We are extremely proud of all our staff, who recently took part in a project with a local artist to highlight the impact climate change is having on our animal kingdom.

“We were very excited collaborating with a talented local artist. What helped the day become a success was the encouragement Tom gave to our team to engage and throw themselves in to the project. We believe Tom shares our ethos around climate change, and the effects this is having on our wildlife.”

So, what is Erasing Nature?

It’s an art project by local artist Tom Van Herrewege, inspired by his curiosity of the incredible diversity within the animal kingdom and mankind’s interpretation of this across the world. Raising awareness of the developing extinction crisis and communicating what these animals represent to everyone.

The animal’s image (for us it was the Polar Bear) is removed through writing, drawing and scribbling etc, until the original drawing has become faded away enough to suggest its ecological status.

On the day…

Everyone met for a tea, coffee, and a presentation, where Tom spoke about endangered species and the impact humans are having on the world’s environment. During the day, we discussed issues facing the Polar Bear and what that means for us and our future generations.

Did you know Polar Bears will be extinct in 10 years unless there is a stop to Climate Change?

We all took part by etching in symbols, wording, and pictures of what this majestic animal meant to us. Capturing what the impact would be if we lost this species and the overall impact our environment is having on our animal kingdom.

It was great to see how everyone embraced this experience. People were going in and out of the room all day to put their ideas onto the canvass. Every time someone put something new on there it really brought out people’s creative side. “ICE” quickly became “ICE, ICE BABY”

When the piece was complete everyone got together for another chat around how they felt the day went. It was a great opportunity to have our team bond over such a creative experience with a powerful message whilst embracing our business culture too.

We wanted to show our staff and customers that we are not just talking about being committed to making change, but that we’re doing what we can to action these changes too.

Stay tuned for our following post, as we bring you the experience that our team members enjoyed, in their own words, as well as images for the artwork that we created on the day.

A few months ago, we took a look at the emerging technologies from MagniX backed by EasyJet and other big airliners hoping to find a clean alternative for long distance air travel.

These early flights took place in modified aircraft with larger batteries and were deemed very successful, although not without the restrictions of flying electric.

As the market continues to develop alternatives, Airbus look to be weighing in with their own clean alternative.

Three quite different concept aircraft designs were shown, and whilst still very early days, there are hopes that the first zero-emission commercial aircraft could enter service as early as 2035. Whilst the concepts represent different technology pathways that could lead the way to decarbonising the aviation industry, all three rely on one primary power source – hydrogen.

The previous attempts such as those mentioned above have all come with the many challenges associated with electric vehicles, namely in the weight and travel distance, as the batteries required are very heavy, and the ongoing development in the technology limits range.

Airbus have stated that they feel hydrogen holds exceptional promise as a clean aviation fuel and may be the big solution in the aerospace sector, with many other industries able to meet their own climate-neutral targets with the fuel too. With clean hydrogen production being moved forward at an incredible rate, and further advancements in storage options, CEO of Airbus, Guillaume Fuary, stated:

“I strongly believe that the use of hydrogen – both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft – has the potential to significantly reduce aviation’s climate impact.”

That isn’t to say hydrogen isn’t without challenges however, as airports will need significant changes to support a hydrogen based infrastructure. This comes with funding and technology changes, but with so much promise and a desire to move to clean aviation, it does appear that the interest is there.

Although clean aviation may still be a number of years away, changing to a cleaner electric vehicle has plenty of benefits – check out our EV charging solutions if you’re thinking of making a change or get in contact with our specialists to see how you can benefit from a change to renewable.

Earlier in the year, we took a look at how the ongoing pandemic has led to calls from business leaders across the world seeking to ensure that a greater focus would be placed on delivering an economic recovery.

Furthermore, the calls were surrounding a focus on delivering a cleaner environment at the same time, with a particular emphasis on creating jobs within the renewables industry. According to recent reports, it seems a certainty, as job creation in the renewable sector continues to grow.

New figures released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) suggest that jobs in the renewable sector surged to 11.5 million globally in 2019. The largest employer in this sector is the solar industry, which had seen an increase of around 4%.  This brought total global employment figures to 3.8 million in 2019, although with recent movements within the solar sector, this number is expected to be much higher. Record numbers that have been set throughout the year, particularly in the UK.

