Category Archives: Climate

Carbon Reduction, Climate, News

Chamber event reveals benefits of net zero for SMEs

Wales, as a nation, has set out to achieve net zero by 2050, in line with many countries around the world.

However, the Welsh Government has also set a target for the public sector to reach this commitment by 2030 and many large corporations have set similar targets.

Although SMEs are not necessarily obligated to meet these interim targets, the impact will be felt within the supply chain and procurement with businesses potentially losing out on contracts if they cannot demonstrate their own net zero commitments.

Taking part in a Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid facilitated event on February 17, industry experts joined together to inspire and support SMEs on their net zero journeys, discussing the benefits for business and how SMEs can play a role towards national and global goals.

Hosted by Professor Paul Harrison, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Innovation and Engagement at the University of South Wales, the event featured contributions from panellists Rob Allison, Director at Auditel; Randall Edwards, Director of Corporate Finance at Aspen Waite; Howard Gray, Director of Business Consulting, Sustainability and Climate Change at CGI; and Catherine Westoby, Net Zero Engagement Lead for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

In a Chamber survey in the latter half of 2021, only 14% of businesses in Wales had already implemented a strategy to help their company reach net zero and over half of respondents had not yet created a strategy, citing uncertainty of how to proceed as a barrier.

During the event, the panel sought to increase understanding of net zero terminology and point SMEs towards useful resources.

Catherine Westoby said: “It can be terribly confusing; there is so much information and so many resources out there. It makes it tricky for small businesses to know where to begin.

“As part of the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign, we [the UK Government] created the UK Business Climate Hub. It’s a one stop shop for advice with cheap, quick and simple actions that SMEs can take to measure and manage their emissions.”

Rob Allison said: “Trying to be environmentally conscious when running your business just 15 years ago was cost prohibitive but now it is beginning to be commercially sensible. For those starting out carbon neutrality can be a stepping stone towards net zero which delivers year-on-year gains, but this must not be an isolated strategy and action must be taken to make a greater difference in the long term.”

Opportunities for innovation, corporate and social responsibility, and competitive advantages were also explored.

Randall Edwards said: “The relationship between transitioning to a green economy and shareholder value is inextricably linked. If you are part of a larger supply chain or rely on procurement to attain business, you cannot afford not to be transitioning. From a shareholder value perspective, you can achieve a massive premium by being the first in your sector or micro sector to transition.”

Howard Gray said: “The opportunities for SMEs to become more responsible and sustainable businesses will give them a value to shareholders and stakeholders but, more broadly, organisations that think of their impact from a sustainability perspective tend to grow quicker and be more innovative.”

Appointments, Climate, News

Former EPA Head, Carol Browner and National Security and Risk Expert R.P. Eddy join Cervest’s Climate Intelligence Council

Cervest, the Climate Intelligence company working to put climate at the core of every decision, welcomes two new members to its Climate Intelligence Council (CIC): Carol Browner and R.P. Eddy. Browner is the former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy. Eddy is a national security and risk expert who previously served in the U.S. government and as a United Nations diplomat.

Cervest established the Climate Intelligence Council to elevate the discourse around the need for Climate Intelligence (CI) as the new decision-making superpower for the 21st century. Inaugural members bridge the worlds of science, policy, finance, technology and business. Leveraging their expertise and influence, CIC members will work alongside Cervest to advocate for asset-level climate analysis to be at the core of every decision and investment, and to champion Climate Intelligence as a critical instrument in the race for businesses and governments to adapt with climate change.

A leading voice on environmental and sustainability issues, Browner has nearly four decades of experience in public policy, regulatory, environmental impact issues, corporate sustainability, and clean energy and ESG initiatives. As Assistant to President Barack Obama and Director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, she helped oversee the coordination of environmental, energy and climate initiatives across the government, including new automobile fuel efficiency standards and the most stringent air pollution standards in U.S. history.

R.P. Eddy is the CEO of geopolitical intelligence firm, Ergo, and a widely published author. He has also held several high-profile national security positions in the U.S. Federal Government,  including Director at White House National Security Council, and Diplomat in the Senior Executive Service at State Department under President Clinton.

Browner and Eddy join current CIC members Professor Mark Girolami, Chief Scientist of the Alan Turing Institute; Dominic Kniveton, Professor of Climate Change and Society at the University of Sussex; Dr. Karen McKinnon, Assistant Professor of Statistics and the Environment at UCLA; Dr. Nadia Schadlow, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute & ex-U.S.National Security Advisor; David Sobotka, former Head of Fixed Income at Merrill Lynch, and Roger Spitz, President of Techistential and Chairman of Disruptive Futures Institute. Additional Climate Intelligence Council members will be added throughout 2022.

