That is according to a new report from Centrica Business Solutions, which covers the UK’s major manufacturing activities such as steel, mining, car manufacturing and food & drink.

Vast savings could be made be technologies such as new heating and lighting, solar, combined heat and power (CHP) and battery storage, the report claims. Meanwhile, the UK’s productivity could reportedly be boosted by £12.9bn if just half of manufacturing firms took up energy technology improvements.

“In 2017, the industrial sector used 92 million MWh of energy,” Centrica Business Solution’s managing director Jorge Pikunic said. “As well as being a staggering statistic, I believe this is also a clear signal of the opportunity for industrial organisations to play their part in the changing energy landscape, while also unlocking the potential of energy to ensure the UK’s position in the global marketplace.

“By exploiting the energy technology of the 21st century, the industrial sector can inspire a new revolution and help secure business advantage – a particularly important opportunity for the UK as it adapts to life outside the EU.”

The report coincides with the opening of Centrica’s new CHP factory in Manchester. The site will operate alongside Centrica’s current facility, which has produced more than 3,000 units for use since 1984.

Manufacturing a sustainable future

The industrial sector – which accounts for one quarter of the UK’s electricity demand – has been challenged by the Government to improve its energy productivity by 20% by 2030.

Last month, edie published a sector insight report exploring how manufacturing organisations can take new approaches to drive sustainability.

Produced in partnership with Centrica Business Solutions, the new report incorporates exclusive findings from our own industry survey to provide an end-to-end overview of how manufacturers can achieve a sustainable future.

George Ogleby

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