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Vital Energi’s fleet has distinguished itself as one of the greenest around after emissions from their vehicles were found to be less than 25% of other organisations.

Pendragon Vehicle Management recently undertook an audit of their clients who had taken delivery of 20 or more cars over the previous year. Vital Energi topped the league table of sustainable performers by coming in with an average of 20.7 Co2 g/km. The average for similar sized clients was 85.2 Co2 g/km.

Fleet Manager, Paul Carberry explains, “We are helping to decarbonise cities, campuses and developments through our energy generation and energy conservation projects and it’s great that we can contribute, as a company, to reduce the carbon emissions of our company fleet.

“We were early adopters of low emission petrol and diesel vehicles, then mild hybrids in 2009, plug-in electric vehicles (PHEV’s) vehicles in 2014 and more recently, in 2019, battery electric vehicles (BEV’s), which can be charged by the Solar PVs at our Blackburn headquarters. By constantly being at the cutting edge of technology, coupled with choosing sustainable behaviours, we are able to outperform other similar organisations and contribute to the UK meetings its carbon targets.”

Over 70% of Vitals’ current fleet are either BEV’s or PHEV’s, which give the fleet average emissions of 48.21 Co2 g/km.  With another 95% of the 21 vehicles that are currently in the order bank being BEV’s or PHEV’s, the fleet is only set to become greener in the future and will continue to position Vital Energi at the forefront in the UK’s journey towards net zero.

Vital Energi recently completed their first EcoVadis assessment and are proud to have been awarded a Silver Medal Sustainability Rating, placing them within the top 15% of companies rated over the last year. 

EcoVadis is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, having created a global network of over 130,000 rated companies. Within the industry, it is also the most widely recognised sustainability benchmark.

Environmental performance was a scorecard highlight, along with Human Rights and Ethics, and EcoVadis commented that Vital Energi “demonstrate an advanced management system on environmental issues” compared to other companies in the industry.

One notable achievement is Vital Energi’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions. The company have set an ambitious target to become a net zero organisation by 2035. To reach this goal, they have implemented various initiatives, including appointing carbon management experts, Greenly, to help calculate their most detailed carbon footprint ever, investing in on-site renewables and electric vehicles, enhancing energy efficiency in operations and training/upskilling staff and supply chain.

Looking ahead, Vital Energi have ambitious plans to further enhance their sustainability performance. A key initiative is the development of their Supplier Engagement Portal. This innovative platform will facilitate better communication and collaboration with suppliers, ensuring that sustainability criteria are met throughout the supply chain. The portal will allow suppliers to share their sustainability practices, submit compliance documentation, and participate in joint initiatives to reduce environmental impact.

To be rated this highly in their first ever assessment really is testament to all staff throughout the company and their ongoing commitment to protecting our planet for future generations.

To demonstrate their ongoing commitment to sustainability, Vital Energi have identified key focus areas, and work is already underway internally to develop an Action Plan in preparation for their next assessment where they aim to be awarded a Gold Medal Sustainability Rating.

Dedicated to helping the UK achieve its net zero ambitions, Vital Energi has secured £72.3m of Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme funding for clients across the country, and will deliver projects using the latest technologies to save almost 15,000 tonnes of carbon per year.

The PSDS funding is administered by Salix Finance on behalf of the Government’s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who have just announced that £553m has been made available through Phase 3a of PSDS to 160 public sector organisations across the country. This funding is the first part of an overall £1.425 billion due to be allocated through Phase 3 over next three years until 2025.

We’ve worked closely with our clients to navigate them through the PSDS 3 application process, helping secure 13% of the total funding amount for 9 projects across a range of public sector organisations, including NHS trusts and law courts.

Business and Energy Minister, Lord Callanan, said:

“Using cleaner technology to heat our civic buildings is helping to shield public sector organisations from costly fossil fuels, especially at a time of high global prices. This funding will bring significant savings for taxpayers of well over half a billion pounds each year by making public buildings cheaper to run, heat and cool, whilst supporting economic growth and jobs across the country.”

The next round of applications to the scheme – Phase 3b – are expected to open in September this year.

Vital Energi has a proven track record securing PSDS funding for new and existing public sector clients and is engaged in the delivery of over £200m of carbon reduction projects in the public sector through the support of the PSDS funding initiative.

“Early engagement from an energy services specialist like Vital to develop a range of projects suitable for funding under this kind of initiative, and being in a position to make a successful application at the earliest opportunity, is very important,” said Ashley Malin.

“Having a delivery partner is an essential factor in the evaluation carried out by Salix Finance. From the projects we’ve been involved in, public bodies who can demonstrate that their projects are well developed and they have a partner in place to deliver the project on time and within budget, with a recognised route through procurement, are more likely to be successful in securing PSDS funding.”

With PSDS Phase 3b fast approaching, please contact us for further information or to discuss a project you have in mind.

