BT Group Reaches 100% Renewable Energy Goal
Multinational telecommunications company BT Group announced the achievement of a significant sustainability milestone today, reaching is goal of having all of the company’s network, offices and shops worldwide powered with 100% renewable energy.
Cyril Pourrat, Chief Procurement Officer at BT, said:
“As an organisation that consumes nearly 1% of the UK’s electricity, it is important for BT to demonstrate its commitment to a green recovery. Our team has worked hard to secure renewable electricity contracts for our sites globally, a crucial step towards the Paris agreement’s 1.5°c target.”
BT pursued several initiatives in order to reach its energy transition milestone, including supporting the development of local renewable energy markets through corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), the utilization of high quality green tariffs, as well as renewable certificates in a small number of markets. The switch to 100% renewable electricity will enable BT to reduce its carbon emissions in the year to March 2021 by an estimated 54,000 tonnes compared to the prior year.
According to BT, the company is largest private purchaser of electricity in the UK. The company stated that it will run its global operations on renewable electricity where markets allow, and will purchase the remainder from neighbouring markets until local solutions can be found. BT also said that it is collaborating with members of the RE100 initiative in order to get make improvements in renewable energy supplies in markets where sourcing supply is more challenging.
Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100, the Climate Group, said:
“We congratulate BT on their tremendous work to switch entirely to renewable electricity. BT was an early pioneer in setting a 100% goal, and has made impressive progress. Now, by transparently sharing not only their successes but also the challenges they face in a few remaining markets, BT is helping to accelerate local solutions and unlock clean energy use around the world.”
BT’s sustainability goals include a pledge to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2045.The company has set targets in line with the most ambitious aim of the COP21 Paris Agreement, linking its targets to limit global warming to 1.5°C.