12 IN VIEW
Views from Westminster TIME TO GET ENERGISED by Antony Higginbotham Member of Parliament for Burnley
There’s a powerful argument behind the newly published energy security strategy. There is little else that is as fundamental to our prosperity as a nation. As reliance on others increases, so does our vulnerability. That’s where the strategy comes in.
It sets out the need to accelerate our transition away from expensive fossil fuel prices, set by global markets we can’t control, and supplied by others who can turn them off in a heartbeat.
The soaring price of gas is being compounded by the uncertain times we see globally, coming not just from the war in Ukraine, but also from the pandemic and the restarting of economies around the world.
This is already hitting Lancashire businesses hard. Companies in Burnley tell me their bills are rising exponentially, in some cases by multiples of three or four. That is not only outrageous but clearly unsustainable too.
In the long-term, renewables are our best defence to this threat to our economy. The strategy will ensure we are shielded from volatility and secure in the knowledge we can meet all our energy needs.
No one can turn off our wind supply for the turbines that grace our hills and seas; our nuclear power will provide a secure baseline provision; and transitioning to products like air-source heat pumps will reduce demand from households too.
Lancashire SMEs are strongly placed to benefit from the pledge to build back nuclear, with their role in the sector’s supply chain.
A new body will oversee the delivery of the new power stations, recognising there has been drift for too long, and the idea of small modular reactors, which could be cheaper and quicker to commission, will continue to be explored. And this is all supported by a funding model that reduces our reliance on overseas developers.
This approach is long overdue. It will help keep the lights on and our businesses powered – and will create highly skilled jobs, with Lancashire and all its heritage in the nuclear industry playing a major role.
Thousands of our businesses are playing their role in energy and environment and that figure will only increase. Our FE and HE providers will play a key part too. A new Institute of Technology will bring together universities and
colleges to develop local skills in engineering, manufacturing, the built environment and energy – all key to our energy independence.
However, this is a long-term plan. It won’t be delivered overnight, and in the meantime, we have a supply and demand problem likely to continue to cause businesses difficulties for some time to come.
That can’t just be ignored. Businesses are working to ensure greater energy efficiency. However, there is more that can be done and to tackle the current energy crisis we need to show the same ambition and urgency that was on show during the pandemic.
If we can develop a vaccine in around 12 months and get it into people’s arms and create the IT systems that delivered furlough support in a matter of weeks, I can’t see why we can’t take that same approach when it comes to developing and commissioning large-scale windfarms, for instance.
It is about using all the vigour and intensity that we put into the vaccine programme to meet this latest challenge to our economy. We must harness that energy to succeed.
FIVE STEPS TO A LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT by Mark Nelson
Reduce your carbon
footprint and cut energy costs for FREE
MaCaW helps Lancashire SMEs:
• Reduce their carbon footprint • Save money on energy costs • By providing grant funding to purchase low carbon technology
A simple, free process to transform businesses
T: 01772 893963 E:
macaw@uclan.ac.uk W:
macawlancs.co.uk
Funded by the European Regional Development Fund Business engagement manager, MaCaW Project
It’s never been more important for Lancashire SMEs to cut carbon and reduce energy costs, but how do you put together an action plan to deliver it?
Fortunately, that’s what the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan’s) MaCaW project (part- funded by the European Regional Development Fund and supported by Boost, Lancashire’s business growth hub) does every day.
So here are five essential steps to cutting costs and carbon from your business.
Calculate your carbon footprint
If you want to cut your carbon, you’ll need to know what your current levels are.
e you’re creating within the business and how much you could save by making changes.
Our free carbon audit and report is a simple but vitally important way of understanding how much CO2
Set a realistic action plan
You probably have some ideas of how you might save energy within the business.
But which are genuinely viable? And which will have the greatest impact?
The report will tell you so you can put realistic plans in place.
Implement key recommendations Time to make those changes.
Bear in mind, though, that not every change costs money.
And for those that do, matched funding support may be able to help.
Re-calculate
We regularly monitor your carbon reduction so you can see the difference you’re making.
Continuous further improvement
Keep going. Carbon reduction isn’t a once-only event. It’s an ongoing process, and we’ll help you take the next steps.
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