innovation Challenge’ report outlines the changes that the BCC wants the government to implement, such as low-carbon policies and an increase in resources for the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which will allow the analysis of different sectors to plan for an effective transition. The key sectors that the BCC want to focus on are transportation, aviation, heating, and waste management. The report also highlights the need for green initiatives and technologies, including mandates for harnessing solar energy, carbon capture and utilisation, and developing sustainable aviation fuel (SAV).

Decreased Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Electric Cars in the UK Advance Energy Security?

EVs in the UK are becoming an increasingly popular choice for car buyers, which in turn, has reduced the nation’s reliance on petrol imports. As a result, the UK is expected to improve energy security more efficiently, by surpassing the impact of new North Sea oil licenses, according to a recent report from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). The report states that reaching a total of 6.3 million EVs by 2030 would likely have a comparable outcome to the reduced petrol consumption attained through the issuing of new oil licenses. ECIU suggest that by focusing on the expansion of renewable power sources, this will enable electricity for these EVs to be sourced domestically, so will enable the UK to be more energy independent.

Energy Management Systems: The Key to Energy Efficiency

Energy management systems (EMS) are essential for becoming the most efficient, sustainable and cost-effective energy consumers. These systems can be implemented within both public and private organisations. They optimise the operation of the entire power system, ensuring reliable energy management. These computer-based systems control and oversee a building’s mechanical and electrical equipment, such as lighting and power systems. There are a range of factors that organisations need to consider when choosing which EMS put in place. Firstly, companies will need to assess their energy usage and needs and outline their specific energy targets. For example, an organisations’ primary goal may be decarbonisation or meeting regulatory requirements. Organisations will also need to focus on prioritising data accuracy and real-time monitoring as this is essential for identifying patterns of energy consumption and will highlight any inefficiencies or other areas of improvement. With precise data, energy usage will be as efficient as possible.

Climate Concerns Lead to Travel Policies Taking a Turn

A recent study, conducted by Uber for Business, found that most corporate travel managers within the UK have environmental concerns that are causing changes in travel policies, as the demand for business travel is constantly growing. The research highlights that travel is an increasing business priority, and with this, organisations are trying to align these travel practices with wider sustainability and efficiency goals.?

Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) refers to the set of policies and procedures that organisations implement to reduce negative environmental impact. ESG reporting is becoming increasingly important to corporate travel.?

The study shows that businesses, whilst wanting to decrease their carbon footprint and contribute to ecological practices, they do not want to reduce travel or modes of transportation.?

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