Drax launches sustainable biomass strategy

Drax has outlined how it will use the latest science and best practice to ensure that biomass use is sustainably sourced and not linked to deforestation, with the UK Governments former chief scientific adviser Sir John Beddington confirmed as chair of a new Independent Advisory Board (IAB).

Mission Possible: Achieving a net-zero carbon future for manufacturing

As the movement towards net-zero carbon takes hold across the commercial sector, this fresh insight report looks at how manufacturing companies are driving forward their own goals.

RWE to become carbon-neutral by 2040

German utilities giant RWE has unveiled a new strategy to transform itself into a carbon-neutral company by 2040 by funnelling billions into renewables projects, decommissioning existing coal-fired plants and backing carbon capture and storage technology.

Business Energy Barometer: August - September 2019

edie's second Business Energy Barometer report maps out the key energy drivers, challenges and opportunities facing UK businesses, based on an in-depth survey of energy managers across the country in the past quarterly period.

REA: Bioenergy must double UK mix share to safeguard security

The Government must ensure that bioenergy generation doubles to 16% of the UK's energy mix by 2032, if energy security is to be safeguarded and climate targets to be met.

edie Leaders Clubs Membership Information

The edie Leaders Clubs are dedicated communities for more than 600 sustainability and energy leaders. They are exclusive, member-only programmes of free networking events, industry briefings and workshops which allow members to connect with one another, share ideas, gain valuable recognition and develop their careers.

Diageo to invest £180m in renewable energy and water stewardship

Diageo has unveiled plans to invest £180m in clean energy generation and water recovery across 11 of its brewing facilities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Drax halves carbon emissions

Power giant Drax has cut its absolute carbon emissions for the first half of 2019 by 52%, compared to the same period last year.

Bioenergy a 'no regrets solution' to reaching net-zero, report says

Increasing the deployment of bioenergy renewable sources by more than 10% would enable the UK to affordably meet future carbon budgets while also overcoming an "impending nuclear gap", a new report from the Renewable Energy Association (REA) has found.

Webinar: Ambition into action: Scaling-up your energy and resources strategy

This one-hour webinar will hear from the leading businesses and experts that are reaching the ‘climate turning point' by scaling-up efforts to drastically reduce energy and resource use through net-zero targets and strategies.

Britain notches up another coal-free record over Easter

Great Britain's power grid notched up another coal-free record over the Easter weekend, operating for nearly 92 consecutive hours without any domestic coal generation.

In charts: The UK's record-breaking year for low-carbon energy generation

With the latest Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) statistics revealing that 2018 was a record-breaking year for renewables and low-carbon generation, edie dives into the data to pull out the key achievements.

edie Explains: Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)

What is the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework? What do businesses need to know about this new piece of legislation? And what compliance issues will arise from the new framework? This free edie Explains guide gives you everything you need to know.

European lawsuit on biomass rules threatens Drax plant

A coalition of environmental campaigners has launched a court bid to stop the European Commission treating forest grown wood as a renewable source of energy.

How AB Sugar made sustainability its competitive edge

Faced with extreme climate-related challenges and increased calls for healthier diets, one of the world's leading sugar businesses has raised its sustainability ambitions to keep its competitive edge in a challenging economic environment.

Drax begins capturing biomass carbon emissions in 'world first'

Drax has begun capturing carbon emissions from one of the four biomass units at its power station in Yorkshire.

Build a better future: the built environment and the Sustainable Development Goals

The circular economy: cracking the challenge

European Investment Bank to face legal action over biomass loan

The world's largest multilateral finance firm is set to be taken to the European Union's highest court later this year, after green campaigners argued its decision to loan €60m (£53m) to developers building a biomass facility in Spain.

Drax seeks 'negative emissions' with biomass and CCS trial

Drax has kicked off a six-month pilot scheme to trial carbon capture and storage (CCS) on one of the now four biomass units at its power station in Yorkshire.

Sustainability Leaders Awards 2019: Meet the finalists

After a record-breaking year of entries, the judges have convened, decisions have been made and edie is proud to unveil the well-deserved finalists for the 2019 Sustainability Leaders Awards. This report outlines the who's who of sustainability excellence.

'Fundamental' agriculture reforms needed for UK to reach carbon neutrality, says CCC

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has today (15 November) urged ministers to implement policies that will "fundamentally reform" the way in which the UK's land is used, in order to create carbon sinks and accelerate progress towards carbon neutrality.

UK renewable energy capacity surpasses fossil fuels for first time

The capacity of renewable energy has overtaken that of fossil fuels in the UK for the first time, in a milestone that experts said would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

The renewables roundtable: Unlocking the next phase of the clean energy revolution

How can businesses reap the rewards of renewable energy against an ever-changing backdrop? To answer this crucial question, a group of energy and sustainability managers recently convened for an exclusive roundtable discussion in London, hosted by edie and SmartestEnergy.

