⚡EnergyDebrief

Weekly Debrief

Top stories from Sat 9 May – Sat 16 May

  1. #1

    How can companies best navigate the era of energy market volatility?

    BusinessGreen's latest webinar explored how businesses are responding to rising costs, constant policy shifts, and evolving Scope 2 reporting requirements by developing more flexible and sophisticated energy sourcing strategies Corporate energy procurement is being fundamentally altered by new reporting standards, market volatility, and fast-evolving clean energy transition. The GHG Protocol, for instance, has proposed a number of changes to its Scope 2 reporting requirements covering emissions from corporate energy use, which are set to take effect in 2027 in a bid to improve the accuracy and transparency of emissions reporting. New measures include greater emphasis on users matching renewable energy purchases to both the hour and grid region where electricity is consumed, and criteria demanding that only certificates that meet higher quality thresholds will be eligible for market-based reporting. These changes are expected to transform how businesses - both large and small - buy electricity, use renewable energy certificates, and calculate market-based emissions. At the same time, the global energy market is in the grip of its second major supply shock inside five years, with the Iran War sending oil and gas prices spiralling upwards and leading to what UN climate chief Simon Stiell has described as "brutal social and economic impacts worldwide". At the same time, as Stiell observed, the spike in oil and gas prices has resulted in the "immense irony" of some of the world's biggest fossil fuel proponents "inadvertently supercharging the global renewables boom" as businesses and governments look to reduce their exposure to volatile oil and gas markets. Against this backdrop, BusinessGreen's latest Sustainable Talks webinar brought together experts to discuss what it takes to develop a well-rounded energy procurement strategy that both meets more granular reporting requirements and provides security in an increasingly unstable market. Hosted in association with SE Advisory Services - the consulting branch of Schneider Electric - The future of corporate energy sourcing: Navigating demand, policy shifts and evolving Scope 2 requirements unpacked some of the main trends shaping how companies are responding to a rapidly changing landscape. Market instability 'isn't new' For Dr. Camille Louhichi, strategic advisor for energy and sustainability management at SE Advisory Services, it is important to remember the energy shock triggered by the Iran War is the latest in a string of disruptions following the Covid Pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Market instability isn't new, and it is probably not going to stop," she says. The increase in Brent crude oil costs from around $60 per barrel in November and December last year to in excess of $100 in recent weeks - a figure Louhichi caveats "changes every minute" - and a similar spike in the price of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have translated into higher bills for consumers and companies. Given an estimated 27 per cent of firms are struggling to pay their utility bills on a monthly basis as things stand, the threat from rising energy costs constitutes what Louhichi describes as a "major trend". "That [energy cost inflation] has a direct impact on their services and prices," she says. "Obviously that means it has an impact on procurement strategy and how companies are trying to make sure that it minimises the impact on the bottom line." Ed Reed, associate director of training at analyst firm Cornwall Insight, agrees such uncertainty and pressure has seen energy costs for end users "increase materially", but warns the exact direction of travel for the long term remains a "great unknown". "The 2020s have been so unprecedented when it comes to end bills for the consumer - particularly in the UK, where we haven't just seen some of the highest energy prices, but also some of the most volatile," he says. Diversified sourcing to deliver energy security One of the ways companies have sought to respond to such volatility is by diversifying where their power comes from, so they are not reliant on just one source or one location. "We're seeing companies doing more and more flexible purchasing and hedging - that helps them stabilise," says Louhichi. "We are also seeing more and more companies looking at being independent - turning their factories and manufacturing sites into mini power plants, wind, and solar on site." One core component of this approach for Louhichi and her colleague Miguel Gil-Mast, director of renewable energy and carbon advisory services at SE Advisory Services, is power purchase agreements (PPAs), which can allow firms to essentially lock in energy prices for 10 to 15 years. "Any time there is a spike in electricity prices companies are asking themselves, what could we have done?" says Gil-Mast. "Could we have protected ourselves against that? Could we have had some kind of price certainty before? And in a lot of cases, what renewable PPAs do, is provide stability for a buyer and for the seller of the electricity as well, so it's a win win." PPAs offer price stability, but as Gil-Mast continues there is value in "blending" power sourcing options together, allowing firms to manage risks and hedge their position by combining the likes of on-site renewables, with shorter term Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certified clean power purchases, and longer-term PPAs. The rise of 'more exotic' arrangements Diversification has created a scenario in which both energy buyers and suppliers often pursue more flexible contracts that can combine a degree of price and supply stability with a degree of flexibility in how they respond to volatile markets. For Reed, market volatility and increasingly blended portfolios have led to more businesses agreeing what he describes as "more exotic arrangements", often directly between firms and renewable electricity generators. With over half the UK's electricity now regularly provided by low carbon sources and the government targeting a clean power grid this decade, Reed argues there is more opportunity for "non-standard" renewable