The CIC’s work comes at a critical inflection point in the climate crisis, when exponential technology can unlock new opportunities and better decisions about climate adaptation at scale. As last year’s IPCC (UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report highlighted, a persistent rise in global warming is triggering more volatile, extreme weather events with accelerating severity and frequency. According to NOAA’s (National Centers for Environmental Information, in 2021, in the U.S. alone there were 20 weather/climate events with losses exceeding $1 billion each, for a total cost of $145 billion. At scale, the world needs to simultaneously decarbonize and build asset-scale resilience to securely deliver a 1.5C world.

Furthermore, a recent Cervest survey revealed that 83% of decision-makers at large businesses in the U.S. and U.K. believe climate volatility poses a tangible risk to their corporate bottom line. Adaptation and resilience against physical risk are essential to ensure we deliver mass social, economic and environmental returns, yet most decision makers have no idea where to start. The need for reliable Climate Intelligence is clear.

“Within five years, climate will be at the core of every business, government and investment decision. Climate Intelligence will make this possible,” said Iggy Bassi, founder and CEO of Cervest. “Climate Intelligence is the new decision-making superpower for the 21st century. It will inform and empower everyone to build resilience against climate risk down to the asset level. CIC members will advocate the need for Climate Intelligence across all sectors and geographies. Drawing on their objectivity and expertise, they will keep us true to our commitment to provide Climate Intelligence that is science-based, transparent and open to everyone.”

“To make sound, durable public policy you have to have the latest information and science. To tackle a problem of the magnitude of climate change, it’s important to build public confidence in the decisions being made. Climate Intelligence provides the science-based knowledge needed to make informed decisions,” stated Carol Browner. “This is why the work of the Climate Intelligence Council is so important. The CIC will drive the needed transparency and access to information required to make decisions and honor the public’s right to know.”

Follow the latest Climate News on our site: https://climate-news.co.uk/

Climate, News

Zero emission planes to boost net zero plan

Written by Mr. Kunal Sawhney, CEO, Kalkine Media

In a bid to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and expedite the progress for reaching the net zero target by 2050, the government of the United Kingdom has been continuously supplementing various existing measures with new plans of action that can comprehensively help in diminishing the overall carbon footprint across the widespread geography.

For effectively counterbalancing the gross carbon emissions in the UK, a thorough support is required from the industries, enterprises, large-scale corporations, government-run settings, passenger vehicles, manufacturing facilities, commercial vehicles and aircrafts. As the Downing Street administration continues to scale down the dependency on coal-fired electricity, it is also incorporating several measures that can certainly turn very effective after a period of 5-10 years from now.

Following the ongoing research around carbon neutral planes that are being designed to harness energy from liquid hydrogen, people would be able to fly on longer routes through carbon emission free planes with just one stop for the purpose of refuelling the jet.

The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) on Monday, 6 December, showcased the concept aircraft, equipped with liquid hydrogen. The ATI-led FlyZero project has developed the concept aircraft that will be powered by liquid nitrogen. The mid-size carbon neutral jet has a seating capacity of 279 individuals, it can operate on long distances including London to San Francisco and Lonon to Auckland by taking a single layover for refuelling.

Zero carbon emissions from the plane will unequivocally make it very popular right after the initial commercial runs, while it will help in reducing the pollution around the airports as Heathrow remains one of the busiest airports in the world.

Commercialisation of such planes can certainly provide strength to the government’s ultimate objective of reducing the carbon emissions in the upcoming decades.

With the industries increasingly committing to reduce the net emissions from their operations, including the extensive supply chain networks and other processes, it becomes very crucial that the country should make proportionately similar progress across all the carbon-heavy processes including the commercial vehicles segment and industrial emissions.

Under the ongoing green energy revolution, the UK government has already fixed ambitious targets of banning the sale of petrol and diesel powered passenger vehicles by the end of 2030. With the nature and scope of Covid-19, rapidly emerging strains and persisting uncertainty in the operative environment, the pace of technological advancements has been partly hit, while, on the other hand, many individual entities are progressing very aggressively. Alongside achieving industry-wide breakthroughs in several state-of-the-art capabilities and a number of innovations that are touted to ease the pain of conventional processes, effectively streamlining the complexities.

As far as developing the sustainable aviation fuel is concerned, eight corporations have secured an approval from the government’s £15 million competition aimed to introduce aircrafts that can be operated on clean energy. The shortlisted winners in the project are entitled to receive a definitive proportion from the multi-million pound funding to the tune of £15 million. The Department for Transport (DfT) will remain responsible for giving the go-ahead on funding agreements.