Of these 11.5 million global figures, the UK National Grid Net Zero Energy Workforce have reported that the UK’s renewable energy sector employs 144,000 directly. Some 44,100 of these people are employed in the wind sector, which has seen huge growth this year too, with a number of new projects being announced and confirmed, and further employment being also confirmed in this space.

If current goals are met, the International Renewable Energy Agency suggests that a further 5.5 million transition-related jobs could be created over the three years, bringing the total number of people employed in renewable energy to nearly 30 million in 2030. However, it is also expected that this number could be much higher, as a changing attitude has been prevalent in recent months, particularly with growing support in sectors such as the emergent electric vehicle market.

To do your part for net zero and to help the growing renewable industry, check out our clean energy efficiency options that can save you money and reduce your carbon footprint, or get in touch with our experts today for a more tailored experience.

When making the change to a clean energy alternative, it’s important to know whether or not your new energy partner is as committed as you are to doing the right thing for our environment.

That’s why the whole team here at Utility Trade Group are proud of our many commitments made to deliver a clean energy solution for both commercial and domestic needs, and why we will keep delivering these commitments well into the future.

Last year, we completed over 75 Solar PV installation projects to help the growing number of people doing their part in the campaign against climate change. Our efforts didn’t go unnoticed as we received recognition at regional level, taking home an award at the National Energy Efficiency Awards – and we hope to grow on our efforts last year as our projected installations over the next 12 months are set to exceed generation of 10 megawatts of power.

Our commitment to delivering a clean energy solution does not only end with our award-winning service as a contractor. We have also taken to delivering carbon offsetting too. In an effort to increase total UK woodland cover from the current 13% to a minimum of 17% in 2050, we have committed to delivering our own carbon offsetting project by planting a tree for every Solar PV installation we complete. Now, more than ever, following the impact of the ongoing pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on reducing our carbon footprint and reducing global emission levels, and we’re proud to be doing our part to make a positive change.

You can read more about our carbon offsetting project and how we will deliver this here, and you can also read more about the awards we have been nominated for, and won, as well as the contributions we’ve made as a Solar PV installer and contractor here.

It is now up to you to do your bit. Explore our award winning Solar PV options, or our range of other energy saving and efficiency options – alternatively you can get in contact with our experts today to explore how we can help you make a clean energy change, whilst also doing your bit to help the environment along the way.

Here at Utility Trade, we’ve been covering a number of different approaches being taken in the UK to deliver clean energy to the country – from road advice councils, to the recently announced Green Homes Grant.

However, home heating continues to remain one of the country’s toughest challenges.

We had recently covered how Britain’s homes were posing a big challenge for the 2050 net zero goal in the country, as older heating systems and inefficient insulation were a big cause of emissions. Some studies suggested that up to 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions came from heating, but as we head towards the winter months, a team has been assembled to discover ways to address these issues.

A coalition of experts from different sectors including finance, energy, construction, and different national and local government bodies have come together to form the Zero Carbon Heating Taskforce. This is in an effort aimed at driving the rapid decarbonisation of Britain’s homes and buildings through their heating supply. One of the prime targets here could be in Infrared Heating options, as they offer a huge number of benefits such as a cheaper alternative to wet central heating systems whilst also being just as effective by producing instant heat, they require little maintenance and take up much less space as they can be hung from your walls and ceilings – there have also been a number of health benefits linked to the use of infrared too.

Charlotte Owen, a policy manager at The Association for Decentralised Energy and a key member of the taskforce stated; “To decarbonise the UK’s heating, it needs to be more attractive to invest in low carbon heating, including city-scale heat networks, than in fossil gas boilers and fossil gas networks. To achieve this, we need to reform the signals to investors and ensure policy incentivises investment in a low cost, low carbon, high comfort offer to consumers.”

