Climate Change Risk Assessment

Government publishes report with quantified risks and opportunities for Businesses

Last week (25 January 2012) the Government published a unique report listing the risks and opportunities businesses and the country as a whole will face from climate change. Entitled Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) the report also calls for public responses.

The main objective of this report is to point out the risks and opportunities that global warming will cause in the UK and enable the government, local authorities, industry and civil society organisations to prepare in advance for the inevitable consequences.

Global Climate is changing and will continue to change despite the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most climate scientists agree that even if we limit future greenhouse gas emissions, current and historical emissions mean that a certain amount of additional warming is inevitable.

The CCRA outlines some of the most important risks and opportunities that climate change may present. It provides an indication of their potential magnitude, when they might become significant and the level of confidence in each finding. As well as the overall picture, specific findings are presented for five complementary themes: Agriculture & Forestry, Business, Health & Wellbeing, Buildings & Infrastructure and the Natural Environment.

Key Messages from the CCRA:

• The global climate is changing and warming will continue over the next century.
• The UK is already vulnerable to extreme weather, including flooding and heat waves.
• Flood risk is projected to increase significantly across the UK.
• UK water resources are projected to come under increased pressure.
• Potentially, there are health benefits as well as threats related to climate change, affecting the most vulnerable groups in our society.
• Some changes projected for the UK as a result of climate change could provide opportunities for agriculture and other businesses, although not outweighing the threats.
• Potential climate risks in other parts of the world are thought to be much greater than those directly affecting the UK, but could have a significant indirect impact here.

Risks and Opportunities for Businesses

According to the assessment the biggest threats UK businesses will face will be related to heat, flooding and water resources. Amongst them here are some of the most probable ones:

• Damage to fixed assets, stock, etc.
• Loss of business continuity due to flooding
• Increased insurance claims and potential reduction in mortgage value of properties
• Loss of assets due to sea level rise (including natural assets such as beaches and built assets such as tourist attractions, historical monuments, etc.)
• Loss of productivity due to overheating and warm weather periods
• Increased energy costs for summer cooling
• Reduction in available water for abstraction.

On the other hand there are also many opportunities for business to capitalise with the eminent changes that will be caused by global warming and they include:

• Melting of the Arctic could create quicker and cheaper shipping routes could link the UK with key global markets.
• Warmer temperatures might increase the UK’s appeal as a tourist destination.
• Energy demands for heating are projected to decrease

Like in an economic crisis, there will be those who loose and those who capitalise with these changes. It will be a matter of who’s prepared for it or not.

Is your business prepared for the upcoming changes that the climate change will cause in our economy?

Share your thoughts on our comments below, or join the discussion on our Facebook Page or Google+ page. Do not forget to “Like” and “Follow” us first.

There is also a discussion happening on Twitter about the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment, and you can tweet your opinion with a @CatalystEnergy but remember you will need to follow us first.

For those of you interested in reading the full report it can downloaded here and a summary is found here.

If you would like more information on our range of business energy services or would simply like to find out how we could benefit your business, simply call our energy team today on 0870 710 7560 or request a call back at time to suit.

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UK SME’s missing out on business energy efficiency savings due to lack of information

Small Businesses (SME’s) account for 45 per cent of all the business energy usage in the UK and according to the Carbon Trust as well as reports from energy suppliers the vast majority are missing out on saving opportunities due to the lack of information on how to improve their business energy efficiency.

The Carbon Trust stated that SME’s have the greatest potential for savings on energy: 20 per cent compared to eight per cent for larger organisations. E.ON estimates that four million of the UK’s 4.8 million small to medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) could be saving up to £2,000 per year by implementing simple energy efficiency measures such as smart meters and lighting timers.

There are hundreds of ways SME’s can reduce their business electricity and business gas usage by improving their overall business energy efficiency. But unfortunately SME’s are not having access to this type of information.

E.ON’s research is proof to that. Last year the energy supplier interviewed 1000 UK SME’s and found out that:

• Only one in five (21 per cent) of UK small businesses have energy efficient equipment in the workplace.
• That means almost four million small businesses are wasting precious money and resources.
• Almost nine out of 10 (86 per cent) don’t have lighting timers or motion sensors in their workplace
• Eight out of 10 (81 per cent) don’t have an energy monitor installed in the office
• Only 15 per cent of businesses have a smart meter.

