Renishaw switches to 100% renewable electricity for UK operations

To further its commitment to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2050, global engineering technologies company, Renishaw, has partnered with the world’s first green energy company, Ecotricity, which is a member of the Green Britain Group. Renishaw has signed a two-year contract with the provider, which will now supply its main UK sites with 100% ‘green’ energy.

As part of its ambitious climate transition plan, Renishaw aims to reduce emissions relating to its business activities and purchased energy — Scopes 1 and 2 — to ‘net zero’ by 2028. Its partnership with Ecotricity is the latest move towards exclusively using renewable energy worldwide, with its sites in India, Japan, Mexico and the USA among those already running on 100% renewable electricity.

Ben Goodare, head of sustainability at Renishaw, said: “So far, we have reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 21% compared to last financial year and our ‘net zero’ commitments promise that we will go even further. We self-generate 11% of our electricity consumption and most of the electricity we buy is certified renewable — by the end of 2024, 100% of what we purchase globally will meet our sustainability requirements.”

Wider sustainability goals
Mr Goodare continued: “We try to work with local suppliers where possible to support our wider sustainability goals and Ecotricity is based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, which is close to many of our major UK operations.”

Renishaw has devised its climate transition plan as part of its commitment to three of the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). The company has committed to SDG 8, which promotes sustainable economic growth, SDG 12 which aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production, and SDG 13 which urges organisations to take urgent action to combat climate change.

Paul Sands, chief growth officer at Ecotricity, said: “We are delighted to be supplying our Gloucestershire neighbours, Renishaw, with 100% green electricity. Renishaw is a torch-bearing company with well-respected products, and it is great to be helping them on their journey to sustainability. By being with us, they will also be helping us build more renewable generation, which Britain so urgently needs.”

To help find a new energy provider that met Renishaw’s sustainability requirements for the business, it worked with Logical Utilities, a consultancy based in Cheltenham.

For further information on Renishaw’s commitment to sustainability, visit the website here.