Vital Energi are proud to be active members of the Diverse Heat Network (DHN), a newly created group of organisations with a shared ambition to drive actionable change and diversity across the sector.

The group of businesses and representatives aims are:

• To encourage collaboration, share best practice and learn from and with each other through a range of initiatives, activities and resources.
• To identify parts of our sector which are not diverse and continue to attract a diverse workforce, growing our talent pool whilst developing talent we already have.
• To enable change, inspiring and influencing our partners, supply chain and the wider industry, to accelerate innovation and creative solutions.

The DHN is a collective of organisations with a shared ambition to enable change within our sector through partnership and collaboration.

Working alongside industry peers, Gary Fielding, Chairman of Vital Energi is representing as a Board Member, alongside our Proposals Manager Gemma Dyson, and Trainee Energy & Commercial Modeller Millie Cooney, who will champion our involvement across the heat network sector, and wider energy industry.

Learn more about the Diverse Heat Network

Vital Energi have received Multi Utility Recognition Status (MURS) which enables them to carry out a range of essential contestable works across the water, electricity and gas utilities.

Vital have been accredited as a company by the The Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS), The Gas Industry Registration Scheme (GIRS) and the National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS).  After being recognised by these three schemes Vital Energi is now recognised as having Multi Utility status.

Vital Energi have considerable knowledge and experience in the delivery of complex infrastructure projects. Cost and time savings can be realised through early engagement of subject matter experts that bring about utility coordination.

More about our accreditations:

WIRS

The Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS) is for contractors who provide new connections to the existing water supply or sewerage system. These are referred to as Self Lay Providers (SLPs). A WIRS registered SLP can undertake Contestable Works in relation to the provision of new water connections, i.e. mains, services and associated works.

GIRS

The Gas Industry Registration Scheme (GIRS) is for contractors who provide work associated with the construction of new gas infrastructure. GIRS registered providers are able to undertake new gas connections, services alterations or disconnections, dependent on the scope of their accreditations.

Utility Infrastructure Providers (UIPs) can compete with Gas Distribution Networks to complete some gas connection activities.

NERS

The National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS) is a UK-wide accreditation scheme which assesses the competence of Independent Connection Providers to deliver connections safely and to a high standard.

Building in our reputation for delivering low carbon sustainable infrastructure solutions we can reduce costs and risks associated with Multi Utility delivery through co-ordinated, design and delivery. To find out more about how we can help to meet your low carbon Multi Utility infrastructure needs please contact us using the link below.

If you’d like to know more about our capabilities, or you’d like to discuss your Multi Utility needs then please contact Medi Rampal at [email protected]

Vital Energi have secured a £25m contract with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust to reduce the Trust’s carbon footprint by 14,000 tonnes a year, and guarantee energy savings of at least £1.3m a year for the Nottingham City Hospital.

The project received grant funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), which is administered by Salix on behalf of the Government’s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The City Hospital currently relies on aged gas and coal fired boilers for heating and hot water, which Vital Energi will be replacing with more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies, resulting in a reduction of 14,000 tonnes of carbon per year.

The old laundry building will be demolished so Vital can construct a new energy centre at the heart of the site, which will be equipped with combined heat and power units to provide heating and electricity throughout the hospital using new and improved energy infrastructure.

Vital Energi will also be installing renewable generation and energy conservation measures such as LED lighting, 300 kWe solar PV panels, and 342 kW air source heat pumps around the hospital, which will deliver energy and carbon reductions.

These solutions will have a significant impact on the overall energy performance and carbon emissions of the hospital, and the lighting upgrades will enhance the patient experience in both the wards and common areas.

Andrew Chatten, Director of Estates and Facilities at the Trust, said:

“We are committed to doing everything possible to reduce our carbon footprint, and to upgrade our ageing hospital estate, which costs a lot to maintain and makes it much harder for us to deliver the outstanding patient care to which we aspire. Having secured grant funding as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, we are now looking forward to working with Vital Energi to make City Hospital much more energy efficient.”

Sameen Khan, NHS Programme Manager for Salix Finance, added:

“We are pleased we can support Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and be a partner in their landmark project. Their commitment to improving their patient care, facilities, reducing their carbon footprint and considering the impact they were having on the environment, has been emphasised from the onset of their funding application and relationship with Salix. We are proud to be a part of their journey towards a low-carbon future.”

With vast experience of working in acute hospital environments throughout the UK, and through excellent communication, working alongside hospital staff, Vital Energi will ensure minimal disruption and continuity of service.

Vital Energi are delivering the project through the Carbon and Energy Fund Framework, which has been specifically created to fund complex energy infrastructure upgrades for public sector organisations.

Vital Energi have been partnering with Loughborough University for over 25 years and have installed over 7km of district heating pipework, helping their heating network evolve to meet the changing needs of their campus.

As part of their ambitious plans to be net zero by 2030, Affinity Water have appointed Vital Energi to install solar across 4 of their sites in London and the south of England, in a contract initially worth £3.9m.