energy contracting - a trend he claims the technology, finance, and banking sectors are leading, with retail and water companies in hot pursuit. Such contracts often manifest through businesses working with a supplier to buy tranches of energy over differing periods of time and at differing volumes. And though often more complex and challenging than standards PPAs or green energy tariffs, these agreements can also see some firms add solar panels or wind turbines in and around their sites to avoid some of the network costs they would otherwise face by generating some of their power on site. "Those building these assets are looking at the end user as a route to market and to secure a customer for their outputs," he says. "Not only security of supply, but security of demand. In the past, these were largely driven by ambitions, desires - or maybe obligations - to demonstrate a lower carbon footprint. Those opportunities potentially give you a more stable price for an element of your overall consumption." The rise of AI and automation Recent energy shocks and growing demand for more granular data have coincided with the well-documented advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and greater energy management automation. This, SE Advisory Services claims, has yielded a marked increase in the number of discussions around how companies can harness the technologies to comply with more stringent Scope Two emissions reporting requirements. "I think that's where AI can really support," says Louhichi. "We know that, in general, a lot of our clients are still using scattered and fragmented data - which can create humanly made errors in the analysis and the methodology. Having AI, being able to look after it, analyse it, standardise it, and have traceability is massively impactful for a company for reporting and for decisions around renewables and what they want to achieve." This adoption can see companies deploy AI solutions or agents synced up to equipment or site operations in order to gauge when solar and wind power are most abundant and tailor their energy usage accordingly, for example. The creation of so-called "smart factories" ultimately allows companies to automate energy usage to minimise bottom line impact. It also provides more accurate and reliable data to comply with the more granular Scope 2 reporting standards being proposed by the GHG Protocol. New options for smaller buyers Reed adds that although the market for more bespoke energy supply deals is still mostly dominated by larger, well-known energy, consumer, and retail brands, it is "evolving quite quickly" to the point where smaller businesses can also get involved. "There are a lot of options out there," explains Gil-Mast, highlighting the emergence of cohort PPAs where smaller companies in a supply chain are offered a chance to collectively access a clean power contract that could given them access to clean energy and stable prices. PepsiCo, for instance, signed such a deal to slash its Scope 3 emissions as part of the pep+ REnew program, supported by Statkraft, while the Energize program - sponsored by pharmaceutical giants such as GSK - recently offered a second cohort of supply chain firms to sign clean electricity PPAs. Gil-Mast suggests such agreements are "low hanging fruit" that yield sizeable impact when it comes to decarbonising sprawling and complex supply chains. "We've helped hundreds of gigawatt hours of renewable electricity be procured just because companies set up these supply chain programmes that enable smaller companies," he says. Scope 2 as a 'granular data' challenge The pressure on supply chains to become more sustainable links directly into the increasingly complicated conversation companies face around slashing Scope 2 emissions from the energy they purchase and use. Recent changes in regulations and frameworks make it "extremely hard to keep up", Louhichi admits, with companies increasingly pushed towards tracking and reporting location-based emissions from local grids and providing data on the emissions intensity of the power they are using on an hour by hour basis. The trend is away from relying on averages for the grid's emissions intensity and towards accurate data based on how much clean power is in the mix at any given time. "That requires companies to invest in more tracking," says Louhichi. "Being able to look at consumption and showcase 24/7 carbon free energy - that's where investors and regulators are pushing companies. Can you showcase where it was generated, used and when it was generated?" This complexity and growing pressure on businesses to prove what and when they consume, has created what Louhichi describes as a "granular data challenge" around Scope 2 emissions. Yet with energy and sustainability increasingly prominent topics of conversation at board level and energy firmly established as one of the biggest costs for most businesses, having access to clear, standardised, and granular data offers considerable benefits. Most notably, it should help companies identify areas of inefficiency where savings are possible and bolster the case for renewables and clean tech investment that promises to reduce both emissions and bills. "Similar to in the medical field when we say informed consent - we give you the data, we give you the risk, we give you the potential, and then you're able to make better decisions," argues Louhichi. "That's why we need to have an understanding of current consumption. Hourly data is starting to be the gold standard. Having that understanding of exactly what you consume, how much it costs - specifically for someone like a CFO that wants to look at spending, consumption, and cost savings opportunities." The overarching message from leading experts is that businesses that move beyond simplistic energy purchasing decisions and broad aggregated data, and instead look to actively manage their energy procurement and really understand their energy use at a time of market turbulence will be the ones best place to turn it from a rising cost into a competitive advantage. BusinessGreen's webinar - The future of corporate energy sourcing: Navigating demand, policy shifts and evolving Scope 2 requirements - was hosted in association with SE Advisory Services, and can be watched back in full here.