The Jet Zero Council has been working religiously towards the predetermined objectives with the FlyZero project displaying the huge potential of liquid nitrogen. Introducing more and more midsize emission-free aircrafts in the British fleet for domestic, as well as international usage, most of the flight operators will be able to transform and rejig the fleet efficiency when it comes to the gross emissions from the planes operating on air turbine fuel.

The Jet Zero Council has aimed to deliver carbon neutral transatlantic flight within a generation, effectively contributing in the road to net zero according to the Prime Minister’s Ten Point plan. Along with the aim of delivering emission free aircrafts, the department has been working to introduce a low-carbon fuel that can be utilised by the airlines. Produced from waste materials, sustainable aviation fuel will certainly help in decarbonising the flying experience.

Climate, Logistics, Motoring, News

China and Norway Predicted First Countries to Be Petrol-Free By 2050

According to new research from commercial vehicle finance company, Asset Alliance, China and Norway are due to be the first countries to phase out internal combustion engines with key transition deadlines as early as 2025. China has a goal of 25% of all vehicles and Norway 100% passenger and light duty vehicles to be electric by 2025. 

Road transport in the UK is responsible for 92% of the country’s domestic transport greenhouse gas emissions. With the UK’s aim to phase out petrol-driven cars by 2035, Asset Alliance have taken a deep-dive into a world without fossil-fuelled vehicles and how businesses can prepare for the inevitable transition. 

Governments around the globe have set targets for phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles within the next 30 years, in favour of electric or hybrid models. Some are targeting passenger vehicles, others are focusing on commercial vehicles, and others have set multiple goals.   

China and Norway are due to be the first countries to phase out internal combustion engines with key transition deadlines as early as 2025, whilst the United Kingdom has a deadline of no petrol, diesel, hybrid or plugin hybrid vehicles by 2035. 

 Countries ranked by their transition deadlines: 

Country   Deadline   Goal/s  
China   2025   25% electric vehicles  
Norway   2025, 2030  
  • 100% electric vehicles (passenger, light-duty vans) – 2025  
  • 75% electric vehicles (long-distance coaches) – 2030  
  • 50% electric vehicles (trucks) – 2030   
Denmark   2030, 2035  
  • No gasoline or diesel vehicles (cars) – 2030  
  • No gasoline, diesel, or plugin hybrid electric vehicles (cars) – 2035   
South Korea   2030   33% electric vehicles (cars)  
Iceland   2030   No gasoline or diesel vehicles (cars)  
India   2030   30% electric vehicles (cars)  
Ireland   2030   No fossil fuel vehicles (cars)  
Israel   2030   No gasoline or diesel vehicles (cars)  
Japan   2030   23-33% electric vehicles (passenger)  
Netherlands   2030   100% electric vehicles (cars)  
Slovenia   2030   100% vehicles with CO2 emissions up to 50 g/km (cars, light-duty commercial)  
Sweden   2030   No gasoline or diesel vehicles (cars)  
Scotland   2032   No gasoline or diesel vehicles (cars, vans)  
United Kingdom   2035   No petrol, diesel, hybrid, or plugin hybrid vehicles (cars, vans)  
Canada   2040   100% electric vehicles  
France   2040   No vehicles using fossil fuels (cars, light-duty commercial)  
Portugal   2040   No vehicles with internal combustion engines (cars)  
Singapore   2040   No internal combustion engine vehicles  
Sri Lanka   2040   100% electric or hybrid vehicles  
Spain   2040   100% electric vehicles (cars)  
Costa Rica   2050   100% electric vehicles (light-duty)  
Germany   2050   100% electric vehicles (passenger)  

Top Potential Alternatives to Diesel  

In light of this, more motor industry operators are turning to the alternative fuels market. 20% of operators say they are looking to acquire alternatively fuelled HGVs in the next three years. However, cost is still a significant factor and potential deterrent for operators looking to switch over to alternative fuels. The majority (52%) say that a financial incentive from the government would encourage them to operate alternative-fuelled vehicles. 51% Say they need better access to refuelling infrastructure to make the switch more convenient, and 41% want lower upfront costs to help keep expenses down. 

How Can Businesses Prepare for the Transition? 

“A total switch to electric vehicles might seem like a long way off, but approaching deadlines are driving fleet operators to step up their strategies. For a smooth transition, businesses should be planning ahead as far as possible. While Euro6 engines are certainly the most cost-effective, low carbon option over the short to medium term, we would always encourage operators to discuss their medium to longer-term transition to zero-carbon alternatives.” – Willie Paterson, CEO Asset Alliance Group.   

