Today we're talking all about electric vehicles (EVs), and specifically why businesses should be considering as part of their sustainability strategy. Featuring e-mobility expert Amanda Stretton.

In the first Energy HQ podcast of 2021, we take a brief look back the major announcements at the end of 2020 - including the publication of the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and the long-awaited Energy White Paper - as well as look forward to what businesses can expect in 2021 to help them plan their road to net zero.

 

What are the next steps following the Energy White Paper?  What policy is coming next? And where should businesses be prioritising investment?

 

We welcome Adam Bell, Head of Energy Strategy at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who was a key architect of the Energy White Paper, alongside Robert Buckley, Head of Relationship Development at Cornwall Insight and Paul French from npower Business Solutions to provide a must-listen outlook for the year ahead. 

In this latest edition of The Future Of Business Energy podcast, we are talking policy - specifically the Energy White Paper, which is expected later this Autumn. The Government also recently announced it will publish a full Net Zero Strategy in the run up to COP26 next November, as well as a number of additional policies, including a hydrogen strategy. 

But what does this all mean for businesses?

We hear directly from ‘the voice of business’ - James Diggle, head of energy and climate change at the CBI - who tells us what they want to see in forthcoming policy announcements, and what they believe the roadmap to net zero should be.

We also speak to Ben Spry from npower Business Solutions, about our recent report - ‘Your Business Blueprint - The road to Net Zero’ - which asked almost 100 businesses what support they would like from the government to help them realise their sustainability goals.

There now seems to be a real expectation that the Energy White Paper will help provide a clearer roadmap to Net Zero.  So, what are the top things the government needs to consider to fulfill the ambition to ‘Build Back Greener’? And will the White Paper deliver?

Following the huge disruption caused by Covid-19, are businesses still behind net zero by 2050?  In this podcast from npower Business Solutions, we are delighted to welcome Michael Holder, deputy editor at BusinessGreen, alongside Stuart Beasley and Michael Byrne from npower Business Solutions, to discuss the latest announcements from the government around the ‘green recovery’, drill down into what we know about policy and infrastructure change so far, and discuss what we would like to see later this year in terms of policy and incentives for businesses.

We also provide actionable advice on the steps businesses can be taking to turn today’s changes into long-term net zero opportunities, as well as the businesses that are ‘doing it well’.

For advice and information on how npower Business Solutions can help your business on its road to net zero, visit www.energy-hq.co.uk or join the conversation using #RoadToNetZero

In this edition of the Future of Business Energy podcast, nBS takes a look back to a project it did with the London School of Economics in 2011 – The Future Report - where it modelled four energy scenarios out to 2020.

We're now in 2020, so how close were the predictions? What has been the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit on the sector? And what needs to happen as we all work towards net-zero by 2050?

We’ve spoken to the author of the original report – Professor Sam Fankhauser - as well as Arjan Geveke, Assistant Director of Energy Policy, Energy Intensive Industries team at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy; Robert Buckley, head of retail and relationship development at Cornwall Insight, and Ben Spry, head of risk management at npower Business Solutions, Energy HQ - to find out what the sector can expect in the short, medium and long term – and what this means for businesses.

The way we generate and use energy is changing. What kind of leadership do we need to future-proof our sector? How do we actively include women in the energy transition to ensure that we can meet the challenges and maximise the opportunities that lie ahead? And how can aspiring women equip themselves to play a part, all the way up to the boardroom?

 

The energy industry is shifting. Rather than struggling to break the glass ceiling, our female thought leaders are driving the sector forward. With game-changing initiatives delivered by Jaz Rabadia’s (MBE) throughout her energy career, long-gone are the days of a male dominated industry.

 

What’s more, the future looks bright. In 2019, more than half of the names on Edie’s ‘30 under 30’ list were female, delivering inspirational work for organisations including Formula E, Selfridges, Whitbread Group, Harrods, and Innocent Drinks.

This episode features, Kate Derrick - Head of Direct Sales at npower Business Solutions, Jaz Rabadia MBE - Energy and Sustainability Director at WeWork and Giulia Usai - Global Utilities Manager at GlaxoSmithKline Pharma GmbH. 