    Business Green
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  3. #7

    SOCOTEC's Xavier Aguiló: 'Innovation doesn't always mean creating something unprecedented'

    Ahead of the company's sponsorship of the Innovation of the Year at the UK Green Business Awards, SOCOTEC's Xavier Aguiló unpacks the 'multifaceted and interconnected' drivers of low-carbon creativity BusinessGreen: What was your first role in the low-carbon economy and what attracted you to the sector? Xavier Aguiló: My first role in the low-carbon economy began in 2012, when I started designing sustainable buildings. I was drawn to the sector by the chance to address the built environment's significant environmental impact through thoughtful, innovative design. I was also drawn to the challenge of creating buildings that not only served their functional purpose but also minimised their carbon footprint - a responsibility I felt was essential for our profession. Initially, my focus was on reducing operational carbon through energy-efficient systems, passive design strategies and renewable energy integration. As the industry evolved and our understanding of carbon impacts deepened, I broadened my approach to address embodied carbon, the emissions associated with materials, construction, and the entire building lifecycle. SOCOTEC is sponsoring the Innovation of the Year category at this year's UK Green Business Awards - what do you think are the biggest drivers of innovation in the low-carbon economy? The drivers of innovation in the low-carbon economy are multifaceted. Policy and regulation really are the leaders here, with government intervention remaining fundamental. Climate policies, including emissions trading systems, carbon pricing and R&D subsidies, have proven particularly effective at spurring innovation. International cooperation and regulatory frameworks create the market conditions needed for low-carbon solutions to compete and scale. Credit: SOCOTEC The shift towards circular economy principles and material passports represents a transformative approach. By tracking materials throughout their lifecycle and designing for re-use, we fundamentally challenge the linear ‘take-make-dispose' model. This transparency enables better decision-making and accountability. When the true carbon and resource costs of materials are reflected in pricing, this naturally drives innovation towards lower-impact alternatives. This market signal can transform industry practices more effectively than regulation alone. Sustainable finance mechanisms are easing credit constraints and altering risk pricing, making green capital more accessible and attractive. This financial support accelerates the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies. But, perhaps most importantly, innovation in the low-carbon economy requires a mindset shift, primarily in doing only what is absolutely necessary, prioritising quality over quantity, and designing for longevity. This ‘less, but better' philosophy, combined with material transparency and proper pricing, can catalyse the systemic transformation needed to achieve meaningful decarbonisation. What do you think are the keys to a successful innovation project? Often, the most impactful innovations come from doing things differently - applying existing methodologies in novel ways or adapting proven approaches to new contexts. This pragmatic view makes innovation more accessible and sustainable across projects. Successful innovation thrives in environments that encourage experimentation and continuous improvement. By treating each project as an opportunity to innovate, we foster a culture where teams are empowered to challenge conventional approaches. This requires cross-functional collaboration, bringing together technical, commercial, and operational perspectives to ensure innovations are both technically sound and practically viable. Align resource allocation with clear innovation goals, prioritise projects that deliver real value, and ensure teams have the support they need to execute innovative solutions effectively. Which specific industries do you feel are blazing a trail for others to follow in terms of sustainable innovation? Construction and real estate stand at the forefront, driven by the urgent need to address embodied and operational carbon. Projects such as ICTA-ICT in Barcelona and Castellana 69 in Madrid demonstrate how integrated design, material passports, and circular-economy principles can dramatically reduce environmental impact. The sector is increasingly adopting whole-life carbon assessments and prioritising regenerative design over merely compliant buildings. The retrofitting of buildings is becoming increasingly important, too. In major cities, the opportunities to knock down and rebuild buildings are less so, due to the carbon impact, so instead, we look to reuse and retrofit a building to change its use. Our teams across SOCOTEC work together in order to retrofit existing buildings as sustainably as possible, all while being backed by the required engineering and compliance requirements. Transportation networks, water management systems, and smart city developments are embedding sustainability from conception through decommissioning, recognising infrastructure's long-term environmental legacy. Energy and industrial facilities are transforming through decarbonisation strategies, renewable integration, and operational efficiency improvements. Government policy is accelerating this shift, but industry leaders are moving beyond compliance to embrace circularity, transparency through material passports, and the principle of ‘doing only what is needed'. Where do you see the next wave of green ideas and leaders coming from? First, real estate and circularity are revolutionising construction through the ‘no waste' philosophy. This approach moves beyond traditional sustainability metrics to embrace circular design principles where materials retain value across multiple lifecycles, buildings become material banks, and waste is designed out of the system entirely. Material passports and circular supply chains are enabling this shift, fundamentally changing how we conceive, construct, and deconstruct buildings. Second, the data centre sector is becoming an unexpected champion of innovation. As digital infrastructure expands exponentially, these facilities are pioneering solutions in energy efficiency, waste-heat recovery, and renewable-energy integration. Forward-thinking operators are transforming data centres from energy-intensive liabilities into assets that contribute to local energy systems, using excess heat for district heating and exploring innovative