Mission Possible Workshops report: 8 key sustainable business challenges, and how to solve them

This edie insight report, produced in association with E.ON, showcases the outputs of eight interlinked workshop discussions which saw groups of sustainability and energy professionals solve key challenges that they face on their respective missions to achieve a sustainable future.

Energy Leaders Club

The edie Energy Leaders Club is an exclusive, member-only programme of free, informal networking sessions, events and workshops for in-house energy managers and practitioners. The Club creates the space for new conversations and collaborations, allowing members to share best-practice, build knowledge and support one another on the road to reduced emissions

Network Rail targets plastics, cups and coffee grounds in latest waste drive

Network Rail has unveiled sweeping plans to reduce waste across the country's busiest rail stations, by implementing a ban on plastic cutlery and expanding recycling schemes for disposable cups and waste coffee grounds.

Drax launches Europe's first bioenergy carbon capture project

Energy group Drax has announced today (21 May) that it will lead the first bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) project in Europe during a trial of new technology at its north Yorkshire power station.

Sector insight: The state of sustainability 2018

This exclusive insight report explores the key drivers, challenges and opportunities facing sustainable business in the UK.

Worries mount over waste incineration as 'renewable energy'

A coalition of green NGOs and industries in the business of recycling, chemicals, forestry and the bio-based economy wrote to policymakers on Thursday (3 May), urging them to prevent incineration of unrecyclable waste from being counted as renewable energy.

The Supply Chain Sustainability Handbook

This handbook outlines eight essential opportunities that businesses can seize upon now to drive supply chain sustainability. Each page of the handbook provides an overview of the opportunity, supplemented by top tips, ‘in action' case studies and expert comments from businesses that will be represented at edie's Sustainable Supply Chains 2018 conference in June.

NatWest delivers £3.5bn low-carbon lending in three years

Banking giant NatWest has pledged to deliver of £10bn lending to UK renewable energy and energy efficiency projects by 2020, having provided £3.5bn over the past three years.

Tesco supports deposit return scheme for plastic packaging

Following Theresa May's declaration that all avoidable plastic waste will be eliminated in the next 25 years, UK supermarket retailer Tesco has announced its support for a "cost-effective" deposit return scheme on packaging.

Towards a sustainable economy

CISL and its recently formed Rewiring the Economy Inquiry Group published its latest report ‘Towards a sustainable economy', to identify new business approaches that can drive progress towards the SDGs.

In practice: Network Rail's closed-loop partnership to recycle waste coffee grounds

Striking a partnership with coffee waste collectors Bio-Bean enabled Network Rail to make steps in reducing waste at its station, and also got retailers and staff to boost coffee collection to be used for renewable power.

In practice: University of Northampton's onsite biomass energy centre

A state-of-the-art new campus at the University of Northampton has embraced a renewable energy solution through a £6.5m energy centre which incorporates woodchip biomass boilers and a combined heat and power (CHP) system.

Drax eyes battery storage to accompany gas and biomass conversions

UK power station operator Drax plans to complement its ongoing biomass conversions with gas and battery storage options at two coal power units, although new research that wind and solar are a more cost-effective solution has reignited the debate over biomass use.

In practice: Stora Enso's cost-effective move to champion cross laminated timber

A new multi-million-euro investment looks set to transform packaging firm Stora Enso into a renewable materials company and the largest global producer of a low environmental impact timber solution to replace steel and concrete in construction projects.

It’s getting hot in here: how to create warmth without burning fossil fuels

As the UK continues to battle its way to an 80% reduction of its carbon emissions by 2050, a sinking feeling has begun to set in for those who are aware of and involved with decarbonising the UK. Our current infrastructure and policies do not provide the right basis required to transition to a low-carbon economy at speed.

edie publishes free business guide to onsite energy generation

Organisations and professionals with an interest in producing and consuming energy at a particular location away from the grid now have access to a free, comprehensive 'edie explains' guide which answers all of the key questions surrounding onsite generation.

ETI: UK-grown biomass can support farmers and deliver carbon savings

Planting 1.4m hectares of non-food crops dedicated to the production of bioenergy can deliver "genuine" emissions savings and provide a degree of income security for UK farmers, according to new research from ETI.

UK's biomass ambition: Low-cost solution or forest full of loopholes?

A new report has outlined that using waste and biomass for gasification can help the UK meet its 2050 carbon targets at a lower cost to the economy, on the same day that research condemned a biomass standard used by Drax, E.ON and DONG as a "forest of loopholes".

Windy weather brings new renewable energy record

Windy weather brought with it a new renewable record on Wednesday lunchtime as output from wind, solar, biomass and hydro peaked at 19.3GW - more than half of all demand.

