Energy is the lifeblood of a modern economy
Posted on: August 8, 2011
The cost of energy can account for up to 50% of an industry’s production costs in the UK.
The increasing volatile energy market caused by the need to source supplies of fossil fuel from politically unpredictable countries, an aging energy infrastructures and the increasing demand for energy from the fast growing economies such as India and China, prompt many uncertainties about the long term security of UK energy supplies and their future costs.
When the need to meet climate change targets is as added into to the mix it becomes immediately apparent that the availability of secure, reliable and environmentally sustainable energy supplies at reasonable costs should be at the top of the industrial agenda.
Companies working in energy intensive industries and therefore most exposed to energy price fluctuations are increasingly looking at what alternative long term, reliable energy supplies are available to them which will reduce their future energy costs and carbon emissions.
There are many proven low carbon alternatives to the use of fossil fuel which can result in reduced energy costs and ensure a reliable source of energy, these options range from the installation of solar PV arrays and wind turbines to the use of biomass and energy from waste to produce heat and electricity.
A recent CBI Brief ‘Going to waste: making the case for energy from waste’ (October 2010) confirmed that many manufactures in the UK are looking to recover energy from waste as a solution to reducing their energy costs. The article references a number of case studies where companies will be able to substantially reduce their energy costs by constructing energy from waste facilities; one of these is Brunner Mond, who has calculated that energy costs will account for 40% of its cost base by 2015. If the company were to construct a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant using waste derived fuel to supply steam and electricity to its site in Cheshire, it has estimated that energy costs would only account for 25% of total costs. In addition Brunner Mond would no longer be dependent on importing gas and therefore managing price volatility would no longer be a major issue, thus ensuring the company remains competitive in a globalised economy.
If your company is looking to reduce its energy costs and secure a long term sustainable energy supply, please talk to us, Environmental Compliance Ltd (ECL) as we can:
• help you to select the best technology to suit your energy requirements; and
• prepare any planning and permitting applications your selected technology may require.
If the above article is of interest please call 01443 841760 and ask to speak to one of our planning and permitting consultants. Alternatively you can contact us via email enquiries@envirocompli.com and one of our consultants will be in contact to discuss your requirements in more detail.