Affinity Water supplies an average of 950 million litres of water each day to 3.8 million people across the south, and they are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and achieving net zero operational carbon emissions by 2030, partly through the installation of renewable technologies.

There are plans in place for the scheme to significantly grow too. A total of 37,000 panels are set to be installed which will generate 23.5MW of renewable energy a year to help power 28 of Affinity Water’s pumping stations across the south of England, which will result in energy savings of up to £2.8m a year.

The project will see the installation of both ground and roof mounted solar arrays, along with new and upgraded electrical infrastructure, and will deliver a net gain in biodiversity of 10% through species habitat enhancements. All the work is being undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the water industry, with engagement of local residents and considerate construction methods.

Construction is due to begin in June.

Hull City Council is set to become a low-carbon leader after partnering with renewable energy provider Vital Energi to deliver a low-carbon heat network, driving economic growth, job creation, and building climate-resilient neighbourhoods.

The project will be delivered under a multi-year design, build, operate, and maintain contract, which will see Vital Energi construct a new energy centre at Trippett Street car park and install over 5km of district heating pipework during phase 1, across Hull city centre.

During phase 1 of the project, the network will supply low-carbon instant heat and hot water to residential tower blocks, council buildings, educational institutions, and private sector businesses. This solution is more cost-effective than alternative decarbonised heat solutions, such as Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP).

Due to the modular nature of the project, there is significant potential for the network to expand in future phases, with opportunities for new connections across the city as demand for low carbon energy continues to grow.

The project is funded through a £15m grant from the Green Heat Network Fund, via Triple Point, £1.5m of Levelling Up Partnership funding, and a £27m loan from the National Wealth Fund, which will be repaid through the operation of the network, representing a major investment in Hull’s future.

In addition to this, the scheme will provide a return for the council over the lifetime of the project by providing affordable, clean energy to buildings, which will allow more money to be allocated to other services, whilst also reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 110,000 tonnes over 40 years.

As part of Vital Energi’s long-standing commitment to social value, they will deliver £3m worth of community benefits, including utilising local supply chain, school and college workshops, site visits, work experience placements, training for educators, apprenticeships, and apprenticeship awareness sessions, voluntary organisation support, and skills development for Hull City Council’s internal workforce.

To deliver this project, Vital Energi will install insulated pipes throughout the city centre, while ensuring continuous access for businesses and residents and minimising disruption wherever possible.

Sustainable energy solutions developer, Vital Energi, has partnered with Transport for London (TfL) in 5-year framework agreement, with the option to extend, to deliver a greener future for the capital.

the partnership, which was secured through the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) Re:fit framework, will see Vital Energi undertake energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects across TfL’s extensive property portfolio, which comprises over 3,000 properties.

Work has already begun on the  projects under the agreement. One involves upgrading the LED lighting at Therapia Lane tram depot near Croydon, before implementing a host of additional energy solutions to remove the depot’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Another project will see gas boilers replaced with heat pumps at Palestra House, Oxford Circus House, and Victoria House. There will also be heating, cooling, and controls improvements at Palestra House, along with the upgrade of more than 9,000light fittings to LED.

Vital Energi’s decarbonisation expertise will play a crucial role in helping TfL reduce its carbon footprint and work towards London’s ambitious goal of becoming net zero by 2030.

As part of Vital Energi’s commitment to enhancing communities and leaving a lasting impact in the areas in which their projects are delivered, they will work closely with TfL to deliver a number of social value initiatives. They are also teaming up with London Transport Museum to deliver climate education talks in local primary and secondary schools.

Closing the green skills gap so the UK can achieve decarbonisaton targets is a high priority for all industry organisations, so after recently opening applications for their next cohort of net zero apprentices, Vital Energi is looking to recruit local talent, with apprentices working on a rotation around the business and engaging with TfL projects. Apprentices will have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, while learning from industry experts and playing an active role in this suite of TfL projects.

Kyrel Rose recently kicked off his green career after joining Vital Energi as a net zero apprentice.

Scott Lutton, Regional Director at Vital Energi, said:

“Our collaborative partnership with TfL builds on shared values and a commitment to sustainability. Our mission to protect our planet for future generations is fully aligned with TfL’s vision of a greener city, and we’re looking forward to teaming up with them in a joint effort to combat climate change.

“Partnerships like this are key to creating opportunities for apprentices and fostering the next generation of green professionals, as they gain valuable insights into cutting-edge technologies and decarbonisation strategies. We’re dedicated to helping close the green skills gap and ensuring that learning and development opportunities are accessible to all.”

With vast experience delivering projects in live operational environments, Vital Energi will liaise closely with TfL to ensure that work is carried out with minimal disruption to staff and operations, as TfL continues to operate its normal services.

These first two phases have been awarded grant funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS), which is administered by Salix on behalf of the Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Vital Energi supports TfL in decarbonising its operations and creating a more sustainable transport network for London.