Although the focus is largely on heating and hot water, it hasn’t yet been announced what the approach by the taskforce will be. However, with steady news over recent months increasing a focus on clean hydrogen that could primarily be used in heating, and also other efforts being pushed forward in the Green Homes Grant scheme, it’s a safe bet that both will play a vital role in helping businesses and homeowners address their heating requirements differently.

If you would like to do your part in helping decarbonising your heating usage, you can explore our different heating options from infrared heating, to air source heat pumps. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our specialists who will help guide you through the best solution for your heating requirements.

It appears as though the summer is coming to an end, as the warm days we have been accustomed to since early March have begun to turn a little colder and greyer.

For many, that means it is time for the windows to close and the heating to go on, but as we move through the pandemic, a traditional heating system may present some troubles.

In order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it has been suggested that those in a confined space, even where properly socially distanced, should endeavour to keep as much ventilation as possible. This means keeping the windows open and for those who will need to remain in the office throughout the winter months, it could lead to some chilly days.

This is likely to result in higher energy usage and may go against our obligations to reduce as such for environmental targets. Fortunately, there are options available for both commercial and domestic requirements.

We had recently wrote a post covering a new range of Herschel outdoor heating options that could help those getting back outdoors ,with the reopening of pubs, bars, and restaurants. Furthermore,  there are indoor options for infrared heating too, for both individual use and uses for heating an entire space.

As a sustainable and cost effective heating option that is proven to be up to 60% more efficient than conventional heating options, it may help keep you on the right path with your energy usage. With ongoing studies suggesting how far infrared heating may in fact provide some protection against airborne and longer lasting surface particles, it could be a win-win for many. “We are not suggesting FIR is the silver bullet for fighting COVID-19, but as this preprint study suggests, its ability to act as a complementary therapy in the fight against airborne microorganisms must warrant serious consideration” was stated in reference to ongoing research in the matter.

You can explore which Far Infrared Heating options may best suit your needs and the benefits they offer, or you can get in contact with our experts today and have them take you through the many benefits offered.

Following our recent articles to help you better understand energy procurement, including why you should change your energy supplier, we’ve put together some reasons why you should choose us to help you make that change!

But why take our word for it? Here’s what some of our valued customers have to say:

 
“We have used Utility Trade for several years now. They make the arduous task of energy contracts extremely easy and streamlined. Their communication and speed of delivery on each occasion has been first class. My first port of call for such business.” – David, Trustpilot review.

 
“Utility Trade aren’t one of those companies that bombard you, that overload the information, that call and/or email you incessantly trying to gain your business. The team provided me with very competitive prices on both gas and electric, listened to what our requirements were. They set out what they would do and delivered on prices and on customer service. Even if a competitor had come out with slightly lower quotes, I think I would still have gone with Utility Trade purely down to the great customer service.” – Vanessa, Trustpilot.

 
“Personable and professional! Having had poor service from other companies, I was sceptical when I received the initial call from Utility Trade, thinking that it was going to be more of the same, but within two working days of our initial conversation, we are now in a new electricity contract far cheaper than I was expecting.” – Andy H, Trustpilot review.

“Recommend! I have dealt with this company for a couple of years now and have found them very helpful and cost effective, what have no qualms recommending them. I have dealt with other companies similar to Utility Trade and found Utility Trade are a pleasure to deal with unlike a lot of the other companies, they do not pester you and just contact you when necessary. Very refreshing and gives me complete peace of mind.” – Claire, Trustpilot review.

To discover more about how our energy procurement options can help you secure the right contract for your business, get in contact with our brilliant team today and start making the most out of the best energy deals possible.  (CLICK HERE)

We’ve recently taken a look at the strength of solar in recent months, as a hot and bright summer combined with reduced energy demands have shown just how valuable solar can be in our efforts to reach net zero by 2030 – we have continued to see a big demand for Solar PV and are set to beat last year’s installations.

Furthermore, this sentiment has been expanded on as the first ever Citizens’ Assembly on climate change shows the support for solar is continuing to not only grow, but to also thrive.

The Citizen’s Assembly is designed to be a comprehensive representation of different demographics of the population. With the climate change topic in mind, 81% of those surveyed said they support the widespread use of solar in the UK showing that the support for the technology isn’t just willingness, but eagerness too.

