Carbon Trust sets up consultancy

The Carbon Trust research organisation has launched a consultancy business to more directly help UK firms reduce their energy costs and get more competitive rates for greener technology.

The low carbon non-profit has set up the new company, Carbon Trust Implementation, as a result of a survey which found that three-quarters of firms were concerned about the rising cost of energy and its impact on their operations, the organisation said.

The company will seek to help companies implement plans to manage energy price risks by providing independent data on the most effective energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for a company. It will also advise firms on choosing suppliers and running competitive tenders.

The financing scheme that the Carbon Trust launched with Siemens Financial Services earlier this year wiil also be delivered by the new company.

Through it, the Carbon Trust hopes to provide UK businesses with green equipment finance of up to around £550m over the next three years, with the ultimate aim that all financing will pay for itself through energy savings.

Carbon Trust chief executive Tom Delay said: “Over the last ten years, the trust has helped thousands of organisations implement simple but effective energy efficiency measures which have paid for themselves within a few years.

“We know many more companies are concerned about rising energy costs and want to act, but they need help. We are confident that our new business will catalyse organisations to take action.”