Empowering Your Energy Procurement Strategy: Proactive Steps for a Greener Future

As the UK marches towards its 2050 net zero emissions target, businesses are feeling the impact of a shifting energy landscape. With renewables leading the charge, traditional energy models are giving way to a decentralised approach, where electricity generation is less predictable and more locally driven. For businesses, this shift brings both challenges and opportunities, prompting a need to rethink electricity procurement strategies to adapt to a more sustainable and flexible energy system.

To navigate this transition effectively, businesses can take three key steps to gain control over their electricity demand and procurement. Here’s how companies can proactively manage their energy needs, benefiting both their bottom line and the planet.

1. Take a Holistic Approach to Energy Management

The journey to net zero isn’t simply about reducing carbon; it involves adapting to changes in energy consumption driven by new technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps. These additions will alter the way businesses use electricity, requiring a more holistic, future-oriented energy strategy.

A clear understanding of your current energy usage is an essential foundation. By leveraging data insights through tools like smart meters, businesses can establish an accurate picture of their energy profile, which helps forecast future needs. Our Energy Management services provide the expertise needed to analyse data and recommend strategies to optimise consumption patterns and improve energy efficiency, creating a more accurate forecast for electricity usage.

Questions to consider include:

What operational changes are on the horizon, and how might they impact electricity use?

How will the broader energy transition affect your energy needs?

By addressing these factors and maintaining a forward-thinking approach, businesses can better anticipate future challenges and opportunities within the evolving energy landscape.

2. Collaborate with Your Supplier or Consultant for a Tailored Contract

Energy procurement shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. As the energy market grows more dynamic, working closely with your supplier or consultant is vital to crafting an electricity contract that meets your specific needs.

Informing suppliers or consultants about operational forecasts, such as increased energy demand or planned technology upgrades, can be invaluable. For instance, businesses that are planning to install on-site renewable energy systems, like solar panels or storage solutions, will benefit from contracts that offer flexibility in response to changing demand profiles. Our Renewable Energy and Decarbonisation services can support you with the integration of clean technologies that align with your procurement goals.

Flexible contracts, which allow businesses to adjust their usage based on market signals, are growing in appeal as a way to respond effectively to evolving market dynamics. Engaging with your supplier or consultant on these details can lead to a procurement strategy that not only meets your needs today but is also adaptable to future changes.

3. Take Control of Your Demand with Smart Energy Management

In a system increasingly driven by renewables, controlling when and how much energy you use is just as important as managing total consumption. By harnessing data insights, businesses can manage their energy use strategically, responding to market price signals to optimise costs and align with grid demands.

This approach might include:

Using building management systems to adjust heating or cooling based on occupancy,

Deploying on-site renewable generation and energy storage to minimise reliance on grid power during peak periods,

Leveraging demand response tools that allow businesses to scale back energy use when prices are high or when the grid is strained.

With Inteb’s expert-led Decarbonisation and Renewable Energy solutions, we provide tailored guidance on integrating renewables, improving energy efficiency, and implementing storage and management systems to optimise demand and increase energy resilience.

Partnering with Inteb for Smarter Energy Procurement

The evolving energy landscape offers a unique chance for businesses to optimise their procurement strategies in support of sustainability goals. At Inteb, we specialise in guiding businesses through this transition, offering expert advice on holistic energy management, contract optimisation, and the integration of smart energy solutions.

Ready to maximise your energy procurement strategy? Contact Inteb today and let us support your journey towards a resilient and sustainable energy future.