It’s among the first of Good Energy’s business customers to utilise ‘hourly matching,’ which provides detailed insights into how its electricity is sourced from renewable generators like solar farms every hour.
This innovation enhances transparency, aiding businesses in understanding their power generation and simplifying carbon reporting—crucial steps in combating ‘greenwashing.’
The impact of this initiative is highlighted in a new Good Energy film, which also features Leeways Packaging Services near Gloucester. Leeways contributes solar energy to the mix, demonstrating the tangible benefits of local renewable energy production.
Good Energy, a trailblazer in the UK energy sector, is the first supplier to provide business customers with hourly energy matching data. This service, developed in collaboration with Granular Energy, allows customers to track their renewable electricity sources and observe usage trends on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis through an online platform.
Aligning energy use with times of higher renewable generation
This capability enables businesses to reduce carbon emissions by aligning their energy use with times of higher renewable generation. The platform also identifies periods of unexpected high usage, helping to avoid inefficiencies and save costs.
The Soil Association, a prominent food and farming charity, addresses major environmental and health challenges by promoting natural solutions. It aims to educate people about the origins of their food and products, encouraging more sustainable choices. With the adoption of hourly matching, the charity extends this philosophy to its energy sourcing, enabling it to make equally informed and sustainable decisions about its power usage.
Spokesperson Pete Williams said: “We’re always trying to connect people with the source of their food and where their products are coming from, in the same way Good Energy are showing us exactly who’s helping to produce our energy.
Powerless in the face of climate change
“Many people say they feel powerless in the face of climate change but we all make choices, not matter how small, that can have a benefit.
“And when you look across business, communities and individuals, choosing renewable energy adds up to a massive difference.”
Leeways Packaging Services, which produces recyclable trays for the food industry, has more than 1,700 solar panels on land next to its Churcham headquarters along with an even larger solar facility at its other manufacturing site in Cinderford.
Commercial manager Jack Griffin said: “We only operate Monday to Thursday, so about 25 per cent of what we generate gets exported back to the grid.
“It’s great to know that our surplus electricity is helping other businesses to boost their green credentials.”
Good Energy, based in Wiltshire, has been supplying renewable electricity for almost 25 years, sourced from a UK network of 2,000 solar farms, wind farms, hydroelectric schemes and other projects.
We have to get better as using renewable electricity
Chief executive Nigel Pocklington said: “To build a zero-carbon grid that’s free from polluting and expensive fossil fuels, we have to get better at using renewable electricity as it’s generated and storing it for when it’s needed.
“Hourly matching provides business owners with truly transparent insights into how they’re powering their operations and how they can be more sustainable.
“It’s the future of renewable energy use in the UK and will play a key role in supporting the transition to a cleaner and greener economy.”