For more information and how the Asset Alliance Group can support the switch, follow this link: The Race to Zero-Emission Vehicles & Trucks – Asset Alliance Group 

Climate, News

Increasing zero emission vehicles to firmly expedite path to net zero

Written by by Kunal Sawhney, CEO, Kalkine Media

In the race to achieve net zero status, the largest economies are putting their best foot forward by incorporating a slew of measures that can bring a comprehensive change, through which the transformation to clean energy solutions can be done in a seamless manner.

The abrupt hardships of climate change have reached a critical phase as nations surrounded by snowy islands and huge glaciers are fearing the possible event of massive floods, while the plains and other geographical regions already experiencing a record-breaking rise in the annual temperatures during the peak summers are severely anxious over a fractional upsurge in the temperatures as it is increasingly developing the areas into hard-to-survive locations due to extreme habitual conditions.

Taking a couple of measures at a time is actually required now as it will only help in achieving the objective within the anticipated time, as the potential repercussions of climate change are mushrooming at a rapid pace, as we speak and discuss various strategies to contain the consequences.

Further ameliorating the road to net zero, the government of the UK has recently reiterated its commitment to eliminate the fossil fuel-powered commercial vehicles, including the heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) by the end of 2040. With this objective, the Downing Street administration is aiming to roll-out zero emission commercial vehicles at a large scale in the next two decades, enough to meet the cumulative supply chain and logistics demand in the domestic, as well as connected roads to cross-border regions.

In order to effectuate the predefined goal of selling 100% zero emission new cars and vans, the government has instituted a group of ministers and industry leaders that will remain responsible for working towards fulfilling the target by 2040. Bolstering the initiative, six major automakers including General Motors, Mercedes, Ford, BYD, Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover, 13 investors, 28 fleets and 34 countries have collectively pledged for all new car and van sales to be zero emission by 2035 in the leading markets and by 2040 on a global level.

Countries including New Zealand and El Salvador and corporations such as Sainsbury’s are among the group that have committed to integrate 100% zero emission vehicles following the proposals made by the European Union, a number of states under the control of the US, Canada and Chile. All these have committed to ensure that all the new cars and vans are emission free by 2035.

A number of emerging markets and developing economies including India, Turkey, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda and Paraguay have pledged to expedite the adoption and country-wide usage of zero emission vehicles, the move that can help achieve the global target of carbon emissions.

Alongside this, a new design for electric vehicle chargepoints is underway with the UK government set to unveil it as Britain charges up the green energy revolution by scaling up the power generation through renewable resources of energy and extensively working out to augment the potential of present EVs.

The new design concept for the EV chargepoints can certainly help in raising the awareness, generating the excitement around the EVs, increasing the adoption of EVs amidst the middle-income earners as a large section of people look forward to changing the primary vehicle with some of them exploring options to buy their first vehicle.

Not only this, the concept for EV chargepoints will provide a greater choice for local governments and industries as the primary objective is to ensure that everyone benefits from the transition to zero emission transport.

As countries and corporations build one of the most reliable, affordable and convenient charging networks for EVs in the world, the major area of focus will remain on diminishing the pain points in buying and owning an EV over the traditional vehicles fuelled by petrol and diesel.

At the moment, the zero emission vehicles are already affordable to run in the UK as compared to the petrol and diesel variants of similar configuration. In the upcoming years, with the scheduled technological advancements in the rechargeable battery segment, and other significant parts, the zero emission vehicles will become cheaper to buy.

As many as 30 countries have agreed to work collectively to make zero emission vehicles a new normal by making them sustainable, accessible and affordable in all regions by the end of 2030 or earlier.

The Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council (ZEVTC) is set to unveil its first annual action plan, while it discusses how international collaboration can strengthen global transition towards green technologies with the experts and representatives on transition in emerging markets and developing economies.

The first annual action plan by the ZEVTC will set out the areas for sustained international cooperation that will help in expediting the transition during 2022. With the cumulative support of various countries and companies responsible for developing advanced mechanisms in the green technology space, the United Kingdom is set to become the first country in the world to phase out new, non-zero emission HGVs weighing more than 26 tonnes by the end of 2035.

Making sure that each and every commercial vehicle, including the HGVs sold in Britain are zero emission by 2040, materially places the country ahead of many tech-intensive nations which are yet to roll-out EVs on a large scale. Decarbonising the overall carbon footprint certainly requires a number of actionable and measurable steps that can develop a sense of responsibility among the citizens, as consumer preference remains one of the most important factors in bringing such a transformational change.

