Build momentum to solve defining issue of our era, says Eon UK CEO

As a key supporter of Utility Week’s New Deal for Utilities campaign, and a guest panellist at our Westminster debate next month, Eon UK’s CEO Michael Lewis urges industry action at scale if Britain is to meet its net zero target and focus on how it uses as well as sources future energy.

Building momentum to solve the defining issue of our era
Michael Lewis, chief executive of Eon UK

The language has changed and the timeline has shifted; climate change is now talked about as an emergency, and tipping points that used to be thought of as decades away are now immediate.

We’ve recently seen positive signs that both governments and businesses have heeded the urgency of the warnings on the devastating effect climate change already has on people’s lives, communities and countries across the world. Not to mention the catastrophic effects being felt across the animal kingdom.

London Climate Week, which brought together climate experts and the public to find ways to scale up existing solutions and discover new ones, sets an example on how a collaborative approach can support the efforts to protect our planet for future generations.

We believe bold, large-scale actions are a central part of helping to deliver significant change. Eon has been at the forefront of the UK renewables revolution for almost 30 years, and we feel well positioned to be playing a leading role in helping to solve the defining issue of our era.

That’s why we’re now providing our 3.3 million residential customers with electricity backed by 100% renewable sources as standard, which allows more people in the UK to be part of the change that our planet needs.

For some people, that’s a decision they’ve already made and they know the journey we need to take. But what we at Eon bring here is scale; for millions of people this will be an important first step on a road to a more sustainable and personalised energy system. It’s a step we’ve made for them with the hope that it prompts further action on their behalf.

Meeting the 2050 target

We believe that actions like ours – and the signal it sends to the energy markets – can help to bring Britain closer to meeting its target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

But in order to achieve a much-needed breakthrough, we must go beyond decarbonising power generation and concentrate our efforts on electrifying heat and transport, as well as improving energy efficiency. It is absolutely critical that, in addition to better sourcing of energy, we focus efforts on the better use of energy.

The electrification of the energy sector still has a long way to go as the status quo remains unchanged: gas continues to be the dominant fuel in the UK, whilst petrol and diesel remain a preferred choice for freight, ground and air transport.

On top of that, more than 16 million homes fall below Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C, which results in energy waste, unnecessarily increasing emissions and demand for energy.

No doubt systematic changes will be required to make major progress on transforming the energy landscape. However, we also see that there is a knowledge gap among consumers as our recent survey found that more than one in five Britons (21%*) simply do not believe they could do any more to be more sustainable.

That implies we need to do more to show people that a range of low carbon solutions for better energy management already exist, ready to make an immediate difference.

Leading by example

The increasing adoption of energy efficiency and smart home technologies such as solar and batteries, heat pumps, electric vehicle infrastructure, smart thermostats and home energy management systems by communities, businesses and individuals will continue to lift the UK closer towards a sustainable energy future, reducing our impact on the planet.

Providing our customers with greater control over the energy they need, accelerating electrification and improving energy efficiency are, for us, all no-brainers. Combined, they have the potential to deliver huge financial, environmental and health benefits.

To create the energy system of the future, we must use the momentum created by renewable generation to move forward and decarbonise heat and transport.

Only then can we help to ensure that a future where cities are cleaner, businesses are more sustainable, and most importantly, our children and families can thrive, is possible.

* Survey of 4,228 people conducted by YouGov for Eon between 19 and 21 June, 2019.

Michael will be joining the New Deal for Utilities Debate panel in Westminster on Wednesday 25 September at RICS, Parliament Square.

The panel will also feature Lord Deben, chair, Committee on Climate Change Jonson Cox, chairman Ofwat, Phil Jones, CEO, Northern Powergrid, and Kerry Scott, Global practice leader for social inclusion of event sponsor Mott MacDonald.

For more details about the event, download the event preview below or book your tickets here.