One of the bigger selling points for many had been the flexibility of solar installations and how they could be located in many different areas. With further advances in long term battery storage, how that energy could be used in the future when production of energy from solar is lower, is fundamental.

The production is another factor that may be changing, following another recent piece we had covered showing how changing technologies may make solar more effective than ever before. With recent grants announced to encourage more efficiency in homes, this could lead to further savings on installing solar PV options.

Solar hadn’t been the only target here either, as there had been overwhelming support for offshore wind too, with up to 78% of members agreeing that because of the UK’s windy nature, it should play a core part of the UK’s goal of net zero by 2050.

There had been some discussion for other areas around solar however, as location and environmental impact, ways to incentivise and facilitate uptake, visual design, and manufacturing were all points that needed consideration for renewable solar to penetrate the market.

If you’d like to discover how solar energy can benefit you, you can explore our solar PV options, or you can call one of our specialists to talk you through the process of acquiring and installing a solar PV system.

With increasing incentives for businesses to go green and the growing energy opportunities for them to do so, more and more are subscribing to the need for change sooner rather than later.

Whilst many are primed to make a more immediate shift, there are those who have taken a step forward to reaching carbon neutral goals and showing the path for many others to follow.

The tech giants of Google are one of the trailblazers in that regard. Whilst other big names focus on offsetting their carbon emissions by buying renewable electricity, investing in reforestation or engaging in other strategies, Google have been carbon-neutral on those measures since 2007. 

The tech firm has now shifting to directly financing the construction of new renewables such as its own 1,600-megawatt wind and solar project that has been planned for construction in the US, Europe, and Chile. Last year Google had been able to meet 61% of its global hourly electricity needs from renewable and carbon free sources, whilst also reaching 100% renewable energy in 2017.

The latest efforts take this a step further however as now Google have pledged to 24/7 carbon free energy by 2030 in its latest efforts to show how a giant tech company can be a pioneer of clean energy. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, recently said “The science is clear: The world must act now if we’re going to avert the worst consequences of climate change.” 

The approach outlined addresses the use of a number of different technologies to deliver the results, such as improving their current battery storage methods to ensure that clean renewable energy can be accessed even at a time it isn’t being produced. This is alongside exploring other technologies, such as enhanced geothermal sources, low-impact hydro, long duration storage, green hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage methods. 

Whilst you may be unable to match Google in the pocket money department, there are a wide range of commercial energy efficiency solutions available to you, alternatively you can get in contact with one of our experts who can guide you through the options of benefits of each.

Here at Utility Trade, we’re committed to helping you find the best deals possible on your energy requirements, and we’re passionate about delivering clean energy solutions at an affordable price.

You may see ‘buzz words’ such as energy procurement, and not be entirely sure what it is, so we’re here to clear things up. 

What is energy procurement? – In the simplest definition, it’s the process of finding the best energy deal for your business. This factors in a number of different considerations such as price, sustainability, your future needs, and modern solutions for clean or renewable options.

How do we procure the deals? ­– In order to find the best deal for you, we first have a discussion to discover your current situation and energy requirements, as well as potential future requirements you may have. Thereafter, our experts explain what other options may be of benefit to you, having researched the market fully. From there, we reach out to different energy suppliers and providers to source the most suitable energy deal for you. Once we’ve delivered the options and you come to a decision, we then continue to manage and monitor your energy contract based on your business requirements.

What benefit do I gain from energy procurement – Of the utmost importance for both large organisations and small businesses, finding ways to reduce costs and improve your bottom line is at the top of the list. The energy market is sizeable, varied, and changes very often – it can be difficult to keep up with the tariffs and changes that energy suppliers often make. Energy procurement helps you find the very best deal and price whilst also keeping you up to date of any changes evolving within the marketplace, whilst at the same time reducing costs and ensuring you’re always receiving the best service from start to finish.

You can explore our different energy efficiency and procurement options, or read case studies from our procurement customers to gain a better understanding on what we do – alternatively, you can get in contact with one of our specialists to guide you through your energy procurement journey today.

We had explored how earlier in the year increasing pressure had been placed on governments to deliver a green recovery in the aftermath of COVID-19.