In some segments, like the financial services sector the lack of awareness of business energy efficiency, reached an alarming 97 per cent. That is to say that only 3 per cent of small businesses in the financial services sector are aware that they could save money on their energy bills through energy efficiency measures.

Simple measures go a long way.

Back in October 2011, the Carbon Trust published a guide for companies showing that a one degree reduction in heating could generate savings of £35 million a year for UK workplaces.

As afore mentioned there are hundreds of ways SME’s can save energy reduce their costs and their environmental impact.

If you have a small to medium sized enterprise and is looking for energy efficiency solutions do not hesitate to contact our Business Energy Helpline or email us at: info@catalyst-commercial.co.uk

Share your thoughts on Small Businesses Energy Efficiency on our comments below, or join the discussion on our Facebook Page or Google+ Page.  Do not forget to “Like” and “Follow” us first.

There is also a discussion happening on Twitter about Small Businesses Energy Efficiency, and you can tweet your opinion with a @CatalystEnergy but remember you will need to follow us first.

If you would like more information on our range of business energy services or would simply like to find out how we could benefit your business, simply call our energy team today on 0870 710 7560 or request a call back at time to suit.

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Electricity and Gas Price Cuts – What does it really mean?

The six major energy suppliers known as the “Big Six” have announced either gas or electricity price cuts for their household consumers in recent days. Despite the fact that here at Catalyst our aim is to find the cheapest business gas and business electricity prices for our clients, we decided to investigate these cuts and find out if they will really make much difference to the average household energy bill.

When it comes down to household finances any type of cut to our daily, monthly and yearly costs and expenditure is welcomed.

But to what extent are these electricity and gas price cuts really?

The truth is that the price reductions for Electricity and Gas announced last week represent about 15 per cent of the value of the increases announced by the “Big Six” in the autumn.

Between the months of August and November each of the “Big Six” suppliers raised their gas prices by between 15 and 20 per cent while four of the six increased their electricity prices by over 10 per cent. EDF and Npower were the only ones that kept it bellow the 10 per cent mark, with 4.5 per cent and 7,2 per cent increases respectively.

Whilst any reduction on our household expenses is welcomed, these cuts will only bring savings of between £26 and £39 annually, which is rather insignificant when compared with the average rise of £220 for a household on a dual fuel tariff as a result of the autumn hike in prices.

According to Consumer Focus the average household energy bill is up by 14% compared to this time last year. Adam Scorer, director of policy and external affairs at Consumer Focus, said:

“This narrowing of costs must be reflected in consumer prices. The widening gap between wholesale and retail prices has become the fault line for consumer confidence. Companies want to regain the trust of their customers. Narrowing the gap is a necessary part of achieving this.”

Despite the fact that these cuts will not make much impact on an average household energy bills, narrowing the gap is surely a start. Like Kate Saines from Myfinances.co.uk said:

“We can only hope these reductions are the first, and more will follow.”

Another important fact from these price cuts is that no supplier announced a dual tariff price reduction; they’ve either reduced their gas or electricity prices. By doing this the impact is even smaller on household energy bills.

“Most of these cuts also don’t come in to effect until March, when milder temperatures are likely to return and our peak demand over the winter period has gone”  Commented Chris Hurcombe from Catalyst.

Right now the bottom line is that these cuts will go nowhere near cancelling out the 21 per cent hike in prices of the previous 18 months. In total over this period household energy bills became £224 more expensive.

So will cuts of five per cent and similar really make much difference to the average household energy user?

Share your thoughts on Electricity and Gas Price Cuts on our comments below, or join the discussion on our Facebook Page or Google+ Page.  Do not forget to “Like” and “Follow” us first.

There is also a discussion happening on Twitter about Electricity and Gas Price Cuts, and you can tweet your opinion with a @CatalystEnergy but remember you will need to follow us first.

If you would like more information on our range of business energy services or would simply like to find out how we could benefit your business, simply call our energy team today on 0870 710 7560 or request a call back at time to suit.

