Technically feasible but highly challenging. That’s how the Committee on Climate Change described the goal of achieving net zero by 2050 back in 2019.
Since then, businesses have faced the enormous challenge of maintaining their operations through a global pandemic, as well as an energy price crisis.
Undoubtedly, the increasing burden of unprecedented energy price hikes has forced many businesses into survival mode and pushed strategically important projects – such as decarbonisation – to the back burner.
It’s understandable to see organisations putting their efforts into keeping the show on the road through such turbulent times, but rather than seeing rising energy prices and net zero obligations as two separate challenges, there is an alternative perspective.
When it comes to business energy, there are multiple issues it presents to an organisation:
- How to buy energy effectively
- Making the most of compensation schemes
- Ensuring you meet your energy-related regulatory obligations
- Using energy efficiently
- Transitioning to renewable energy sources
Too often, we see businesses tackling each of these in isolation, which leads to conflicting strategies and higher costs. This is especially true right now when everyone is looking to make savings in such a volatile market.
However, procurement decisions around energy should always be aligned with your wider energy strategy to ensure that the hunt to make short term savings doesn’t create bigger issues and more significant costs further down the road.
Onsite generation is a good example of this – it only works effectively for a business if it is approached strategically.
Right now, energy-intensive businesses are taking a fresh look at onsite generation because the return on investment is much quicker in a high price environment. However, to secure the maximum returns, organisations must consider how it fits with their current energy purchase contracts and how it aligns with their regulatory obligations and eligibility for compensation schemes.
For large energy-intensive organisations in particular, there is an increasing requirement to join the dots between all aspects of buying, using and sourcing energy – as well as maintaining compliance with regulation.
Only then will an organisation create the right conditions in which to maximise cost, energy and carbon savings.
As an accredited CDP climate change partner, with expertise in energy procurement, compliance and carbon reduction, Envantage works with organisations to devise an effective and joined-up approach.
Get in touch with our experts today to find out how we can help you with cutting both costs and carbon.
Contact us at hello@envantage.co.uk or call us on 0161 448 7722.
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