BT today unveiled plans to develop wind farms aimed at generating up to 25 per cent of its existing UK electricity requirements by 2016. The wind farm scheme represents the UK's biggest corporate wind power project outside of the energy sector.
The project, costing up to £250m, will bring together third party funding and renewable energy partners to safeguard future supplies of clean, green energy for BT as part of the company’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions.
BT is one of Britain’s biggest consumers of electricity, with an annual requirement of around 0.7 per cent of the UK’s entire consumption. BT’s wind farms could generate a total of 250MW of electricity – enough to meet the power needs of 122,000 homes or a city the size of Coventry. This would prevent the release of 500,000 tonnes of CO2 each year compared with coal generation – equivalent to a quarter of a million return air trips to New York.
BT is currently identifying high wind-yield sites on or adjacent to BT-owned land for development with the aim of generating power from 2012 onwards. It was confirmed today that BT has applied for planning permission for test masts at Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station in Cornwall, Wideford Hill Radio Station in Orkney and Scousburgh Radio Station in Shetland.
Subject to planning consent and suitable sites being secured, BT’s wind farms would have a total installed generating capacity of around 100MW by 2012, equivalent to around fifty wind turbines, with the remaining 150MW targeted by 2016. BT is committed to working responsibly with local communities and will ensure that they are engaged throughout the development process.
Hanif Lalani, BT Group Finance Director, said: "There is a pressing need for industry to cut carbon in ways that make business sense. BT has already achieved a 60 per cent reduction in its carbon emissions, and is committed to reducing them further to 80 per cent by 2016. Our wind energy plans play an important part in reaching that target.
"Broadband technology is already cutting the need to travel, through home working and video conferencing. This makes sense for our shareholders, and also for our staff and customers who are looking to us to work in a more environmentally friendly way."
John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said: "Tackling climate change while ensuring we have enough energy for the future is one of the biggest challenges of our time. BT's initiative is a great example of how businesses can contribute and help us meet our ambitious target to dramatically increase the amount of energy we get from renewable sources. I hope that other organisations and individuals will be inspired to match their commitment."
Jonathon Porritt, Co-Founder and Programme Director of Forum for the Future, added: "This is an enormously significant decision for BT - and for every company that sees BT as a recognised leader on sustainability issues. It's a substantial investment, guaranteeing very low carbon energy for BT for the foreseeable future, and precisely the kind of decisive, ambitious intervention that more and more companies are going to have to come forward with."
BT already benefits from the UK’s biggest green electricity contract, and in January 2007 BT extended its deal with nPower and British Gas Business.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
For further information on BT Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. >From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/...’s four step carbon diet
1.Reduce our footprint 0.7% of all electricity consumed in the UK is used by BT and we emitted 0.64 million tonnes of CO2 in 2007 – equivalent to 400,000 return flights from London to New York. We have already reduced our CO2 emissions by 60% since 1996. Our target is now an 80% reduction by 2016. We’re doing this by improving energy efficiency and using green electricity.
2.Engage our customers We’re delivering products and services that use less energy and help customers reduce CO2 emissions from their homes and businesses. For example, our phone and video conferencing products reduce the need to travel. We have also launched an innovative ‘carbon audit’ service that helps customers reduce the CO2 emissions caused by their IT systems.
3.Influence our suppliers We now require our suppliers to reduce the energy consumption of the products and services they sell to BT. This will help reduce our CO2 emissions and encourage suppliers to think more about the environment too.
4.Involve our employees We’re encouraging our employees to get involved and reduce the energy they use at home and at work. Even simple actions like turning off PC’s during meetings can make a big difference. We’ll be holding roadshows globally to tell employees what we’re up to and how they can get involved.
The project, costing up to £250m, will bring together third party funding and renewable energy partners to safeguard future supplies of clean, green energy for BT as part of the company’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions.
BT is one of Britain’s biggest consumers of electricity, with an annual requirement of around 0.7 per cent of the UK’s entire consumption. BT’s wind farms could generate a total of 250MW of electricity – enough to meet the power needs of 122,000 homes or a city the size of Coventry. This would prevent the release of 500,000 tonnes of CO2 each year compared with coal generation – equivalent to a quarter of a million return air trips to New York.
BT is currently identifying high wind-yield sites on or adjacent to BT-owned land for development with the aim of generating power from 2012 onwards. It was confirmed today that BT has applied for planning permission for test masts at Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station in Cornwall, Wideford Hill Radio Station in Orkney and Scousburgh Radio Station in Shetland.
Subject to planning consent and suitable sites being secured, BT’s wind farms would have a total installed generating capacity of around 100MW by 2012, equivalent to around fifty wind turbines, with the remaining 150MW targeted by 2016. BT is committed to working responsibly with local communities and will ensure that they are engaged throughout the development process.
Hanif Lalani, BT Group Finance Director, said: "There is a pressing need for industry to cut carbon in ways that make business sense. BT has already achieved a 60 per cent reduction in its carbon emissions, and is committed to reducing them further to 80 per cent by 2016. Our wind energy plans play an important part in reaching that target.
"Broadband technology is already cutting the need to travel, through home working and video conferencing. This makes sense for our shareholders, and also for our staff and customers who are looking to us to work in a more environmentally friendly way."
John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said: "Tackling climate change while ensuring we have enough energy for the future is one of the biggest challenges of our time. BT's initiative is a great example of how businesses can contribute and help us meet our ambitious target to dramatically increase the amount of energy we get from renewable sources. I hope that other organisations and individuals will be inspired to match their commitment."
Jonathon Porritt, Co-Founder and Programme Director of Forum for the Future, added: "This is an enormously significant decision for BT - and for every company that sees BT as a recognised leader on sustainability issues. It's a substantial investment, guaranteeing very low carbon energy for BT for the foreseeable future, and precisely the kind of decisive, ambitious intervention that more and more companies are going to have to come forward with."
BT already benefits from the UK’s biggest green electricity contract, and in January 2007 BT extended its deal with nPower and British Gas Business.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
For further information on BT Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. >From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/...’s four step carbon diet
1.Reduce our footprint 0.7% of all electricity consumed in the UK is used by BT and we emitted 0.64 million tonnes of CO2 in 2007 – equivalent to 400,000 return flights from London to New York. We have already reduced our CO2 emissions by 60% since 1996. Our target is now an 80% reduction by 2016. We’re doing this by improving energy efficiency and using green electricity.
2.Engage our customers We’re delivering products and services that use less energy and help customers reduce CO2 emissions from their homes and businesses. For example, our phone and video conferencing products reduce the need to travel. We have also launched an innovative ‘carbon audit’ service that helps customers reduce the CO2 emissions caused by their IT systems.
3.Influence our suppliers We now require our suppliers to reduce the energy consumption of the products and services they sell to BT. This will help reduce our CO2 emissions and encourage suppliers to think more about the environment too.
4.Involve our employees We’re encouraging our employees to get involved and reduce the energy they use at home and at work. Even simple actions like turning off PC’s during meetings can make a big difference. We’ll be holding roadshows globally to tell employees what we’re up to and how they can get involved.