Over the years, the number of people adopting EVs have grown significantly with the purchases of hybrid electric vehicles gaining pace in emerging markets as battery electric vehicles are quite expensive to purchase and run as compared to the vehicles of similar configuration running on petrol and diesel engines.

According to a research conducted by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the proportional sale of zero emission vehicles is set to escalate to 70% of the new car sales by the year 2040.

Climate, News, Travel

Travel & Tourism requires action that goes further and faster in reducing carbon emissions

Written by Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President SUNX Malta

Net Zero 2050 is the COP 26 target in its Race to Zero campaign and is the hot topic for green travel and tourism. The US, EU and UK are all on board.  Even China is there, with a marginally longer 2060 timeframe.

As Travel & Tourism is one of the planet’s biggest industries it has a seat at the table, recognizing the existential realities of the climate crisis and positioning with mainstream global government and industry strategies.

Nearly 300 Airlines in IATA agreed Net Zero 2050 at their annual meeting and the world’s airports signed on over a year ago.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) representing some 200 hospitality, transport and tour corporations has a Net Zero Roadmap. Members of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) are betting on net zero carbon 2050, versus the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) goal of 50% absolute emission reduction by 2050.  

Importantly, it’s also the central message in the Glasgow Declaration that United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Tourism Declares, the Future of Tourism and others are championing at the COP.

At SUNx Malta we have also committed to being an early signatory of the Declaration. While this document is a good first step, we believe net zero is not enough and 2050 is not soon enough.

The Travel and Tourism industry must make the Glasgow Net Zero target 2030 not 2050 and show commitment to get on the diet now and stick to it.

It makes sense to run with the ‘net’ adaptation scenario for a full decade, allowing time for genuine adjustment and tough actions. But we must make serious emission reductions immediately, meeting the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.  How we, as an industry, meet these targets needs to be transparent and we need to build in a carbon dioxide end date now.

The travel industry needs to DASH-2-Zero. The science supports this. Extreme weather events illustrate this. Our youth, whose future we are discussing, are screaming at us to take action.

Reliable science from The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and peer level research says that current aggregated 2030 carbon reduction ambitions of all UN States will give ‘a 16% increase in global carbon output rather than the 50% reduction by 2030 that the Paris goal of 1.5°c requires.’ It also says we are on track for >1.5°c increase in this decade, closer to 3°c by the second half of the century. Leading experts say we need tough near-term peak targets and rapid emissions reductions over 5-10 years to meet the Paris 1.5°c goal by 2050

Consider the floods in Europe and North America; forest fires in California, Canada, Australia, and Siberia; melting ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica; Caribbean hurricanes; South China Sea typhoons; droughts in Africa; and climate refugees everywhere. These tragedies increase in number and intensity annually.

A report in Science stated, ‘If the planet continues to warm on its current trajectory, today’s average 6-year-old will see twice as many wildfires, 1.7 times as many tropical cyclones, 3.4 times more river floods, 2.5 times more crop failures and 2.3 times as many droughts as someone born in 1960’. Let that sink in as you look at your children.

It may sound like a huge, perhaps even impossible, challenge. This is absolutely achievable if we have the will to take necessary action.

For example, at SUNx Malta we work with travel companies to help them transition to the new climate economy. To prioritise climate, we have, for example, built a transparency Registry, linked to the UN Climate Action Portal. We’re making it available to tourism stakeholders who sign the Glasgow Declaration. The Registry enables companies to share their goals and progress, highlighting their commitment to Climate Friendly Travel. We have also created a Support Network to share current best practice in climate resilience and emission reduction, including giving members access to wide ranging research and delivery tools.

These tools are available to other travel and tourism companies, and we should all share our knowledge with the aim of creating a robust, planet-friendly industry.

Setting goals three decades into the future isn’t creating a solution, because it’s designed to keep polluting practices in place while we can get away with it.  We must go much further and much faster to achieve Net Zero.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Professor Geoffrey Lipman is President of SUNx Malta, former Executive Director IATA, first President WTTC and ex Assistant Secretary General UNWTO. He is the 2021 recipient of the Annual CREST Martha Honey Award for responsible tourism leadership.

SUNx Malta (Strong Universal Network) is a legacy initiative for the late Maurice Strong Climate & Sustainability trailblazer half a century ago. it is an EU NGO partnered with Malta’s Ministry of Tourism and Consumer Protection and it’s Tourism Authority advocating “Climate Friendly Travel – low carbon: SDG linked: Paris 1.5.

