Flogas’ 2040 Vision document, Future Ready: Transforming Off-Grid Britain, outlines the crucial role LPG will play in the UK’s future energy mix, particularly in helping achieve government plans to decarbonise heat and transport.
It also announces Flogas’ ambition to provide 100 per cent renewable energy solutions by 2040 and to reduce its own environmental impact year-on-year – including offsetting all its Level 1 and Level 2 CO2e emissions for 2019.
David Taylor, head of corporate affairs and innovation at Flogas, said: “With the Committee on Climate Change urging government to legislate as soon as possible to reach net zero emissions by 2050, the coming years are critical ones for the UK’s decarbonisation. Heating is one of the biggest challenges we face on the road to net zero – and as the cleanest, most efficient and effective conventional off-grid fuel, LPG is uniquely placed to help meet 2050 targets.
“As a major UK provider, we’re taking important steps to ensure customers can rely on a secure, affordable and renewable future supply, but our commitment doesn’t stop there. As a business, at Flogas we’re also committed to cutting our own carbon footprint, which is why we will be offsetting all our 2019 Level 1 and 2 carbon emissions by the end of the year. Our carbon offsetting programme will have an immediate impact, supporting emissions-reducing projects, and reducing the business’ overall carbon footprint at the same time.”
Carbon offsetting is a way for businesses to balance their CO2 emissions by providing ‘carbon finance’ to fund conservation or renewable energy projects that deliver quantifiable greenhouse gas reductions.
Each of the carbon offsetting projects Flogas is supporting complies with either the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) or Gold Standard (GS), which are approved under the ICROA (International Carbon Reduction & Offset Alliance).
Flogas’ 2040 Vision also cements the long-term significance of biopropane (or BioLPG) in the transition to a renewable future. As an LPG produced using biological sources such as waste, sewage and energy crops, biopropane is a chemically identical, renewable alternative to LPG.
Lee Gannon, Flogas Britain’s managing director, explains: “Thanks to its make-up, biopropane can be simply ‘dropped in’ to the UK’s existing, comprehensive LPG network. This makes it the most feasible low carbon gas option, promising zero disruption for the end user and immediate benefits.
“As unveiled in our 2040 Vision, at Flogas we endeavour to provide customers with 100 per cent renewable sources by 2040 – backed by an unwavering commitment to security of supply and an unrivalled delivery network.
“At the heart of this network will be our new Avonmouth facility, which is being converted from a National Grid-owned LNG storage site into a large-scale LPG terminal. With the capacity to store 34,564 tonnes of LPG, Avonmouth will be the largest facility of its kind in the UK, and once operational, will be a game-changer for future LPG supply. Avonmouth will also be completely biopropane-ready from the outset, so it’s set to function as an integral link in the supply chain for both domestic and commercial applications moving forward.”