Big four energy firms offer best green future

The firms, British Gas parent company Centrica, EDF, E.ON and npower are the ‘best positioned’ to provide UK businesses with sustainable energy according to Verdantix.

Other companies looked at by the report were Ecotricity, Gazprom Marketing and Trading Retail, GDF Suez UK, Good Energy, Haven Power, Scottish Power, SmartestEnergy and Total Gas and Power.

The study looked at 13 power utilities operating in the UK, ranging in revenue size from £10 million to £70 billion, on 37 assessment criteria.

The research looked at utility firm’s ability to provide green electricity contracts, sustainable gas contracts, on-site renewable energy and heat generation, energy management advice and implementation and carbon and climate change legislation advice.

“The fuel mix of power utilities in the UK gets a lot of attention from environmental commentators, but for heads of energy or chief sustainability officers responsible for sustainability strategy it’s just one part of the picture,” said Verdantix analyst and author of the report Vanessa O’Connell.

“73% of our customer panel said that carbon and energy management was the major sustainability issue for their firm.

“Rising energy prices and the Carbon Reduction Commitment are driving firms to increase spending on energy efficiency, energy management technology and climate change advisory services.

“Meanwhile, feed-in-tariffs incentivise increased spend on renewable energy installation.”

E.ON’s sustainable energy business, managing director, Michael Woodhead said: “We’re delighted the findings of this report recognise the great strides we’ve made in delivering sustainable and renewable technologies to British business.

“The findings of this research – especially that 93% of those interviewed said they associated E.ON with sustainable utility services – are true recognition of the work our team has been doing.

“The next step is the true alignment of public and private businesses to enable the delivery of infrastructure needed to support a low carbon future.”

Luke Walsh