We continue to be fully committed to encouraging the efficient use of energy across our customer base, as well as within the broader community. We see this as a core activity in delivering a complete service as an energy supplier.
Energy efficiency helps to combat climate change, reducing the need to burn fossil fuels and therefore the associated emissions of greenhouse gases, as well as helping households who cannot afford to heat their homes adequately to fight fuel poverty.
Powergen addresses the issue of energy efficiency at two levels:
- Energy generation - using energy-efficient technologies such as combined heat and power (CHP) schemes and renewable energy sources
- Customers - promoting energy efficiency initiatives and products, as well as offering advice, audits and other services to residential and business customers.
Combined heat and power
In addition to renewable sources, we also operate large-scale combined heat and power (CHP) schemes. CHP is an energy-efficient technology, which recovers heat from the power generation process and uses it for industrial processes such as steam generation, product drying, fermentation, sterilising and heating.
Our total operational capacity is 613 MWe and 991 MWth, with clients ranging across a number of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, paper products and oil refining. A further project with a capacity 30 MWe and 55 MWth is due to be commissioned in 2004.
Powergen Energy Monitor
The Powergen Energy Monitor 2003 was the UK's most comprehensive research-based market report to date into the nation's knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards domestic energy consumption, energy efficiency and the environment. Powergen worked with the University of East Anglia (UEA) throughout this project. The UEA's independent academics have proven expertise in the energy sector.
Based on an extensive literature review, a national telephone survey of 1,800 householders and a series of focus groups, the report provided us with robust material to present to the Government, which helped address the energy efficiency education needs and issues raised in the Energy White Paper of 2003.
We will be undertaking further research and it is intended that the Powergen Energy Monitor 2004 will build on the key learning and themes raised in the 2003 report.
