- Security of supply and climate change can be tackled together;
- Incentives needed to help customers reduce energy demand and help fuel-poor
- Encouraging investment in low carbon energy sources
- National Grid ranked by BiTC as a platinum company and Global Top 10 Leader
National Grid today outlined how energy markets can adapt to tackle the world’s biggest environmental challenge. This follows the announcement by Business in the Community’s (BITC), that the company had been ranked as a platinum company and Top Ten Global Leader for all its business activities in BITC’s Corporate Responsibility Index. This is the fourth year in succession that the company has received top tier ranking and complements National Grid’s Dow Jones Sustainability World Index ranking as the most sustainable multi-utility in the world and the US Department of Energy’s Top Ten ranking of the company’s US renewable energy programme, Green-Up.
National Grid believes security of supply and climate change can be tackled together, and addressed by energy markets needing to look at ways in which utilities can be incentivised in three key areas; helping customers reduce energy demand, investing in low carbon sources of energy, and investing in infrastructure needed to ensure people have a reliable supply. This would create significant society benefits, as would support public’s desire to reduce emissions and energy usage and also maintain economic growth by continuing to receive safe, secure supplies of power.
National Grid also views this approach as a key driver for developing future business opportunities, by encouraging new approaches to ways of working, and increasing investment in research and design. The company’s intention to use excess heat from E.ON’s new 1275MW power station on Isle of Grain in Kent to warm liquid natural gas used to supply the national gas system at National Grid’s LNG importation terminal which, in turn, will reduce green house gas emissions by up to 350,000 tonnes a year, demonstrates the potential environmental, efficiency and business benefits that can be achieved from a joined-up approach.
National Grid’s Chief Executive, Steve Holliday, commented; “We are delighted to have maintained our strong track record in the BITC Corporate Responsibility Index. Our performance reflects the professionalism and commitment of all our employees to continue to make National Grid a good investment and a force for good – the two go hand in hand.
“However we are not sitting back. We have set our sights on reducing emissions by 60% across all our business operations well before 2050. We also believe that markets need to create the climate for change by incentivising utilities to help customers reduce energy demand, whilst delivering a reliable supply - this will reduce bills for customers and benefit the climate. National Grid is committed to playing its part and working with Governments, Regulators and industry to look at a variety of ways in which to help address these challenges.”
National Grid has already met the Kyoto Agreement 2012 target of 12.5 per cent emissions reduction for the UK, and 8 per cent reduction for the US, and is on target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations and offices across the company by 60 per cent well before 2050. These achievements reflect the effectiveness of National Grid’s ‘Framework for Responsible Business’ developed five years ago with the active involvement of its employees.
The ‘Framework for Responsible Business’ defines National Grid’s business principles and our commitment to minimise our emissions. For 2005/06:
- Total Greenhouse gas emissions from our operations, processes and offices down 26 per cent from our independently verified baseline, including:
- Sulphur Hexaflouride (SF6) emissions from high-voltage electricity equipment down 34 per cent from the baseline year of 2000
- Methane emissions down 32 percent from our baseline year of 1991
Since 1987, our US Energy efficiency programmes have reduced our customer’s consumption by 2.1 billion megawatt/hours, which equates to 2.6 million megawatt/hours per annum.
As part of its on-going emissions reduction programme, National Grid is undertaking a combination of cost-recoverable and cost neutral actions such as replacing gas-fired compressors with electric drives and on-going replacement of iron mains with polyethylene pipes to progressively reduce methane leakage and venting from its UK gas networks. The company will also move to 100 per cent renewable source of electricity provision across the whole company by 2010; implement higher energy standards in new buildings and refurbishments, and increase use of bio-fuels and fuel efficient vehicles.
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Contact for further information:
National Grid UK:
Clive Hawkins +44 (0)20 7004 3147 +44 (0)7836 357173(m)
Chris Mostyn +44 (0)1926 655275 +44 (0)7879 668025(m)
National Grid US:
Jackie Barry +1 508 389 3298 +1 508 887 2143 (m)
Brunswick:
Tim Williamson +44 (0)20 7396 5350 +44 (0)7974 982350(m)
Photographs for media are available at www.newscast.co.uk.
Notes for Editors
1. National Grid
National Grid is an international energy delivery business, whose principal activities are in the regulated electricity and gas industries. It owns the high-voltage electricity transmission system in England and Wales and operates the system across Great Britain. It also owns and operates the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain and its distribution business delivers gas to 11 million homes and businesses in Britain. In the US, National Grid distributes electricity to approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island and natural gas to approximately 569,000 customers in New York and 245,000 customers in Rhode Island. National Grid also has a number of businesses operating in related areas such as LNG importation, land remediation, metering and interconnectors. For more information, visit National Grid's web site at www.nationalgrid.com.
2. Framework for Responsible Business
National Grid’s ‘Framework for Responsible Business’ takes account of economic, environmental and social factors in all the company’s decisions. It is endorsed at executive director level and applies to all National Grid businesses. It is reviewed on an annual basis and reported on its implementation through the company’s ‘Operating Responsibly’ document. Further information can be found on National Grid’s website at www.nationalgrid.com.
3. BITC Responsibility Index
The Business in the Community’s Corporate responsibility Index focuses on corporate responsibility risks and opportunities. Companies from the FTSE 100, FTSE250, Dow Jones Sustainability Index Sector leaders and larger Business in the Community Members are invited to participate. Each company is benchmarked against its peers and all Index participants. Further information can be found on BiTC’s website at http://www.bitc.org.uk/
4. Other National Grid rankings
The Dow Jones Sustainability World Indexes (DJSI)
Comprises more than 300 companies that represent the top 10% of the leading sustainability companies in 58 DJSI sectors in the 34 countries covered by the biggest 2500 companies. In September 2006, National Grid was recognised as industry leader of the "multi-utilities" sector of the Dow Jones World and STOXX Indices. This is the fourth consecutive year that National Grid has been included in the DJSI index series. http://www.sustainability-indexes.com/
U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has an annual ranking of leading utility green power programs. Under these voluntary programs, consumers can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable resources such as solar and wind. National Grid’s was included among the Top 10 ranking of utility green power programs for its renewable energy program, GreenUp™, and ranked eighth out of 600 utilities across the United States. http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2007/506.html