RENEWABLES environmental, economic and growth strategy Achieving Net Zero – enhancing an W
Dr James Crosby, Head of Sustainability at Advantage Utilities discusses how businesses can build a plan to reduce emissions and become more sustainable
e’re in a tremendously difficult situation. Green- house-gas (GHG) emissions have flooded our atmosphere at an unprecedented rate ever
since the industrial revolution and it is these emissions which have exacerbated the effects of global warming. Recent International Energy Agency (IEA) publications show 2022 global emissions continued to increase, rising by 0.9% to over 36.8 Gt in 2022. These GHG emissions have caused and exacerbated the dramatic effects of global warming. As a result, the world average temperature is now ~1oC warmer relative to the mid-1900s. Further commentary from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has outlined that if these emissions were to continue, global average temperatures could become up to 8.5oC warmer relative to pre-industrial times. This warming would have dramatic effects on terrestrial/freshwater systems, oceanic ecosystems, and climate-sensitive health conditions (e.g. Malaria, ozone-related mortality, etc.).
Consequently, the UK has launched a clear
target for improving its environmental policy. This is highlighted by the 2008 Climate Act and 2019 legislation for Net Zero emissions by 2050. The ultimate goal of this is for the UK to do its part in limiting global warming to ~2oC, lessening the effects of climate change.
Facilitating the Net Zero journey
In order for businesses to form a key part of this transition, they will need to assess how their operations are contributing to these GHG emissions. From there, they can build a plan to organically reduce these emissions and become more sustainable. A key strategy for this will employ four key focuses:
a. Becoming more self-sufficient in your power consumption
b. Becoming more efficient in how your energy is consumed
c. Upgrading your fleet to more environmentally friendly fuel sources
d. Analysing your supply chain and adopting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly network
Businesses can employ technologies which enable them to supplement their grid energy consumption. After all, the UK grid remains a pollutive source of energy (~0.19kg of CO2 per kWh) and expensive. Onsite renewable generators such as solar PV, wind and hydroelectric provide low-carbon forms of energy which are also a fraction of the price. Thus, businesses can enhance their green consumption and manage the high energy costs simultaneously. Furthermore, businesses should investigate their operational infrastructure to ensure they are operating as efficiently as possible (e.g. efficient HVAC, efficient lighting etc.). Given that the greenest and cheapest energy is that which is not consumed at all, this is a key step towards reducing costs and maximising sustainability. However, it is important to note that businesses should not look to sacrifice productivity, growth and operations to decrease their emissions. Instead, they should focus on optimising the efficiency of their operations and infrastructure so they can continue to grow whilst striving towards Net Zero.
Additionally, a longer-term solution is for companies to investigate how they can transition their fleet operations to be more efficient and less pollutive. This may come in the form of electrification, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)-integration, and integration of green- hydrogen as a fuel source. After all, diesel, petroleum and kerosene are highly pollutive and non-renewable fuel sources. Finally, businesses must analyse their supply chain and consumer network. After all, a key aspect of achieving Net Zero is accounting for their fair share of carbon emissions for the entire lifecycle of their products and services. Important decisions will need to be made about each business’ supply chain and vital messages will need to be communicated to key partners to align their sustainability objectives.
Enhancing your sustainability credentials
Finally, becoming more sustainable, enhancing a companies’ environmental credentials and achieving Net Zero does not increase operational costs. In fact, adopting the majority of renewable and efficient technologies will enable a company to decrease their operational costs (e.g. £/kWh/ m2). As a result of record-high energy prices, the energy produced from renewable onsite generation comes at a fraction of the cost with rapid payback models. For example, businesses with electricity rates of 25p/kWh are commonly seeing solar PV generators installed with a payback of <4 years and a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of <5p/kWh over the lifetime of the system. Moreover, many companies are facing pressure
from key business partners to become more sustainable and keep within their environmental & social governance (ESG) criteria. Integrating more efficient and renewable technologies will not only decrease their running costs and enhance green credentials, but also make them more competitive in growing their business with key partnerships.
Finally, talented employees and prospective employees have increased investment in the sustainability of their existing or prospective firms. By adopting a strong sustainability policy and outlining a clear path to Net Zero, a business becomes more likely to retain and attract talented individuals.
14 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JULY 2023 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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