Renewable energy solutions for businesses

Is sustainability and reducing your carbon footprint a business goal? Call us for a quote for renewable business energy.

Does your business use over 150MWh of energy per year?
Call us to switch to a Renewable Energy Plan

Mon-Fri 8am-6pm

Why choose British Gas for low carbon and Renewable Business Energy?

We care about creating a cleaner planet and helping your business to reduce its carbon footprint. That’s why we offer a range of low carbon and renewable energy options, to support your organisation’s sustainability ambitions.

  Proud to be verified by the Carbon Trust  

Our Natural Renewable Electricity for Business option has been independently verified by the Carbon Trust, giving you complete confidence in your renewable status.

 Recognised leader on climate change action

We’ve been recognised for our action and disclosure on climate change by the CDP, a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system that helps organisations manage their environmental impact.

 Working towards net zero together

We manage 15GW of energy assets. That’s twice the size of the UK’s nuclear fleet. Around 80% are natural power sources like wind and solar, which are helping to transform the UK’s energy landscape.

Get the best renewable energy plan for your business

We offer zero carbon electricity as standard on all new and renewed fixed term contracts.  But if you want to boost your organisation’s green credentials further, you can opt for one of our low carbon or renewable energy plans for an added premium:

Natural Renewable Electricity
  • 100% of your electricity will be backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin from natural UK sources such as solar, wind and hydro [1]
Carbon Neutral Gas
  • 10% of your gas will be backed by Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin from UK renewable green gas [2]
  • 90% will be backed by Carbon Offsets from qualified and registered projects [2]
Renewable Gas
  • 100% of your gas will be backed by Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin from UK renewable green gas [3]

Carbon Trust verified renewable electricity

The largest energy supplier to gain verification from the Carbon Trust

Carbon Trust certified renewable electricity

We are committed to helping tackle climate change and it’s important to us that you know the origin and quality of your renewable energy.

That's why we're proud to offer a 100% renewable electricity product for business customers, independently verified by the Carbon Trust.

The Carbon Trust is a mission-led organisation that is seeking to accelerate the delivery of sustainable, low carbon economies by helping governments, businesses and organisations across the world to reduce carbon emissions and achieve greater resource efficiency.

Out of 62 registered and active business electricity suppliers, only three have been verified by the Carbon Trust for their business renewable electricity products. We're the largest electricity supplier to receive this assurance.

The Carbon Trust 100% renewable label

The Carbon Trust 100% renewable electricity label

Our renewable electricity for business product carries the Carbon Trust 100% renewable electricity label. This label gives your customers and stakeholders a clear visual signal that helps you verify the origin of your renewable electricity as part of your sustainability reporting requirements.

Find out more about the Carbon Trust product carbon footprint label.

*100% of the electricity supplied is renewable, backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) [1]. The emission factor conforms with the GHG Protocol Scope 2 guidance and may be used for the 'market-based' method.

Does your business use over 150MWh of energy per year?
Call us to switch to a Renewable Energy Plan

Mon-Fri 8am-6pm

Supporting emissions reporting

Do you report on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions?

All large UK businesses need to report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in their annual reports. Many other organisations choose to report voluntarily.

The GHG Protocol sets the global standard on how to measure, manage and report GHG emissions. It was developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Our renewable energy options can help to demonstrate that you’re reducing your GHG emissions and working towards your sustainability goals.

The Carbon Trust verified Renewable Electricity for Business product is available for business customers consuming over 150 MWh a year on energy and on a fixed-term contract. Subject to availability and terms and conditions.

Call now and get a quote for Renewable Business Energy

Mon-Fri 8am-6pm

How does a renewable or low carbon energy contract work?

When renewable energy is distributed through the grid, it’s mixed with energy from non-renewable sources. This means we can’t send solely renewable electricity or gas from the grid through to your business.
So how does a renewable or low carbon energy contract work? For a Renewable Gas or Natural Renewable Electricity contract, it’s backed by Guarantees of Origin:

Guarantees of Origin - Solar panel field

Guarantees of Origin

For 100% of the energy you use, we guarantee that the same amount of energy from renewable sources will be fed into the National Grid. This is backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) and Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) as proof.

These are official documents that evidence that units of electricity or gas were generated using renewable sources. It makes it possible for energy suppliers to buy renewable energy from the energy market to match your electricity and/or gas consumption.

For Carbon Neutral Gas contracts, 10% of your gas consumption will be matched by renewable sources, and backed by Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin. For the remaining 90%, we’ll buy carbon offsets from qualified and registered projects around the world. Here’s how carbon offsets work:

Carbon offsets

Carbon offsetting is a way that businesses can cancel out unavoidable emissions by investing in climate action projects elsewhere. These projects either help to remove carbon from the atmosphere, or help to avoid more carbon being released, like helping communities switch to renewable energy sources.