According to the latest market insight, transitioning to a low-carbon economy is happening faster than many of us may think. In fact, data from EnApps Sys identifies that electricity generated from renewables will dwarf electricity generated from fossil fuels by 2020 (121TWh compared to 106TWh), while statistics from Energy Innovation highlight that renewables are already considerably cheaper.

Offshore wind, for example, secured a strike price as little as £57.50/MWh for delivery in 2022/23 in recent Contracts for Difference (CfD) auctions. When compared to fossil fuels such as nuclear (Hinkley Point nuclear plant granted a strike price of £92.50/MWh), its disruptive potential is clear.

 

While currently perceived as intermittent, ongoing R&D into battery storage technologies could make renewable self-generation the stable future of the energy market. This premise presents considerable opportunity for business customers, who have significant potential to offset rising energy costs and increase both security of supply and sustainability.

But as an energy manager, how can you plan for a low-cost, low-carbon energy future? What are the opportunities and benefits of doing do? What changes do you need to adopt today, and which developments do you need to keep an eye out for?

 

In this podcast, we discuss the changing face of the energy market, the influential role of sustainability and how you can plan to reap the benefits with some of the industry’s leading names.

Audrey Gallacher, head of policy for Energy UK, and Richard Jones, Strategic Manager for Generation Sales, npower Business Solutions, spoke to Julie-Anna Needham.

According to independent research, businesses could significantly improve energy management by embedding Carbon Psychology in staff behaviour. Currently, just 18% of energy savings in UK industry come from behaviour change – far lower than what is actually achievable.

 

Although the UK is relatively energy efficient compared to other countries, it has performed strongly in raising energy efficiency amongst households. Industry, on the other hand, has slowed since 2007. 

 

It is estimated that £600 million of potential savings could be achieved by businesses actively fostering behavioural change among their employees. Around a half of this could be achieved by Industrial and Commercial businesses (I&Cs). 

 

The greatest scope for savings lie in wholesale and retail (£120 million), manufacturing (£64 million), administrative and support services (£69 million) and professional, scientific and technical (£55 million).

 

While this sounds positive in principle, the question of ‘how’ still remains. In this podcast, we explore the idea of Carbon Psychology and what this means for UK businesses. From exploring successful strategies to promote energy efficiency, to investing in new technologies, increasing the visibility of energy consumption among employees and even encouraging staff to take ownership of energy management, we bring together some of the industry’s leading names to solve the behavioural change challenge. 

Lowri Evans, Low Carbon and Behaviour Change Manager at npower Business Solutions, Energy HQ, Paul Crewe, Executive Director at Anthesis Group and Lara Young, Group Carbon Manager for Costain Group, spoke to Julie-Anna Needham.

From Industry 4.0 and the adoption of big data, to blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and the Internet of Things (IoT), technology is driving the future of the UK energy market. But with pervasive computing opening a new world of opportunity, will technology become an Energy Manager’s dedicated sidekick, or will it be the death of the role as we know it?

 

Technology has the power to cut energy use by up to 17%. Over time, it becomes more accurate and efficient because it learns from experience. The more sensors you install, the more information there is to learn from.

 

So, if something so simple – and already available on the market – has such a disruptive influence, what does the future of the industry look like? In this podcast, we discuss how technology has the potential to revolutionise energy management. Using best practice examples, insight and anecdotes from some of the industry’s most innovative businesses, we highlight how technology can help you to optimise your business energy use today, and what’s coming around the corner.

Concern about skills in the UK energy market is nothing new. The industry continues to undergo rapid change – for energy managers, adapting is key. 

With overheads and investment at risk, however, the issue is strategically critical. Developing the skills that are already within the industry to meet future demands is key.

In this podcast, we discuss the challenges presented by the UK’s skills deficit and explore possible solutions to bridge the gap. With the help of, Dave Horton, npower Business Solutions' in-house energy specialist, and Frank Gordon from the Renewable Energy Association, we review the latest initiatives, celebrate best practice and propose hard-hitting strategies to tackle the skills deficit once and for all.