Coffee grounds and poultry litter proving a viable biomass option in the UK

As innovative waste coffee recycling firm bio-beans expands its collection service across the University of Birmingham, the UK Government has revealed that Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants using poultry litter will receive the highest tariffs under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

Building Management System or caretaker: which route to energy savings?

If you listen to manufacturers, Building Management Systems (BMS) are technology's solution to the energy manager's need to reduce wastage in building services. They are often rated as saving up to 30% of energy consumption in heating and cooling for investment purposes and by the company providing the finance. However, they save absolutely nothing unless expert hands manipulate them.

Energy Transitions Commission: Better energy, greater prosperity

The Energy Transitions Commission's flagship report sets out achievable pathways to limit global warming to well below 2C while stimulating economic development and social progress.

Compost, degrade, recycle: the truth about plastic bags

There is obviously a lot of confusion around the materials plastic shopping bags are made from and the compostability, biodegradability and recyclability of them.

The risks and rewards of brokers

As the non-domestic retail water market opens on April 1, brokers are anticipating a boom in business. edie sister title Utility Week has provided an in-depth guide to the utility broker market as it stands, and considers how it is likely to change after market opening.

SDGs mean business: How credible standards can help companies deliver the 2030 Agenda

This new report published by WWF and ISEAL indicates how businesses can contribute strongly to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and unlock new market opportunities by using credible voluntary sustainability standards to transform entire sectors and supply chains.

Biomass 'carbon neutrality' debate continues to divide opinion

Using biomass, specifically energy derived from burning wood, as a crux in the UK's effort to transition towards a low-carbon economy has come under scrutiny again, after the former secretary for energy and climate change and his ex-special advisor clashed over its use.

Getting ahead of the curve on energy efficiency

Energy management isn't a matter of life and death - it's the only way we'll save the planet.

10 top tips to drive engagement with your CSR report

What are the key components required to produce a sustainability report which drives engagement on a range of CSR issues among key stakeholders? edie brings you the secrets to sustainability reporting success with this latest top-tips guide for businesses.

National Trust champions on-site solutions in renewables revolution

EXCLUSIVE: The National Trust is continuing its march towards self-sufficient energy generation, having produced 12% of its heat from on-site renewable energy sources in 2016 – four years ahead of Britain's national renewable heat targets.

Caffé Nero reports coffee-waste-to-biofuel success, plans expansion

Italian-style coffee shop chain Caffé Nero is looking to extend an innovative coffee-to-biofuel recycling scheme beyond greater London after a successful partnership with recycling company First Mile and technology firm Bio-Bean.

UK businesses to accelerate bioenergy opportunities through EU grant

A European Union (EU) funded project is set to support firms across the West Midlands to reap the economic and environmental benefits from bioenergy and thermal technologies.

Sustainability Leaders Awards 2017: meet the winners!

Welcome to the winners report for the 2017 Sustainability Leaders Awards. Organised by edie, these awards recognise excellence across the spectrum of sustainable business; from the best efficiency programmes through to product innovation, from stakeholder engagement and CSR initiatives to the people making it happen.

The New Plastics Economy: Catalysing action

This new report is one of the first key deliverables of the New Plastics Economy initiative.It represents a logical next step to the 2016 report: from rethinking the future of plastics to catalysing action.

Sweet success? How the sugar tax will impact Britain's low-carbon commitments

Many of us will have made a healthy New Year's resolution, often tailored to running off a Christmas dinner or two and reducing the amount of sugar in our diets. In light of the UK's upcoming sugar tax, what impact could a sugar-reduced diet have on the environment and the sustainability of big food retailers?

Costa partners with Bio-bean to convert 3,000 tonnes of coffee waste to biofuel

The UK's largest coffee chain Costa has entered into a partnership with biomass recycling firm Bio-bean, which will see 3,000 tonnes of Costa's waste coffee grounds used as biofuel.

Solar thermal remains part of renewable heat reforms

The Government has today (14 December) set out new proposals for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). All four currently-supported technologies will remain part of the scheme.

Alaska Airlines flies first commercial jet powered by forest biomass

Alaska Airline passengers have taken to the skies in a "world-first" commercial flight running on sustainable alternative jet fuel made from forest residuals from the Pacific Northwest.

Can we re-develop old power stations for the new world?

Driving home from a ride around some local woods, I passed the now-closed Longannet Power Station on the River Forth. For those not familiar with this particular power station, it was one of Scotland's main electricity generating stations until it was closed down due to restrictions on the burning of coal.

BEIS compromises on renewable heat support, announces new heat network funding

The UK Government is seemingly beginning to take heed of advice to focus on delivering low-carbon heating systems, with two new announcements which could effectively reduce emissions from heating demand in towns and cities and begin to restore investor confidence in the neglected sector.