Website:  https://www.thesunprogram.com/

Climate, Energy, Investment News

SASC to launch new renewable fund in 2022 to deliver community energy project

As world leaders meet in Glasgow for COP26 to debate how to tackle climate change, Social and Sustainable Capital, a leading social investor highlights the key role innovative community energy projects are playing in reducing carbon emissions and building more resilient communities. SASC also announces plans to launch a ‘next generation’ renewable fund to finance further community projects in 2022.

COP 26 will prioritise reaching agreement on global net-zero policies. The most critical is the need to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5 °c. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in August there is less than two decades left to achieve this. Discussions will also focus on how to protect communities and natural habitats damaged by rising temperatures, as well as how to mobilise finance around this goal.

Ben Rick, CEO, SASC says, “The COP26 summit will refocus attention on the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Convention on Climate Change, and the decisions made could lead to big changes to our everyday lives.

“As a social investor, SASC has focused on energy generation since we launched in 2014 and we see renewable energy as being critical for our future.  With the energy crisis so evident at the pumps this Autumn, it is clear the average consumer has very little control over prices and community projects can change this. We have invested over £68m in successful renewable projects of all sizes and announce plan to launch a new renewable fund to finance further projects in 2022. We see renewable projects benefitting communities in so many ways – from reducing carbon emissions, to ensuring communities are less reliance on the national grid, have more control and can generate profits that will benefit their local community.”

Some of the project SASC has supported include financing the build of wind turbines and partly funding a major renewable energy build for a council that wanted to generate its own power.

Its work has addressed two core beliefs:

1) renewable energy such as wind and solar are central planks in a net zero strategy

2) local communities should benefit from a decentralised energy market

Ben Rick says its projects have resulted in profits which have funded local services, schools, foodbanks, and voluntary schemes. Local people allocate the money because they are best placed to understand the need.

Nearly all the project address fuel poverty, with initiatives helping to reduce energy bills or to provide grants to support networks.

Fuel poverty is a complex problem linked to broader issues of social inequality. It is also a killer. Age UK estimates that 25,000 older people die each year because of the cold weather[i].

Three key factors help to cause fuel poverty: low income, high fuel prices and the growing energy requirements of a household.  The government calculates an annual fuel poverty gap. By empowering a local area with a community fund, they can directly target those most in need.

Ben concludes, “The COP26 goal is for leaders to commit to their promise to spend trillions of dollars on climate change. The transition to clean energy will affect us all and we believe that for this to truly transition, communities must play a role.

Through its funds, SASC continues to support local communities to take control of local energy generation and we look forward to launching our next generation renewable fund that will have community at its core. We remain committed to staying at heart of funding for this crucial, clean and empowering sector.”

Climate, News

Alcumus announces its ESG commitment to reduce its environmental impact through three initiatives: Net Zero, Science Based Target, Tech Zero Taskforce

Alcumus have today made a unique, triple-play commitment to climate action as one of the world’s first risk management technology providers to commit to a Science Based Target, a Net Zero Target and the Tech Zero taskforce. Building on its company-wide sustainability programme – Healthy Planet, People and Business – Alcumus will drive forward a carbon reduction plan, set a net zero date and work with other organisations to achieve challenging targets together.

Alcumus will use its recently launched ESG suite, a technology solution that assesses 11 criteria in the ESG mix, to measure and cut its carbon footprint across all scopes, keeping a track of carbon reduction measures to prove initiatives, progress and outcomes.

The commitments build on and formalise progress already made. As such, Alcumus has already begun to cut its carbon emissions, through solar panels on its Cardiff office, revised travel schedules, remote working and energy efficiency, and has also planted over 500 trees, with more to come through employee pledges.

David Picton, SVP for Sustainability at Alcumus explains: “In making this enhanced milestone commitment to carbon reduction, we want to set ourselves the right ambition and start the rest of our climate action journey today.

“For the world to reach net zero by 2050, so many individual actions need to happen in every country. We must all play our part, connecting the bright dots of individual actions to shape a huge collective impact that cuts carbon emissions.

“The world’s net zero deadline of 2050 may seem far off in time, but most acknowledge that the pressures are growing now, the competitive momentum is building now and the most effective organisations are acting now. Tackling the climate crisis – cutting carbon emissions – has become one of the key issues facing all societies and a key challenge that businesses must address in their core ESG strategies. Failure to do so will increasingly expose firms to concerns over revenue, operational risk, regulatory compliance, reputational damage and their ability to claim that they are a responsible business.

“Net zero is not a passing trend, but is part of a long-term shift to decarbonise economies, keep the planet’s temperature under control and produce less carbon than we take out of the atmosphere. That ambition is at the heart of the triple-play commitment we are making.”