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Top Tips to Reduce Business Gas Usage

Even though the fiscal year only starts in April with the start of the new year many companies begin to revise their expenditures which includes their business gas and business electricity requirements. In today’s article we bring to you 5 ways to reduce business gas usage, therefore, its costs.

Natural gas is widely used across a number of different industries and sectors for, be it for heating or on industrial processes. Either way, costs with the commodity are usually high and take up a huge slice of the expenditure pie of most companies, reason why saving on business gas is essential.

Here are five tips to help you reduce your business gas expenditures in 2012

1. Increase Efficiency

Increasing efficiency means reducing costs, therefore, by being more efficient with the way natural gas is used businesses can reduce their gas bills considerably.

By reducing a degree or two on heaters and adding automatic doors are two ways to increase efficiency. For more ideas please refer to tips 4 and 5.

2. Combine Energy and Heating

Using a combined heating and power service can reduce bills by as much as 30%. Not to mention that a combined service is easier to monitor. Here at Catalyst we provide a service where you can access all your business gas and electricity usage all in one place in an easy to understand report.

3. Install Gas Smart Meters

Traditional gas meters provide a range of estimated meter readings over a given period of time, and allow for no visibility in gas consumption use or the ability to compare gas usage over a given parameter or time frame.

Gas smart meters provide an independent approach to gas smart metering, by combining a range of products and services from different providers to deliver a final solution that fits your requirements.

For detailed information please read: Gas Smart Meter

4. Insulation

According to NaturalGas.org the highest consumption of business gas goes to space heating so improving heat retention is vital to reduce consumption and waste. By investing in high quality insulation for buildings and properties business could even cut the reliance on gas powered heating devices in certain rooms.

5. Ask for Professional Help

Nowadays with the avalanche of price comparison sites that promise to find the best deals on business gas and business electricity prices providing money saving alternatives, many will say that hiring energy brokers or energy consultancy firms is a waste of money.

But why waste time looking for the best deals when you could be focusing on the core of your business?

Opposite to what many people think, the UK energy market is very complex and the independent advice offered by energy brokers and consultants helps many companies find the right business energy or business gas contract for their business while the focus on what is important for their businesses.

Up to Date UK Natural Gas Prices

As Yesterday gas demand fell 15 percent below seasonal norms and due to higher LNG flow UK prompt gas plunged. Day-ahead gas slipped below 54 pence per therm, down 0.65 pence day on day, while within-day prices dropped 0.45 pence to 54.25 pence.  Source: Reuters

Share your thoughts on Reducing Business Gas Usage on our comments or join the discussion on our Facebook Page.

There is also a discussion happening on Twitter about Reducing Business Gas Usage tweet your opinion with a @CatalystEnergy but remember to follow us first.

If you would like more information on our range of business gas services or would simply like to find out how we could benefit your business, simply call our energy team today on 0870 710 7560 or request a call back at time to suit.

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Energy Market Report January 2012

Our monthly analysis of the UK gas and power markets is now available on line for the month of Januar 2012. The service is intended to keep you up to date with all the major news in Europe’s gas and power markets. It is also designed to keep power executives focused on market activity in an easy to digest format.

Your find our January 2012 report here and all historical energy reports can be located here.

If you would like more information on our services or would like to find out how this could benefit your business, simply call our energy team today on 0870 710 7560r request a call back at time to suit.

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Or you might want to subscribe for further updates direct from our site.

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Solar Power Breakthrough to make Nuclear Uncompetitive

A recently announced solar power breakthrough in solar technology could change the way electricity is generated for good. Researchers have developed a new type of solar photovoltaic (PV) cell that uses a system similar to that employed by plants to capture solar energy.  These new solar photovoltaic cells have been labelled ‘dye-sensitised solar cells’ (DSSC) because they are made from a nanocrystalline titanium oxide film plus a sensitizer dye, which can then be printed onto building materials such as steel, glass and plastic allowing them to generate electricity.

DSSC cells have been developed in a joint venture between Australian company Dyesol and in Wales, Tata Steel, and in America Pilkington Glass, which could reach mass production in about five years time.

Many companies are rushing to produce DSSC cells at a larger scale. The idea and also biggest challenge is to coat building materials with this “solar dye” in a continuous and viable industrial process.