This has been signed by business leaders across the country, and recent news suggests this has been taken into consideration, following reports of further funding given to renewable sources, such as wind and EV.

It seems, however, that big parts of Europe may be making a bit push sooner than anticipated. A report conducted by Kallanish Energy suggests that there are 374 ‘shovel-ready’ energy projects that cover renewable energy generation, energy storage, transmission, and distribution. The projects are deemed to be investment opportunities which only require one final push to be fully realised. One such project highlighted a 590 MW solar PV project in Caceres, Spain, or the Enel Green Power solar PV Gigafactory in Northern Italy. 

These projects were primarily considered due to their potential for creating social, environmental, and economic benefits in the short term. That said, the investment requirement would be around £75 billion, but in turn would result in up to 464 tonnes of carbon dioxide lifetime emissions being avoided. Although a relatively low figure in comparison to other projects, the reduction in these lifetime emissions will be a cornerstone in to realising many clean energy goals. 

The report stated; “Considering that the 374 ‘shovel-ready’ projects that have been identified are only a fraction of energy projects currently under development, their contribution is only an illustration of how the overall market segments of energy storage, renewable energy generation, and others will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in Europe and to job creation in the green space”

Furthermore, the report does go on to identify over 1,000 other similar projects focussing on transport, building, industry, and land use sectors for total investment opportunities totalling £200billion. Of those identified, over 36% accounted for were directly focussed on renewable energy generation projects. 

With so many options available and recent information provided on how to benefit from the different subsidies provided – to explore how your business or home could benefit from a change to a clean energy alternative, get in contact with us today and discover which options may best benefit you.

As part of the UK’s goal to reach net zero by 2050 and eliminate the production of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, a large solution for the adoption of electric vehicles is fundamental.

We have recently covered how EV usage in the country has soared, and these recent announcements pushing fresh funding could continue to turn the tide.

The first announcement came from the Department for Transport, as it announced it would be working with a research and development agency, Innovate UK, with a £12m funding package to explore competitions for the most promising EV technologies.The funding is set to support ground-breaking projects that could open significant commercial opportunities in the sector – one of which could see future cars benefitting from a six-minute battery charge.

The next comes from Highways England as they announced a £9.3m scheme to allow businesses to try EV’s for free before committing to a purchase. The initiative will see Highways England working alongside local authorities to replace businesses diesel van fleets with a full electric replacement for a two-month trial period following a successful pilot scheme in Leeds earlier this year. 

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles also had its part to play here too, as a report proposed moves to install more EV charge points at popular destinations in the country, such as tourist sites, with improved signage to indicate where these locations are.

In addition to all of this, the government have also announced they will be working with popular website Auto Trader to develop a dedicated EV section, in order to help potential buyers quickly navigate to these listings. 

Both of the recent points have gained a lot of traction following a survey commissioned by Ford, which revealed nearly half of motorists wouldn’t consider the change to an electric vehicle due to concerns of charging and availability, confirming findings of the survey we conducted here at Utility Trade recently. 

You can explore how Utility Trade can help with commercial EV charging locations for your business, or get in contact with one of our experts today to better understand the many benefits of having an EV charging station on your business premises.

One of the faster moving areas of the renewable energy sector is Hydrogen. We recently took a look at how Wales may become a leader in Europe for clean Hydrogen production, alongside a larger scale test planned in the UK to explore the viability of using clean Hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas.

However, another competitor has joined the race, as Australia could become the world’s largest exporter of the gas.

The country has recently announced a $20B project to build a 15,000-megawatt facility that will generate hydrogen for export and become the world’s leader in building a hydrogen economy. That said, there are some challenges to overcome first.

The first is the transportation and distribution of the resource, as there are currently some challenges with moving it once produced. The current solution is to blend the hydrogen directly with natural gas to make a composite, in order to lower its carbon footprint. This is something that has already successfully been done, as the UK has managed to use the blend in its existing gas network – a 20% volume blend allows customers to use existing appliances without any need for adjustments. Furthermore, a suggestion from the company behind this implementation, is that the 20% blend rolled out across the entire country could save around 6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, the equivalent of taking 2.5 million cars off the road.