Alcumus have today made a unique, triple-play commitment to climate action as one of the world’s first risk management technology providers to commit to a Science Based Target, a Net Zero Target and the Tech Zero taskforce. Building on its company-wide sustainability programme – Healthy Planet, People and Business – Alcumus will drive forward a carbon reduction plan, set a net zero date and work with other organisations to achieve challenging targets together.

Alcumus will use its recently launched ESG suite, a technology solution that assesses 11 criteria in the ESG mix, to measure and cut its carbon footprint across all scopes, keeping a track of carbon reduction measures to prove initiatives, progress and outcomes.

The commitments build on and formalise progress already made. As such, Alcumus has already begun to cut its carbon emissions, through solar panels on its Cardiff office, revised travel schedules, remote working and energy efficiency, and has also planted over 500 trees, with more to come through employee pledges.

David Picton, SVP for Sustainability at Alcumus explains: “In making this enhanced milestone commitment to carbon reduction, we want to set ourselves the right ambition and start the rest of our climate action journey today.

“For the world to reach net zero by 2050, so many individual actions need to happen in every country. We must all play our part, connecting the bright dots of individual actions to shape a huge collective impact that cuts carbon emissions.

“The world’s net zero deadline of 2050 may seem far off in time, but most acknowledge that the pressures are growing now, the competitive momentum is building now and the most effective organisations are acting now. Tackling the climate crisis – cutting carbon emissions – has become one of the key issues facing all societies and a key challenge that businesses must address in their core ESG strategies. Failure to do so will increasingly expose firms to concerns over revenue, operational risk, regulatory compliance, reputational damage and their ability to claim that they are a responsible business.

“Net zero is not a passing trend, but is part of a long-term shift to decarbonise economies, keep the planet’s temperature under control and produce less carbon than we take out of the atmosphere. That ambition is at the heart of the triple-play commitment we are making.”

Climate, News

Giving power to the consumer on the road to net-zero

Mike Woodhall, CEO, Chameleon Technology, argues that our homes’ energy management needs to move into the modern day. Just as technology and real-time, rich data has become mainstream in so many other aspects of our lives, we now need to apply it within our homes to make change seamless, easy and personal – if we are ever to reach net-zero. 

The way in which we engage with energy consumption within our homes has remained stuck in the dark ages whereas smart technology increasingly dominates most other aspects of our lives. For example, there is a huge divide between the car we have on the driveway and the property we live in. With the ability to tell us what our fuel consumption is; how many miles are left; when a service is needed; when tyres are at the wrong pressure; and to dynamically suggest route changes when an incident arises, our cars are underpinned by technology that makes it as simple as possible for us as consumers to run them as efficiently as possible.

The way we use energy in our homes will play a critical part in society’s path to net-zero, but by comparison, we are not as engaged and our homes provide little insight when it comes to energy usage. Whilst smart meters and In-Home-Displays (IHDs) are increasingly – and necessarily – present in homes, the data they provide is but the starting point for change. It remains today far too complex for the average consumer to truly take control of the carbon footprint of their own home.

Awareness but no control

Consumer awareness of net-zero and the environment is on the rise as various target dates for emission reductions loom large. With a huge drive to hit net-zero by 2050; ceasing the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2030; and a focus on the upcoming COP26, pressure is mounting for us all to play our part in reducing our carbon footprint. Increased awareness of climate change is leading to more sustainable life choices for many as reducing our personal environmental impact remains a key issue at the forefront of people’s minds. The pandemic has also led consumers to be more aware of the environmental impact of their actions, as well as making homeowners more conscious of outgoings – including rising bills. 

Despite this, consumers today have very little control in the move to net-zero. Thus far, the spotlight has been on large organisations and the Government whilst most of the general public have to observe from afar a conversation that has not involved or engaged with them. Consumers have been left with little ability, or knowledge, to contribute to the reduction of their own carbon footprint when it comes to one of the largest uses of energy: their homes. Whether consumers are motivated by sustainability, by saving money, or a combination of both, there is a lot to be gained from a reduction in energy consumption, or at the very least a refocus on how and when we are using our energy. In order to make a real impact in the journey to net-zero, consumers need to be given the information they need to take action to make a real difference. 

Increasing access to home energy data

Smart meters and IHDs are the starting point, giving consumers the access they need to their own, personal, real-time data on energy usage. The proliferation of dynamic, “time of use” tariffs will encourage consumers to use their knowledge of their energy data to adjust usage and therefore costs in real-time, so they can choose, for example, to switch on power hungry appliances at a time of day or night when prices are at their lowest and less carbon intense. But, is this enough? Getting out of bed at 2am when energy is cheaper to turn on an appliance is not a realistic or attractive option for many of us. Even with an app or the ability to pre-set, it still requires a lot of management and time. 

