Member Article

Why Should My Business Use Renewable Energy?

Utilising the use of renewable energy sources is important for protecting the environment from damage.

When fossil fuels are burnt in order to create non-renewable energy, harmful CO2 gases are released and can contribute to global warming.

Not only does generating gas and electricity though unreliable sources have the potential to damage the environment, but there is also a likelihood of them running out. Once our natural supply of gas, oil and coal has been fully exploited, it will become permanently unavailable and force us to find other means for generating power.

We why it is important for your business to be using renewable energy, along with how Government schemes can help you gain extra income:

What are renewable energy sources?

There are many different forms of renewable energy sources that a business can use. These are:

Solar power

Solar energy (also known as solar PV) are panels that can be installed to the roof of a building to generate power from light energy. Approximately half a million UK buildingshave solar panels installed to their buildings and are reaping in the rewards of cheaper, cleaner energy.

Wind power

With some of the highest wind speeds recorded in Europe, the UK is the ideal spot for exploiting energy given from the wind. This form of renewable energy has overtaken tidal (hydro) power to become the third largest source of power generation in the EU.

Biomass energy

Biomass is the method in which energy is produced when natural substances are burned as fuel. Once-living organisms such as wood, crops and food/agricultural waste can be burned and although it produces methane gas, there is no chances of the resources becoming unavailable.

Why is it important to use renewable energy?

All properties in the UK can benefit from using power generated from sustainable sources, but the biggest savers often come from business and commercial buildings. Also known as your carbon footprint, the amount of CO2 that businesses can produce on a daily basis can be startling – that’s even before you factor in your energy consumption!

Solar energy, hydro and tidal power are all examples of how energy can be produced through methods where harmful gases aren’t release whilst burning. They will never become unavailable and for most of the time, it’s free!

Your business can benefit from switching to a business energy firm that uses renewable sources of energy and align with the 15% target of renewable energy production that the Government aims to achieve by 2020.

Renewables Obligation and Feed-in-Tariffs

In the UK, there are multiple schemes that can provide financial support for businesses that use renewable energy. Both run by the Government, Renewables Obligation (RO) and Feed-in-Tariffs (FiT) can pay businesses bonuses for generating their own power.

SMEs and startups can be supported through their journey to using clean power. This is the scheme in which small-scale renewable installations can generate an extra income from a set-tariff given for every unit of electricity produced.

Large-scale businesses that have their own process can benefit from using the RO scheme. This rewards businesses with a cost that reflects their renewable output over the time of a certain project.

If your business creates too much energy - too much that it is able to use! – it can be sold back into the National Grid. Once you’ve set up the materials needed to produce renewable energy on your property, the costs can equalise out and you’re in with the chance of earning extra income!

Green energy tariffs

If your business is not in a position to create their own renewable energy farm, you will still be able to gain access to renewable sources of energy.

Business energy firms in the UK have realised that it is important to be using this kind of power, with firms included inthe Big Six offering green energy tariffs.

However, there are also a number of different suppliers that are offering green energy plans for businesses. These include Ecotricity, EBICo and Good Energy.

The financial and environmental benefits that your business and commercial properties can benefit from using renewable energy is mind-blowing.

If you’re not on a green energy tariff, now may be the time to switch and if you’re already generating your own power, you’ll be recognising the benefits. If not, you never know – you could become self-sufficient and reduce your overheads almost instantly!

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Allcock .