The second challenge will be overcoming the cost barriers. Prices have been rapidly falling, as utilising newer technologies and cleaner sources to produce the hydrogen have become more readily available and much more efficient. However, charges to distribute still remain high – there are suggestions that costs for hydrogen need to fall by up to 50% in order to become competitive with fossil fuels. That said, a large scale production plant, such as the one planned for Australia, could be the catalyst for this drop in pricing.

Hydrogen isn’t the only clean alternative in home heating, however. You can explore our Air Source Heat Pumps for both home and business or get in contact with one of our specialists today to explore your other clean energy solution options.

We recently covered a piece on our blog, outlining five reasons why you should change your energy provider. These included aspects such as the potential savings achieved through change, staying up to date on the market, and ensuring you’re getting the best deal.

To show the many benefits of changing energy supplier, we have put together five more reasons why you should consider changing:

Time to go green

Many of us are becoming much more environmentally conscious, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. By changing supplier, you may be able to get access to some great green energy deals – our experts can help you save money on your energy bill whilst also doing your part to help the environment.

A better service

Unfortunately, some energy suppliers are renowned for a poor service and inaccurate billing. Through means of a supplier change, this can be rectified with consummate ease. Fortunately, we can help you identify suppliers with the best customer satisfaction scores, and as such, ensure you are getting the best service possible.

The change is quick

We had previously outlined how one of the common misconceptions had been around the difficulties of changing – another is regarding the turnaround. When changing supplier, there is no disruption to your service and the change can be completed in just a few weeks – you pay nothing to change, simply choose the best deal and we do the rest.

Understanding your tariff choices

In another recent piece, we covered how you may not be getting the best deal possible, particularly once your original tariff expires. With so many to choose from, including fixed and variable rate tariffs, pre-payment tariffs, economy tariffs and more, it can be a headache to understand which is best for you. We take the difficulty out of the choice to help you choose the tariff that best suits your needs.

Don’t be misguided by going direct

A recent customer satisfaction survey put none of the bigger suppliers in the top 20 – quite a staggering result. Furthermore, research from Ofgem suggests that one in five customers are now with a smaller or medium sized supplier. Changing to a smaller-sized supplier, even if you may not have heard about them previously, may be the easiest way to improve your own customer satisfaction from the energy deal you’re receiving.

Get in touch with our experts today and we can help guide you through the process of changing energy suppliers, ensuring you receive the best deal possible whilst also meeting your customer satisfaction needs.

The start of the year had a very strong showing for UK renewables. We had recently reported that the first quarter saw nearly half of the UK’s energy needs covered by renewable sources, but the trend did not stop there.

A recent report has shown the second quarter of the year has seen yet another strong showing for renewables, as they have increased 32% year-on-year, with biomass, wind, and solar sources setting new records for energy generated during this period.

It had also been suggested that at one-point, renewable electricity sources were providing almost 70% of Britain’s electricity needs, up from the 49% in the first quarter. With recent announcements for new offshore and onshore sites, particularly for wind, and recent announcements around a larger scale test for hydrogen for heating, we can only expect these figures to increase.

Not only have records been set for the energy produced, but also for our steps towards net zero too. The carbon intensity of fuels used had also dropped to their lowest on record, averaging at 153g/kWh over the quarter – a strong sign for what may be possible over the coming years as we aim to reduce our climate impact.

Similar reports were also prevalent on the pricing front, as wholesale power prices would see a 42% drop from the same quarter last year, with demand dropping during the lockdown period. Whilst a small part of the change could be in response to the pandemic, it’s difficult to discredit the leaps forward taken by renewable energy in recent years.

The current trends reported from UK renewables are a good sign for what can be expected in the future for our power system, as cheaper and more efficient renewable solutions become more readily available, and a lower demand on the market help energy prices across the country. Whilst we may see a rubber banding effect as the country begins to return to an element of normality, these flexible and clean technologies will certainly only grow and continue to set records.

If you would like to be part of the record setting trends, you can explore our energy efficiency options for both home and business, or alternatively you can get in contact with one of experts today to have them guide you through the best options available to you.