Carbon offsets give your business evidence that your carbon emissions have been offset by a project elsewhere in the world; and it gives the project additional funding to develop further. We take the governance of these projects seriously, and have a quality framework in place to ensure all carbon offsets that we use make a real difference.
 

Carbon offsets - two colleagues talking over papers
Tackling net zero risks - man and women walking through outside foyer to offices

Tackling net zero risks in business

In the last year, businesses have had a long list of problems to tackle.
There’s still a strong focus on delivering net zero strategies, but the wider business context continues to be challenging, and some organisations hesitate to take firm steps on the path to net zero. 

Rather than stow away net zero plans for a distant future, what steps can be taken to overcome the risks faced today, and new challenges on the horizon?  We surveyed 300 businesses to find out how they are planning to overcome net zero risks and accelerate their net zero plans. 

Does your business use over 150MWh of energy per year?
Call us to switch to a Renewable Energy Plan

Mon-Fri 8am-6pm

Looking for more ways to become a sustainable business?

In addition to Natural Renewable Electricity, we offer Zero Carbon Electricity as standard and a range of carbonadditional options to help you improve the green credentials of your energy supply:

Natural Renewable Electricity

Natural Renewable Electricity

With our Renewable Electricity option, 100% of your electricity will be backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin from UK natural renewable electricity sources.

Carbon Neutral Gas

Carbon Neutral Gas

10% of your gas will be backed by Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin from UK renewable gas, and 90% will be backed by approved carbon offsetting projects.

Renewable Gas

Renewable Gas

With our Renewable Gas option, 100% of your gas will be backed by Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin from UK-generated renewable gas.

FAQs on Renewable Business Energy

What is renewable energy, how is it generated and why is important to my business?

A: Renewable energy comes from natural sources or processes that constantly replenish such as the sun, wind, waves, biomass and geothermal heat. Unlike energy produced from fossil fuels, renewable energy is a cleaner, more sustainable alternative that won't run out, and it helps reduce your carbon footprint.

Renewable energy has a much lower environmental impact than energy generated from fossil fuels and it can play a role in slowing global warming by cutting the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Because renewable energy is produced from sustainable sources, it won't run out - ensuring security of supply and less reliance on imported fuels - and it could eventually replace fossil fuels altogether.

What are Guarantee of Origin Certificates and how are they regulated?

A: There are various types of Guarantee of Origin certificates, depending on the energy type

Guarantees of Origin (GoO)
GoOs demonstrate that electricity has been produced from EU renewable sources. One GoO is issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of renewable electricity that’s produced. These are the European equivalents of the UK’s Renewable Electricity Guarantees of Origin (REGOs).

Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO)
REGOs demonstrate that electricity has been produced from renewable sources in the UK. One REGO is issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of renewable electricity that's produced.

Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs)
Are unique identifiers issued by the Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS) for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of biomethane (or green gas) injected into the grid and registered with the Scheme.  RGGOs provide information about where, when and how the green gas was produced – it's your guarantee that the gas is authentic and has not been sold to anyone else.

Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) scheme
The Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) scheme provides transparency to consumers about the proportion of electricity that suppliers source from renewable generation. The scheme is overseen by Ofgem who act on behalf of the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). One REGO certificate is issued by Ofgem per megawatt hour (MWh) of qualifying renewable electricity generated.

Find out more about the REGO scheme

Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS)

The GGCS is a simple and reliable means of tracking the commercial transactions of biomethane (or green gas) through the supply chain to the end consumer, eliminating double counting or double selling of registered green gas. It provides assurance for consumers who buy the gas, confidence in the energy sector and an incentive for gas producers to inject green gas into the grid instead of using it to generate electricity.

The Green Gas Certification Scheme is run by the Renewable Energy Association's subsidiary company, Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd. 

How does renewable energy get to my business?

A: We match 100% of the electricity you use on a renewable contract with electricity/gas from renewable sources. This means that for 100% of the electricity you use, the same amount from renewable sources will be fed into the National Grid. For gas we do the same, except we match 10% to renewable sources and 90% to Carbon Offsets.

It isn't possible to trace the gas/electricity from a particular source right through to your business because it is combined with electricity/gas from non-renewable generation in the grid. But we can show that we fully match your supply by buying Renewable Electricity Guarantees of Origin certificates (REGOs) or Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) each time we buy electricity/gas from renewable generation.

Why do the Carbon Trust verify your process for allocating renewable electricity guarantee of origin certificates?