cooling technologies that minimise water consumption. We are seeing infrastructure projects evolving toward integrated system thinking. The traditional siloed approach to water treatment, sewage management, waste processing and energy generation is giving way to interconnected networks where outputs from one system become inputs for another. This circular infrastructure model recognises that water, waste, and energy are interconnected resources requiring coordinated management. These sectors share a common thread: they reject the linear take-make-dispose model that has driven unsustainable resource consumption. The leaders emerging from these fields understand that we cannot continue overspending our planetary resources. What developments do you think are currently under the radar? Global government initiatives are increasingly mandating circular economy principles, moving beyond traditional recycling towards comprehensive reuse frameworks. The United States' net zero government initiative, for instance, has launched ‘buy clean' programmes that prioritise low-carbon materials and sustainable procurement, creating substantial market signals for circular products. Similarly, the EU's forthcoming Circular Economy Act aims to double Europe's circularity rate from 12 to 24 per cent by 2030, establishing a robust single market for secondary raw materials. What remains underappreciated is the revolutionary potential of material passports and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. These mechanisms are quietly reshaping how we value resources, shifting from traditional cost models to impact-based pricing - a transformation that will fundamentally alter industry economics. The most under-the-radar development is perhaps the mainstreaming of sustainability within government workforces and procurement, creating unprecedented demand for circular solutions. These policy frameworks are laying the groundwork for zero-waste principles to become the norm rather than the exception, positioning forward-thinking organisations to lead this inevitable transition. Castellana 69 in Madrid - Credit: Heatherwick Studio What is the biggest misconception about the low-carbon economy? The biggest misconception about the low-carbon economy is that incremental improvements and efficiency gains alone will deliver the transformation we need. Many believe that optimising existing systems - making buildings slightly more energy-efficient or using marginally better materials - will solve the climate crisis, which is fundamentally flawed. Another critical misconception is that climate action can succeed through isolated, localised efforts. This challenge is inherently global and demands coordinated international responses. Carbon emissions know no borders, and fragmented regional initiatives, however well-intentioned, cannot achieve the scale of impact required. Perhaps most significantly, there's a naive belief that industries will voluntarily transform without clear economic incentives. Markets respond to financial signals, and without government intervention to reshape these signals, meaningful change remains elusive. This is where policy leadership becomes essential - governments must take courageous first steps, implementing bold measures such as comprehensive waste policy reform and mandatory water reuse programmes at national, regional, and local levels. What advice would you give to someone looking to work in the green economy? The distinction between 'green' and 'brown' economies is rapidly dissolving. Today, the fundamental question isn't whether to work in the green economy but rather recognising that any viable economic activity must respect environmental boundaries. For those entering the workforce or considering a career transition, my advice is straightforward: every industry, every role, and every project must now embed environmental thinking. This isn't about choosing between traditional careers and green alternatives - it's about understanding that environmental stewardship is becoming the baseline expectation across all sectors. Focus on developing skills that bridge technical expertise with environmental awareness. Whether you're in construction, finance, engineering, or data management, understanding how your work impacts carbon emissions, resource consumption, and waste generation is essential. At SOCOTEC, we've observed that the most successful professionals are those who view environmental considerations not as constraints, but as drivers of innovation and opportunity. They understand that circularity, resource efficiency, and low-carbon solutions aren't niche specialisations - they're fundamental components of modern professional competence. The future doesn't offer a choice between green and brown pathways. There is only one path forward, and it must be environmentally responsible. What can the green economy do to better promote its successes? The green economy must fundamentally reframe its message: sustainability is not an alternative path but the only viable future. We are currently consuming 2.5 times what the planet can regenerate annually - a debt that would bankrupt any company operating under such terms. To effectively promote its successes, the green economy should shift from cost-centric arguments to impact-based valuations. Every action must be measured not just in financial terms but in environmental and social consequences. This requires transparent reporting of success stories that demonstrate both ecological restoration and economic viability. However, promotion alone is insufficient. Governments must lead this transformation through bold policy interventions, such as re-defining waste management, mandating water reuse, and incentivising circular design methodologies. The private sector will only pivot when regulatory frameworks and economic incentives align. The narrative must evolve beyond 'green versus traditional' to establish that non-sustainable practices are simply obsolete. This is about recognising that without immediate, coordinated action, the medium and long-term simply won't exist as we know them. Success stories should highlight the urgency and show the tangible benefits of early adopters who have already committed to this inevitable transition. Global alignment is essential; localised efforts alone cannot solve planetary-scale challenges. Xavier Aguiló is director of sustainability and international managing director at SOCOTEC. SOCOTEC is the sponsor of the Innovation of the Year award at the UK Green Business Awards 2026, which takes place on the evening of 11 June at The Brewery in London. You can reserve your place at the awards here.