Monday marked the end of an era as after 200 years, one of England’s last coal mines is closing. 

The Bradley Mine, an open cast pit, had been producing 150,000 tonnes of coal per year, but after plans to expand the site had failed, it had brought an end to the site. There are still a few others in the UK – the Hartington mine in Derbyshire, some small operational underground mines in Cumbria, and the Forest of Dean will remain open for the time being. However, it has been suggested that these sites and similar across Wales and Scotland, should be prepared to receive the same news in due course.

Such closures follow similar activity overseas – we have recently covered the scaling back of the world’s largest coal mine in the USA, in response to having its value cut by £1.4bn.

The closure is a sign of change in the UK’s energy demands. Although workers are upset at the closure, as the UK still has a demand for almost eight million tonnes of coal per year, the recent months have shown that demand is certainly dropping. 47% of the UK’s energy between January and March of this year had come from renewable sources, and the demand for coal had dropped between March and June as the lockdown had been in full swing.

Whilst there will likely be a small bump in demand when things get back to normal, it has been predicted the demand will likely remain much lower moving forward, as increasing efforts are being made to ensure that a green recovery can be adopted. The most recent steps forward here have been in wind energy, as recent off-shore and on-shore sites have been announced, as well as a trial for hydrogen that could see it become a primary resource for heating and transport.

The change is great for consumers too – changes in demand will have an impact on the energy supply market, with increasing rewards or subsidies for clean energy solutions. Furthermore, we are likely to see price discrepancies for non-renewable options, as demand decreases. 

To explore how you can take the next step in going green – protecting the environment and saving you money, you can get in touch with us today and we can guide you through the process, including any funding or grants available

One of the bigger challenges for clean and renewable energy has always been in cost. More often than not, the high cost has far outweighed the benefits of change, but this is something that is changing extremely quickly.

One of the more prominent energy sources that could be available in the very near future is hydrogen, as a recent £10 million plan had been announced in the UK to find the viability. However, there are also changes in bigger markets, as countries such as China have started to increase emission production once again following the pandemic.

Many are looking to China as the country with the catalyst for change. As the largest greenhouse gas emitter, decarbonising is paramount to prevent climate change, but the falling costs of wind and solar could be the substance for improvement.

Alongside this, the advancements of energy storage have also made building clean power solutions a very viable option. COVID-19 had sparked a global emission drop, with China’s contribution dropping by an estimated 25% – smart policy choices moving forward in the region could be a key identifier that attitudes towards energy are changing on a global scale.

There are still plenty of changes to come too, that may advance clean energy further still. Recent breakthroughs in solar could see both capacity and effectiveness increase massively, and the previously mentioned hydrogen trial in the UK could solve the natural gas issue. Furthermore, other recent announcements, such as one of the last coal mines in the UK closing, show that change is already underway.

Current goals include aiming for a net zero by 2050, with a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 for many. Falling prices could mean that we see these goals met much earlier, and this may become particularly clear in the coming months as a focus on a clean recovery from the pandemic continues.

Get in touch with our experts today to find out which cost effective clean energy sources are available to you. You can also explore our energy efficiency options including solar PV, LED lighting, battery storage, or heating solutions – all of which Utility Trade Group can help to guide you through the process, from start to finish.

The start of the year has sustained a tough time for domestic renewables, as the solar industry in particular had been hit hard.

In April, the MCS found that 90% of solar installers had taken a hit due to the Covid-19pandemic, with a number of issues including supply of panels, cautious customers, and postponements being the biggest factors contributing to the slow down.

There had been some early signs of recovery, however. We had recently covered how there had been a small recovery in the market as the UK energy demand fell, and a very bright start to the summer had certainly helped. However, it appears that other factors are also starting to aid in the recovery – May had shown figures for installations increasing by up to 37%, a trend that has seemingly continued.

Between May and June, there had been a very high uptake in solar PV installations – jumping 185% in June compared to May in comparison to the standard averages. That said, renewable energy installations as a whole have been finding their footing and witnessing a spike of 167% compared to the month before.

