Scottish & Southern Energy on the ‘Future Energy World’ at Bracknell Business Insight 2010

Wednesday, 11th August 2010

Last Friday’s guest speaker at the seventh Bracknell Chamber of Commerce’s Business Insight event, was Mark Mathieson, Director of Distribution, Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE). Mark spoke about the future of corporate and consumer energy and the opportunities and challenges facing the industry. He described the technologies currently being developed to achieve both the EU ’20-20’ target of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions and 20% of final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020 plus the UK Government’s pledge to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.

Mark told the 70 delegates: “We agree that being environmentally friendly is not a luxury but an economic and social responsibility”

“The advent of energy efficient smart homes, advances in the development of electrically powered vehicles, and the continued development of renewable energy sources such as geo-thermal and wind power generation to shift the supply from carbon based sources are major factors that will ultimately shape the future of energy supply and consumption.”

“In addition, influencing how and when energy is consumed by the end user including the move towards ‘time of day tariffs’, and encouraging a change in attitude can offer significant results. One community group in Oxford reduced their energy consumption by 10% with this very approach, and this example can be shared so that this success can be replicated elsewhere.”

OFGEM’s Low Carbon Network Fund (LCNF), also provides significant opportunity for Distribution Network Operators to bid for funding to identify and develop innovative solutions to meet these challenges. To meet the criteria for a successful bid, SSE intends to engage with a wide range of organisations to identify and deliver the optimum, technical commercial and logistical solutions.

One of the greatest challenges is adapting the existing network infrastructure, developing new technology and network intervention initiatives to avoid the need for replacement, and the disruption that causes.

SSE has recognised Bracknell as a network that is ideal to demonstrate the capabilities of new technologies and solutions, with a mix of large industrial and commercial companies, small and medium enterprises, the local Chamber and academic institutions readily available. It is intended that the creation of the ‘Thames Valley Business Consumer Consortium’ will facilitate the evaluation of issues and promotion of solutions across the whole business community.

In order to achieve this, SSE are seeking to partner with local businesses prepared to participate in the project, deploying measures to manage consumption behaviour which will provide participants with the opportunity to shape and implement ‘early adoption’ solutions that will ultimately be both commercially and environmentally beneficial.

Mark concluded: “Whilst SSE aim to stay at the forefront of new technological advances, shortly the talking will have to stop, and we will all have to get on and deliver.”

Commenting on the event, Owen Everall, Site Engineering and Facilities Manager at Syngenta said “The event has been both enjoyable and insightful, and has given me a vision of the future of energy demand and the challenges facing the energy industry.” Owen went on to say “The onus is on us all to achieve energy efficiencies, and it should not be left to large corporations and the government to drive this. I look forward to contributing to the successful delivery of these initiatives.”

Bracknell Chamber of Commerce, part of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group, works with businesses across the town to help them achieve their full business potential through; meeting new customers, cutting costs, developing their workforce, influencing local decision makers and arming them with business intelligence. Membership is available to all businesses in the Thames Valley. Business Insight continues to see record numbers of attendees from more than 750 businesses since its launch in February and provides some of the best networking opportunities in the Thames Valley. For more information, and to book your place at next month’s Business Insight event, visit www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk/events

Press enquiries to the Thames Valley Chamber Press Office 01753 870552