A: The Carbon Trust are a global authority on sustainability and carbon reporting. They have detailed knowledge of the energy industry and are well placed to support both the development of our renewable electricity products and verify the process by which we gain renewable electricity verification.

Through the Carbon Trust assured process of tracking and allocating Renewable energy guarantee of origin certificates, we can make sure we don't allocate the same certificate to the electricity consumption of more than one customer, or use certificates from a different reporting year to match with customers' renewable electricity supply.

British Gas are one of a handful of registered electricity providers to gain Carbon Trust verification for our business renewable electricity products giving you complete confidence in the quality and origin of your renewable status.

What is Carbon Neutral Gas?

A: A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.

Offsets are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e).

Carbon Offsetting is accredited through VERS (Verified emission reductions) obtained from certified carbon offsetting projects.

Carbon offset projects help counteract the release of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, whilst simultaneously improving the livelihood of people around the world.

We match 10% of the gas you use with Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin Certificates (RGGOs) which certify that this amount of gas is from renewable generation. Naturally occurring biogas, produced from matter such as leftover food, sewage and agricultural waste, is treated in order for it to be of high enough quality to be used in the gas grid. It is processed to remove impurities and upgraded to a higher methane content which is more comparable to natural gas.

Whenever possible, for the remaining 90% we buy carbon offsets to help neutralise the emissions from the gas our customers use from a Gold Standard Foundation projects from around the world, helping to fund carbon emission savings in other parts of the world.

How can I use the British Gas Renewable products for my corporate carbon reporting?

A: The British Gas Renewable Electricity for Business product enables you to report zero grams CO2 per kilowatt hour Scope 2 emissions from purchased electricity when reporting using the market-based method, in accordance with the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance

To report carbon emissions according to the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance, you don’t need the actual certificates themselves, although you need evidence that we have correctly allocated enough certificates to your supply and that this has been verified, which is achieved through the Carbon Trust assurance process. For large business customers we can provide a list of the certificate serial numbers and will do so annually in September/October. For small business customers a copy of our product-specific Fuel Mix and associated emissions factors can be found on our website.

 Emission factors are calculated for each British Gas product by multiplying the megawatt hours of power generated by each type of generation technology for a 12-month period up to 31st March each year (to align with the Fuel Mix Disclosure reporting year) by a corresponding emission factor for each technology type. Emission factors for each technology type are taken from Ofgem, using the published values corresponding to the relevant Fuel Mix Disclosure reporting year. The Ofgem emission factors cover carbon dioxide only, and do not include other Kyoto greenhouse gases [GHGs] such as methane which may be emitted by some forms of electricity generation. Ofgem allocates a zero g CO2/kWh emission factor to all electricity generation classed as ‘renewable’, which includes energy from waste and biofuel. For wholesale electricity purchased by British Gas, the UK residual mix emission factor for the corresponding Fuel Mix Disclosure reporting year is used.

For gas, developed by The World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG protocol sets the global standard for how to measure, manage and report greenhouse gas emissions.

* We may record calls to help improve our service to you. Calls to 0800 numbers are free from mobiles and landlines. Calls to 0330 / 0333 numbers will cost you no more than 01 or 02 numbers from landlines and mobiles and may be included with your call package if you get 'inclusive minutes'. Text messages are charged at your standard message rate and may be included in your call package.

[1] 100% Renewable Electricity: Every unit of electricity British Gas supply to you during your contract will be matched to electricity from a renewable energy source and we hold the necessary number of Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) as evidence of this supply. In the event something changes, and we can no longer guarantee a renewable supply we will write and let you know.

[2] Carbon Neutral Gas: 10% of the gas British Gas supply to you during your contract will be matched to a renewable energy source and 90% to carbon offsetting projects. British Gas will hold the necessary number of Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) and emission reduction certificates as evidence of this supply. We buy independently verified carbon offsets from qualified and registered projects. We will use reasonable endeavours to purchase enough Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) to match 10% of the gas you use on this tariff and enough carbon offsets to offset the carbon footprint created from 90% of the gas you use. However, failure to do so will not constitute a breach of contract by us or give rise to you having the right to terminate the supply contract. In the event something changes, and we can no longer guarantee a carbon neutral supply, we'll write and let you know.

[3] 100% Renewable Gas (RGGO): Every unit of gas British Gas supply to you during your contract will be matched to gas from a renewable energy source. British Gas will hold the necessary number of Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) as evidence of this supply. We will use reasonable endeavours to purchase enough Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) for the gas you use on this tariff. However, failure to do so will not constitute a breach of contract by us or give rise to you having the right to terminate the supply contract. In the event something changes, and we can no longer guarantee a renewable supply we will write and let you know.