Solar Power Breakthrough

James Durrant of the Department of Chemistry and Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London, said: “If just 10% of Tata’s annual steel output were coated with DSSC, this would represent the output capacity equivalent to a 1GW nuclear power station per year”.

Rodney Rice from Tata Steel, speaking from their DSSC Demonstration Roof at the PV Accelerator in Shotton, North Wales, where the process is being tested, told Energy and Environmental Management  that he backs James Durrant statement: “We use high speed large scale coating, on steel rolls 1.5m wide, put through at a speed of 200 metres per minute.

“This adds up to 200 million square metres of steel per annum, of which half ends up on buildings. If we assume 10 to 20% of this is on a roof or wall and the PV is operating at between 8 and 10% efficiency, then this will easily equate to 1 GW per year.”

While the technology proved to be effective there are still many challenges to overcome before it reaches mass production. Rodney Rice also said that they have not yet developed the perfect dye and different dyes are being researched all over the world by different companies.

The first company to successfully produce cladding for buildings which can cheaply produce electricity, will dominate a multibillion pound market.

Researchers are being cautious about a timescale, some say it could reach mass production in the next five years, others are more conservative and say it will be viable within ten years.

Either way it will be before the new nuclear power stations are ready. So the million dollar question is: Will Dye-sensitised solar cells make nuclear uncompetitive?

The advantages are quite clear and when I think about how easy it will be to install and use this technology to generate electricity, I can only think of it as a massive game changer.

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There is also a discussion happening on Twitter about #Solar Power Breakthrough tweet your opinion with a @CatalystEnergy but remember to follow us first.

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The Public Supports Renewables

YouGov survey reveals that more than half of the UK population strongly support renewables and would like to see more investment in wind power. Commissioned by the Sunday Times the survey asks a series of questions about the country’s future energy provision, climate change commitments and other environmental issues.

As described by James Murray from BusinessGreen.com, the survey results were “explosive”, specially for the right-wing press which has been campaigning against climate change, wind farms, renewable energy, and the green levies that pay for it.

The survey starts with a series of less important question from an Energy Broker standpoint. For example, do you support or oppose a high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds or do you support or oppose a new airport in the Thames Estuary.

But from page nine onwards is where we find the real point of interest. “Thinking about the country’s future energy provision, do you think the government should be looking to use more or less of the following?”

Solar power

• More than at present – 74%
• Less than at present – 6%
• Maintain current levels – 12%
• Not sure – 9%

Wind farms

• More than at present – 56%
• Less than at present – 19%
• Maintain current levels – 15%
• Not sure – 9%

Nuclear power stations

• More than at present – 35%
• Less than at present – 27%
• Maintain current levels – 23%
• Not sure – 15%

Oil power stations

• More than at present – 10%
• Less than at present – 47%
• Maintain current levels – 27%
• Not sure – 17%

Coal power stations

• More than at present – 16%
• Less than at present – 43%
• Maintain current levels – 25%
• Not sure – 17%

Q. Do you think the government is right or wrong to subsidise wind farms to encourage more use of wind power?

• Right 60%
• Wrong 26%
• Don’t know 15%

Q. Do you think increased use of wind power is or is not a realistic way of combating climate change?

• Realistic 47%
• Not realistic 36%
• Don’t know 16%

Q. Do you think increased use of solar power is or is not a realistic way of combating climate change?

• Realistic 67%
• Not realistic 18%
• Don’t know 15%

It is important to note that the above results are an average of all the various demographic, political and regional breakdowns that compile the survey. For instance if we drill down the results we will notice that there is a clear age bias when it comes down to subsidising wind farms, 18-24 voters are far more supportive (70%) than 60+ voters (48%).

Despite a difference in opinion from different age groups the survey shows that the vocal minority (and their powerful media allies) who are against investments in renewable energy solutions don’t reflect the British public opinion (silent majority) who clearly favour such approach.

We would like to hear you opinion now

Do you think the Government should invest more on renewable energy resources?

Share your thoughts on our comments or join the discussion on our Facebook Page. There is also a discussion happening on Twitter tweet your opinion with to @CatalystEnergy. Remember you will need to follow us first.

About YouGov

YouGov is a global market research consultancy and the authoritative measure of consumer behaviour and public opinion in the UK.

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