Renewable Energy Solutions
Supplying a university with renewable energy is not a simple matter. There are few electricity companies in the UK capable of providing Cambridge's entire energy supply from renewable sources. The current company from which we buy our energy, Scottish and Southern, generates about 20% of its supply from renewable sources, which is above average but still leaves Cambridge highly dependent on fossil fuels.
A few years ago, Cambridge bought some of its energy on a "green tariff", which meant that it paid a little extra to be supplied from the renewable portion of Scottish and Southern's mix. However, this was abandoned because the university was advised, rightly, that such tariffs do very little to actually increase the amount of renewable energy that's generated. The electricity coming off the grid was still the same.
Cambridge should be proactive in seeking different ways of supplying its energy that will ensure as much further investment into new renewable generators as possible, even if this makes its energy supply a bit more expensive.
Partly, this could come from companies like Ecotricity, which operate completely renewable models and invest every penny they earn into building new renewable generators. However, most such companies are not large enough to supply the whole of the university's demand.
We'd also like Cambridge to consider investing in renewable sources of its own, or working with other investors who are doing the same.
A few years ago, Cambridge bought some of its energy on a "green tariff", which meant that it paid a little extra to be supplied from the renewable portion of Scottish and Southern's mix. However, this was abandoned because the university was advised, rightly, that such tariffs do very little to actually increase the amount of renewable energy that's generated. The electricity coming off the grid was still the same.
Cambridge should be proactive in seeking different ways of supplying its energy that will ensure as much further investment into new renewable generators as possible, even if this makes its energy supply a bit more expensive.
Partly, this could come from companies like Ecotricity, which operate completely renewable models and invest every penny they earn into building new renewable generators. However, most such companies are not large enough to supply the whole of the university's demand.
We'd also like Cambridge to consider investing in renewable sources of its own, or working with other investors who are doing the same.
