With a GDP of over $3 trillion, the UK produces a huge number of products and services. As such there are a wide range of industries working throughout the country, all of which contribute to the economy but also have an impact on the environment. Currently, the services industry dominates the UK economy, making up almost a third of our country’s GDP. The services sector is made up of retail, hospitality, professional services, business administration and finance businesses. Coming closely behind is the manufacturing industry which contributes so greatly to the economy that it currently places the UK as the ninth largest manufacturing nation in the world. With such large industries dominating the economy, it is no surprise that these industries are some of the largest energy consumers across our island nation. Below we have taken a closer look at just how much these industries rely on energy, reviewing their consumption figures and ranking them accordingly. Here are the top highest energy consuming industries in the UK. 1. Goods and services industry As well as being the largest industry in the UK, the goods and services sector is also the largest consumer of energy in the UK. According to statistics from 2019, the industry which includes retail, used more than 14,000 Ktoe. Ktoe stands for kilotonnes of oil equivalent, which is a standardised measure of energy. This figure indicated that the goods and services industry made up for 15% of total energy consumption in the UK throughout the year 2019. 2. Manufacturing The manufacturing sector is the second largest consumer of energy in the UK. Manufacturing businesses are responsible for producing products such as textiles, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals and more. As a result, this industry requires huge amounts of energy to power their production processes. This, therefore, should not come as a surprise to many. In 2018 the manufacturing industry used a huge 10,493 kilotonnes of oil equivalent energy throughout the year. 3. Public Administration Another non-domestic sector of the country with high energy consumption rates is public administration. Those organisations working in public administration are responsible for carrying out the day-to-day duties of running a country and as such require massive amounts of energy to do so. Statistics from 2019 show that businesses and organisations in this sector used a total of 5,579 ktoe of energy. Shifts in energy consumption in recent years Although energy consumption still appears to be incredibly high amongst UK businesses, there has been an obvious decrease in the total energy consumption of such sectors in recent years. In a report created by the Department of Energy & Climate Change, statistics from between 2006 – 2012 were used to indicate the shift in energy consumption trends amongst non-domestic buildings used by businesses. A summary of the key facts and figures has highlighted that between these years the consumption of both electricity and gas fell by 12%. Noting the significant decline in usage in factories, restaurants and shops.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme, or EBRS, was announced by the UK Government on the 21st September 2022. It is equivalent to the Energy Price Guarantee, EPG, but applies to businesses in addition to voluntary and public sector organisations. Who is eligible for the EBRS Scheme? In the government’s announcement, they detailed that this scheme would be available on a non-domestic basis only. This means those who are eligible to the EBRS scheme include: businesses voluntary sector organisations, such as charities public sector organisations such as schools, hospitals, and care homes This means a wide majority of D-ENERGi business energy customers will be eligible for the scheme. However, it is important to note that although you may be a business energy customer, there are other requirements that the government explained were necessary for customers to receive support from the scheme. Businesses or organisations must be: on existing fixed price contracts that were agreed on or after 1 December 2021 signing new fixed price contracts on deemed / out of contract or variable tariffs on flexible purchase or similar contracts For those customers who signed your fixed rate contract before 1 December 2021, you would not have been exposed to the recent rises in wholesale prices, so you will not be eligible for support under the scheme. How does the scheme work? The scheme works by the government compensating suppliers for the reduction in wholesale gas and electricity unit prices that they are passing onto non-domestic customers. This means business energy suppliers can reduce the bills of their eligible customers. For those who are eligible the scheme will be applied automatically by your supplier. This means you will notice a reduction in your energy bills. This discount will be calculated in pence per kilowatt hour. The discount applied will be in pence per kilowatt hour (p/kWh). The p/kWh government support for comparable contracts will be the same across suppliers, but the absolute level of individual bills will continue to vary across different contracts and tariffs. Information for D-ENERGi business customers  For customers who qualify for the Energy Bill Relief Scheme we kindly ask all qualifying customers to provide us with monthly gas and / or electricity meter readings until the end of the scheme. This should be done ideally on the first day of the month or no later than the 10th.This will be a great help to get your bills as accurate as possible and ensure we apply the right discount throughout the scheme period.For more information or to discuss your bills with a member of the team, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Agreements and goals have been put in place by governments across the globe to achieve net zero emissions. The UK government was one of the first in the world to sign a legally binding agreement to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and many other countries then followed suit. As campaigners and governments have explained, achieving these goals is not simply the responsibility of one group. Every individual, organisation, business, and government party should make this a top priority and take active steps to dramatically reduce emissions each year. Therefore, not only does net zero carbon emissions matter to the eco-conscious amongst us and the governments in power, it matters to all, especially businesses. Emissions from small businesses in the UK  Small businesses in the UK produce up to 50% of our country’s business-driven carbon emissions. Meaning they are a major contributor of the emissions this country creates each year. With this in mind, the government has introduced schemes and provided advice for small business owners to encourage them to introduce a decarbonisation strategy and take active steps in reducing emissions. One such scheme is The Together for our Planet campaign, introduced by Boris Johnson in May 2021. The campaign works to encourage small businesses in the UK to make a pledge to cut their carbon emissions by 2050 or even sooner. The campaign will then continue to support these businesses in achieving their own goals by providing resources, advice, guidance and new opportunities. The UK Business Climate Hub has been created as a resource for businesses, with upwards of 3700 businesses already having made the pledge. Actions businesses can take to reduce emissions There are several small steps a business can take to reduce emissions. Below are just a few smart ideas: Encourage employees to take part, creating an eco-conscious workplace Recycle Switch to LED lighting Improve the energy efficiency of the business premises Install a business smart meter – which we can provide at D-ENERGi Minimise waste from your products Cut down the use of fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy sources Why make the pledge? As a small business owner, you may be wondering – what’s the point? Well, the most important point is helping the UK on its path to achieving its net zero goal. However, there are also many other benefits that your business can gain from making the pledge to reduce emissions. As the Business Climate Hub points out, cutting your business’ emissions can actually help you grow your business. In a world that is increasingly eco-conscious and consumers are more aware of the impact their buying decisions have, choosing to make the pledge will give you a competitive advantage, while also helping to cut your costs. By making this decision now, rather than later, you will also be prepping your business for the future. As the UK government makes plans to move away from fossil fuels, stopping the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, having made the pledge you will be prepared for a green future.

Is zero carbon electricity the future? And what will this look like? With the current energy crisis causing issues for households and businesses up and down the country, many are looking at alternative sources of energy as a solution to this global problem.  With international governments looking to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the next few decades, zero carbon electricity is a genuine option available to utilise.  Green sources of electricity  By focusing on green sources of electricity, such as solar and wind power, we can reduce carbon emissions while also helping to protect our environment. This is why many companies are now investing in zero carbon electricity solutions. Zero carbon electricity can be generated through a combination of renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines, biomass,  geothermal energy, and hydroelectric power. This will help to reduce our reliance on non-renewable sources of electricity such as coal and oil. Zero carbon electricity can also be generated through innovative methods such as electric vehicles charging stations, which can store excess electricity produced during the day in a battery system, ready for use when needed. How can businesses introduce carbon free electricity ? Businesses can look to introduce zero carbon energy solutions into their operations. This could involve installing solar panels or wind turbines, or investing in renewable energy sources such as biomass, geothermal energy and hydroelectric power.  Additionally, businesses should take a proactive approach to reducing their total electricity consumption by implementing measures such as using more efficient lighting , improving insulation and adopting other energy-saving practices. By taking the right steps, businesses can help reduce their carbon emissions while also creating new jobs and boosting their bottom line. Zero carbon electricity is a viable solution that should be considered by any business looking to become more sustainable.  D-ENERGi Trading  At D-ENERGi we offer a unique and innovative way for businesses to purchase zero carbon electricity. All electricity supplied from D-ENERGi Trading is sourced from UK wind farms. This makes our offering a unique one within the sector. Our graph, which you can see here, shows our offering compared with other major UK energy suppliers in the UK. This enables businesses to reduce their impact on the environment and save money in the long run.  To find out more about renewable energy and zero carbon options speak with our friendly team of experts today.