Currently, home energy data is too broad, providing little specific detail on an individual home and, more fundamentally, the behaviour of those within it, giving little insight for the consumer to make a decision on usage. A solution that takes the data from the IHD and gives it meaning – insights that are simple and personalised – is the next step in the quest to solve the problem for consumers. It must be accessible and affordable for all regardless of income, property size or type. And, critically, it needs to make decision-making effortless, automated and future-proof. 

Balancing supply and demand

Within the next few years, more major changes will be upon us – Electric Vehicles (EVs) will become the norm  and it is predicted that there will be approximately 15 million battery EVs on the road in the UK by 2035. Additionally, with the Government’s ambition to deliver 19 million heat pumps by 2050 and a ban on the installation of gas boilers in new build properties from 2025, the way our lives, and homes, run is going to fundamentally change. 

In parallel, the current volatility in the supply side of power, especially increasing gas prices and the susceptibility to disruption of international power links, has highlighted the need for a far more flexible and sustainable approach to our energy supply. 

As power increasingly comes from renewables we will need to be able to integrate local supply into the energy mix. EVs, heat pumps and other renewable sources will transform consumers from power users to potential power generators and suppliers, able to use these resources to both store energy and produce energy for the home, or indeed, sell it back to the grid. The demand-side and supply-side of power will change for good: any technology and data-led solution will have to be smart and flexible enough to keep up. 

What’s next for consumers? 

In the near future, we will be able to present a blend of real-time and historic data as insights, to be used by homeowners to make changes. We will be empowered to make more informed decisions on how to manage our energy. And, looking ahead, the use of apps can modernise this further still by connecting with other smart home technology to provide us with an understanding of which appliances are costing the most and how to balance this. For example, smart / connected appliances can be automatically switched on, EVs charged when prices are low – or even feed back to the home or grid when demand is high. 

Through the combined use of an app, data from IHDs and a consumer’s personal home energy usage, the way we manage our energy in our homes will be transformed. In much the same way as our cars give us the control and choice to help us run them as efficiently as possible, requiring minimal consumer input, it is only a matter of time before we have the capability to power our homes with the lowest environmental impact and lowest energy cost, whilst also helping to balance demand- and supply-side. 

Conclusion 

A revolution in home energy is coming, driven by the need to reach net-zero and the need to give control to the consumer so that we can make informed choices. The future of home energy is going to be dynamic, automated and intuitive. Whilst consumers begin to invest in EVs and switch to dynamic  tariffs, the use of technology and apps – and critically, the data behind those, for energy management will be key. It is vital we revolutionise our homes and put the power in the hands of consumers. 

Climate, Energy, News

Time to deliver on Green promises, says AceOn

Leading energy pioneer AceOn today welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s commitment to driving forward measures to tackle climate change – but said his Budget could have gone further. 

The company – a leading national innovator in battery and energy storage technology – said it was deeply disappointed Mr Sunak had failed to take the opportunity to scrap VAT on zero and low carbon products. 

AceOn Energy managing director Richard Partington said the Government could afford no delays in tackling the climate emergency. 

“The COP26 climate change conference in a few days’ time will make it absolutely clear that time has run out for more talk from Governments all over the world – and that action is now desperately needed. 

“There are many green measures in this speech which we welcome, such as the Net Zero strategy to invest £30billion in green industries, but the fact that there is no promise to bring in a zero VAT rating for zero and low carbon products is deeply disappointing. 

“We used to be told that the Government could not act freely on VAT because it was tied in with EU regulations. But that is not the case now so we wonder why this simple change which could do so much to help our fight against climate change has not been introduced. 

“It is beyond belief that energy storage batteries can currently carry 20 per cent VAT while domestic coal carries just five per cent, or that the Government can give nearly £12billion in annual tax breaks to fossil fuel producers while providing only £8billion to drive uptake of renewable energy. 

“The work we are doing at AceOn around sustainable energy storage, next-generation battery technology, second use for batteries and helping train and upskill a new generation of installers can make a huge difference to this country meeting its environmental targets and responsibilities. 

“But we have to be given a level playing on which to compete and deliver the change which is now urgently needed if we are going to avoid an environmental catastrophe.” 

Telford-based AceOn has over 30 years’ experience in the design and manufacture of custom-built battery packs and the distribution of industrial and consumer batteries to the worldwide market. The energy division provides a training, service and distribution centre to offer a full turnkey solution for residential and commercial battery energy storage systems. 

The group has built a reputation as being specialists in solar and battery technology, particularly the development of bespoke, custom-built battery packs.