There a number of reasons for this growth, with one of the more pressing contributions being a renewed focus on clean energy following the pandemic and lockdown. There had been calls early on for a focus on a green recovery after the initial impacts of the lockdown environmentally were realised, and it had seemed that call was answered with many measures being put in place to ensure this happened.

Similarly, a growing trend of home improvement could also be a likely cause here. DIY had seen a marked recovery as those out of work and in lockdown had sought to use this time at home.

If you would like to be part of the changing movement for green and clean energy solutions, you can explore how solar PV or other renewable energy sources can save you money. Get in contact with our experts today to have them guide you through the steps.

Here at Utility Trade, we’re committed to helping you find the best possible energy deals on the market.

We recently covered a piece outlining the true cost of not choosing the right energy provider, but what are some of the fundamental reasons to change?

Savings are available

One of the main reasons many of us don’t change our energy provider, is that we’re happy with the current supplier we’re using. Research suggests businesses in the UK are spending £29.1 billion on energy every year, and with changes many could find significant cost reductions by changing energy supplier on a more regular basis. Although your average save may be lower than some others, the opportunity is certainly there to cut your businesses energy bill.

It’s much easier than you think

Another of the core reasons why change isn’t as commonplace as it might be, is the myth surrounding how difficult it is to do so. In fact, research by Which? found that 1/5th of people thought that changing energy providers would be too much work and not worth the hassle. In reality, making the change can just take a few minutes and Utility Trade Group can offer plenty of advice on how to switch.

Your good deal may not be the cheapest

You may have been offered a great deal when initially signing up, but regular tariff changes could mean that this same deal isn’t as good as it once was. Similarly, when your deal ends, you’ll likely be automatically placed on to the energy suppliers default variable tariff, which is typically more expensive. Keep an eye on when your fixed tariff is coming to an end and use that opportunity to find what else the market has to offer.

There are many differences between energy suppliers

In a survey by Which?, 22% of people surveyed had said that the lack of differences between energy suppliers had been a reason to not make the change. However, with over 40 different suppliers in the UK, there are huge differences in price and customer satisfaction, with a 41% point difference between the top and bottom UK suppliers.

Regularly switching keeps you informed in the market

With a busy life schedule, it can be difficult to stay on top of everything going on, but energy is moving very quickly, and changes are occuring on a regular basis. By switching regularly, you’re able to stay informed on market variables and possible opportunities found in growing areas, such as renewable tariffs and subsidies.

Utility Trade are experts in the field of energy procurement. We find an attractive proposition that suits you and not the provider. Our process is simple, streamlined and will get you more for your money. Get in touch today.

The start of the year had a significant impact in moving our goals for net zero forward – so much so, that we covered a piece looking at how global emissions were expected to fall during the pandemic.

That being said, there were also some concerns that many of the changes could be short lived, as life started to get back to normal.

However, reading between the lines, it would appear that this may be too harsh a statement and that in fact, many of these changes may have greater longevity. The *latest data released indicates that renewable sources contributed to 47% of the UK’s energy generation between January and March of this year, with the leading surge coming from wind power. Similar news also suggests the same to be true, running from March to June. Whilst there had been some hypotheses suggesting that energy use may be lower because of pandemic, a report also indicated demand had also fallen before any restrictions were put into place.

There has been increasing pressure to ensure this trend continues – as the UK starts to ease many lockdown measures, with businesses reopening and getting back on track, the expectation is that demand will start to increase once again. To offset this however, there has been plenty of movement in the renewable energy space, as a growing number of offshore wind farms set to power millions of homes come to the fore. Furthermore, there are growing possibilities in alternative forms of clean energy, such as hydrogen, which is also seeing a surge in popularity.

The next few months are likely to be crucial. Undoing all of the hard work in recent months is still a very distinct possibility if safe practices aren’t observed – growing on the existing plans is certainly a great first step for ensuring that net zero remains on track. Recent introductions of plans including the Green Homes Grant scheme will certainly play their part in helping here too.

You can discover our range of energy efficiency options to do your part in helping reach the net zero goal or get in contact with our experts to find out which solutions may work best for you.