    Business Green
  4. #9

    Europe’s Largest Vanadium Flow Battery Comes Online as UK Storage Needs Intensify

    The United Kingdom’s energy transition is entering a phase where storage duration is becoming as strategically important as generation capacity itself. As renewable penetration increases and periods of excess solar and wind generation become more common, the limitation is no longer only how much clean electricity can be produced, but how long it can be retained and dispatched when needed.

    Energy News Europe
  5. #10

    From recognition to realisation: Why the green economy is gathering in London this June

    Reset Connect London takes place from 23-24 June at Excel London, as part of London Climate Action Week 2026 Reset Connect London | 23–24 June 2026 | Excel London The UK's green economy is currently defined by a unique paradox. On one hand, we are witnessing an unprecedented wave of corporate commitment. On the other, the 'implementation gap' - the distance between setting a 2030 target and actually achieving it - remains the biggest challenge on the boardroom table. As the industry prepares to gather for the UK Green Business Awards this June, the atmosphere is one of deserved celebration. These awards represent the gold standard, spotlighting the pioneers who have proven that sustainable business is simply good business. But as any leader in this space knows, the morning after a celebration brings a renewed focus on the work ahead. If the awards are about celebrating who is leading the way, Reset Connect London is about discovering how the rest of the economy can follow. The flagship event of London Climate Action Week Taking place at Excel London, Reset Connect has established itself as the flagship event of London Climate Action Week - a high-functioning ecosystem where the 'intentional collisions' between finance, policy, and technology happen in real-time. With over 7,500 attendees and 400 speakers converging just as the UK Green Business Awards kick off, late June has become the most critical fortnight in the UK's environmental calendar. For those attending both, it offers a complete 360-degree view of the transition: seeing excellence on the awards stage and then finding the tools and partners to replicate it on the exhibition floor. Moving Beyond the 'why' to the 'how' The conversation in the C-suite has shifted. We are no longer debating the 'why' of climate action. Instead, leaders are grappling with three practical barriers: capital, collaboration, and scalability. Reset Connect London 2026 is designed specifically to dismantle these hurdles across our six main stages, ensuring every facet of the transition is addressed: Net Zero Business Stage: Practical strategies for corporate decarbonisation. Finance & Investment Stage: Bridging the gap between green projects and capital. Cities & Infrastructure Stage: Building the resilient urban environments of tomorrow. Energy & Tech Stage: Showcasing the systems and software powering the shift. Nature-Based Solutions Stage: Integrating biodiversity and natural capital into business. Pitch & Invest Stage: The launchpad for the next generation of climate-tech innovators. Credit: Reset Connect London 1. Bridging the Finance Gap Trillions of pounds in capital are waiting to be invested into the net-zero transition, yet the connection between institutional investors and viable projects is often fragile. This year, we are hosting over 2,500 investors and VIPs. Through our Finance & Investment Stage and the Pitch & Invest Programme, we are moving away from theoretical discussions and towards real deal-making. Whether it is a startup seeking seed funding or a corporate looking for large-scale infrastructure investment, this is where the green economy gets funded. 