How renewable energy is powering big businesses

Fossil fuels have long been the world’s main source of energy. The likes of coal, oil and natural gases have been heavily relied on, but these fuels are non-renewable and are already dwindling in supply. They can also be extremely damaging to the environment in order to retrieve.

Because of this, there’s been a huge sway towards renewable energy sources, including wind and solar power. This is helping to limit global warming by lowering our emissions, and it’s also helping to stabilise energy prices. And it’s not just homeowners who are switching their energy sources, big businesses are too. Here, we take a look at some examples of how companies are changing their ways.

Solar energy

In America, 10 of the major businesses, including Amazon, have begun investing in solar energy. Macy’s also installed almost 40 MW of solar capacity to take advantage of renewable energy and Google are developing solar panels. But, how can it be beneficial?

Currently, solar energy is accountable for approximately one per cent of electricity generation around the globe, but this figure is expected to quickly rise. In businesses, retailers are currently leading the way with the adoption of solar. It is the most popular option for on-site energy generation and according to research by E.ON, six out of 10 self-generating businesses use solar.

Generating this form of energy doesn’t take up any extra space, making it an extremely popular option. It can be a way to reduce your building’s electric bill and can be a huge money-save for big and small businesses alike. From a commercial point of view, it will also allow your company to earn the ‘Green’ label. This will bolster your company’s brand image in the eyes of onlookers, who will take note of your environmental awareness.

Wind farms

Alongside solar energy, some companies have invested in wind turbines. Nissan’s factory in Sunderland uses 10 wind turbines to help produce enough power to build more than 31,000 vehicles, including the Nissan Qashqai. The efforts are in conjunction with the company’s efforts to work towards its goal of zero emissions and the 10 turbines currently contribute 6.6MW power.

Alongside the 4.75MW power from the company’s solar farm, renewable energy is contributing to seven per cent of the Sunderland plant’s electricity requirements and represents enough energy to build 31,374 vehicles.

Hydro power

Intel is currently taking the lead in the tech world for being a user of green energy, using up to 3,100,000,000 kWh each year. While they too use solar (including 18 on-site solar panels) and wind energy, they also utilise hydro energy in their bid to operate 100% on green energy.

The power, fuelled by water, is a clean source which can be generated immediately. It’s a great back-up power in the event of electricity outages and disruptions. The flexible technology is constantly being improved and refined and a turbine’s efficiency is rarely below 80%, according to British Hydro. It offers a low lifetime cost and, at present, around a third of the UK’s renewable generation is provided by hydropower, playing a vital role in the stability of our electricity system.

While there is still a long way to go before every company is eco-friendly and running on renewable energy, it’s clear that the future is looking bright. As more big-name companies get on board with the idea of renewable energy, we will see more benefits to using this source. The shift is under way in UK energy production and self-generation is going to play a bigger part in the near future as companies start to rejig the business models.

James is an Outreach Executive at Mediaworks Online Marketing and covers a number of clients across a wide range of business sectors, helping them to grow their online portfolios through engaging content.