The council currently spends approximately £1millon per year on electricity across all of its various sites.
It has been able to use this significant buying power, as a member of the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), to secure nine million kWh of Pure Green Energy at very competitive rates from Total Gas and Supply.
Based on the council’s average energy consumption, the extra cost of moving to 100% renewable energy will be approximately £1,400 per year.
Cllr Richard Robertson, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, said: “This is a major initiative demonstrating our commitment to a sustainable Cambridge.
“It fully supports the principles of the council’s recently agreed Climate Change Strategy (2016 – 2021) and Carbon Management Plan, which explain how we will play our part in addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.”
As Pure Green Energy comes from 100% renewable sources, including solar, wind and hydro/wave energy, the council will benefit from electricity matched to Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs).
REGOs provide transparency on the proportion of energy coming from renewable sources and mean that the council can record this in their annual Greenhouse Gas report as an emission reduction against their gross emissions.
Cllr Robertson added: “In the decades ahead, renewable energies will play an increasingly important role as a supplement to fossil fuels. Total Gas and Supply estimate that renewables and hydraulic power will represent 20% of the global energy mix by 2035, compared to 13% in 2010.
“We are leading the way in helping to reduce emissions for future generations.”
For more information on REGOs visit: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/rego
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