2. Cross-Sector Collaboration Decarbonising a supply chain or retrofitting a city isn't something an organisation can do alone. It requires genuine cross-sector transparency and collaboration. Our eight show-floor hubs, ranging from Tech & AI to Nature & Food Systems, are where these partnerships are made. Supported by headline sponsor KPMG, these hubs allow CEOs, CSOs, VPs and Directors to build partnerships with the engineers, innovators and policymakers driving the next decade of regulation. 3. Incentivising Innovation This year, the stakes are higher than ever. Through our Pitch & Invest competition, impact-driven founders will take to the stage in front of active investors - with the winner going on to represent the UK at the Startup World Cup. With 300+ exhibitors on the floor at Excel London, this is where the next generation of green economy solutions get in front of the people who need them. Credit: Reset Connect London Why showing up is the best risk management strategy the cost of waiting In 2026, the 'wait and see' approach to sustainability is no longer a neutral stance - it's a significant business risk. From evolving ESG reporting requirements to the physical risks of a changing climate, the cost of inaction is rising. Reset Connect London is designed to support your transition. It provides the clarity needed to navigate a crowded marketplace and the connections needed to stay ahead. By joining 7,500 of your peers at Excel, you are future-proofing your organisation. Join the movement - register for Reset Connect London 2026 As we count down to the UK Green Business Awards, we invite the community to join us at Excel London to turn inspiration into action. The transition to a low carbon economy is the greatest commercial opportunity of our generation. Let's make sure we have the tools to seize it. >> Register for your pass to Reset Connect London 2026 here

    Business Green
  6. #12

    Spotlight on Carbon: Understanding the new wave of CO2 removal projects - On demand

    WATCH NOW: Experts from BeZero Carbon, SE Advisory Services, and Carbon Gap discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by the emerging market for carbon removals What are carbon removals and how can businesses identify a high-integrity project? How can firms be sure the projects they have supported deliver promised carbon removals and co-benefits? And what policies and regulations are needed to help turn this emerging market into a major vector for investment in support of the net zero transition? These were just a handful of the issues explored in BusinessGreen's latest Spotlight webinar on carbon removals earlier this week, which was hosted in association with SE Advisory Services. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, from the wide range of differing carbon removal projects attracting investment, the pros and cons of nature-based solutions and engineered or technological removals, and the increasing adoption of more robust standards and regulatory efforts that are helping to drive growing investment in the sector. Featuring top experts from SE Advisory Services, Carbon Gap, and BeZero Carbon, the discussion - hosted by BusinessGreen editor in chief James Murray - is now available on demand by registering here. Speakers included: Zander Dale, managing consultant, SE Advisory Services Rodica Avornic, policy director, Carbon Gap Ronan Carr, lead analytical officer, BeZero Carbon >> Watch back the full webinar on demand now

    Business Green