EDF works with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on ambitious Carbon Reduction Plan
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is aiming to reduce its carbon emissions by 14,000 tonnes by 2030
- Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, EDF, is helping SFRS improve its energy efficiency across targeted Scottish sites
Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, EDF, has been tasked by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to help guide the public sector organisation to significantly improve its energy efficiency.
In accordance with the Scottish government’s target to achieve net zero by 2045, EDF will be helping it reduce the emissions associated with the energy used to power its buildings, as well as its extensive fleet of emergency vehicles.
The ongoing carbon reduction and efficiency work with EDF will help SFRS on its own journey towards net zero and save over 14,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030 - which equates to the amount that would be generated by flying between Glasgow and Sydney more than 7,500 times.
This will allow 356 fire stations to collectively attend over 91,000 incidents a year and go about their vital work sustainably and effectively.
EDF has been supplying SFRS with renewable electricity since 2017, ensuring that the electricity they use to power their operations is from a zero-carbon source. To further address the emissions associated with its building portfolio, select SFRS sites will also benefit from the introduction of on-site renewable generation - through the installation of solar PVs - allowing the SFRS to produce some of the energy required to run its operations. So far, the solar PVs that have been installed are expected to save the SFRS around £90,000 per year and 150 tonnes of carbon.
Meanwhile, in line with Scottish government's target of phasing out new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032, EDF will be helping SFRS transition to new electric vehicles (EVs) and installing charging stations across its network of sites. It aims to transition 50 per cent of its 755-strong ‘light fleet’ of cars and vans to EVs by 2025, increasing to all light vehicles by 2030. EDF has already installed 51 charge points across 46 SFRS sites, with charge points strategically placed across Scotland to ensure that each Area Commander can cover their area and collectively they can cover the whole of Scotland.
Matthew Nunn, Director I&C Sales at EDF, said: “This kind of leading initiative within the public sector to reduce carbon emissions is vital for the UK’s collective journey towards net zero. SFRS’ ambitious plans should serve as an example to similar organisations looking to take similar steps, demonstrating the kind of commitment, planning and determination that can help everyone achieve the net zero target.”
Iain Morris, Acting Director of Finance and Procurement at SFRS, said: “These important measures to improve energy efficiency across our buildings and fleet reflect our ongoing commitment to reducing our impact on the environment.
“As an organisation, our frontline firefighters respond to the impacts of severe weather events such as wildfires and flooding, therefore we want to ensure we are taking all necessary steps to address the climate emergency.
“We have set out our long-term goals and are working towards reducing carbon emissions by six percent each year until 2030.”
To date, EDF has carried out works on 80 SFRS sites across Scotland, with all works project managed by Imtech - the engineering services company and subsidiary of EDF.
Notes To Editors
* London to Sydney flight equivalents are based on C-LEVEL calculations which put the emissions of the Boeing 747-400 which is used for long-haul flights at 92 kg per hour. Based on the new planned 20-hour non-stop flight, this would come to 1,840 kg of CO2 for a one-way flight. This equates to 1.84 tonnes of CO2 per flight.
EDF Energy Media Team
24-hour press line: +44 (0)1452 652233
About EDF
EDF is helping Britain achieve Net Zero by leading the transition to a cleaner, low emission electric future and tackling climate change. We are Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, meeting around one-fifth of the country’s demand and supplying millions of customers with electricity and gas.
With around 5 million accounts, EDF is one of the largest suppliers to British homes and businesses and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. All of our home and small business customers get energy tariffs backed by zero carbon electricity as standard.
We generate low carbon electricity from eight nuclear power stations, more than thirty onshore wind farms and two offshore wind farms. Wind, nuclear and solar all produce electricity that is zero carbon at the point of generation and have similar emissions over the build, run and retire lifecycles.
EDF is leading the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C, and is leading the development of plans for a replica at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes.
EDF is one of the UK’s largest investors in renewables, with 1GW of renewable generation in operation and over 4GW in construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage. We are constructing our largest offshore wind farm in Britain – the 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe project in Scotland which will be ready in 2023.
Our energy services business, Imtech, is one of the largest technical service providers in the UK and Ireland.
EDF is part of EDF Group, the world’s biggest electricity generator. In the UK we employ around 13,000 people.
About Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS)
- The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is a national organisation delivering front-line services locally from three strategically positioned hubs based in the North, West and East of the country
- SFRS responds to many different emergency incidents including fires, road traffic collisions, rope rescue, water rescue, hazardous materials and flooding as well as assisting partner agencies to keep Scotland’s communities safe
- Across Scotland, SFRS has 356 fire stations, comprised of: 74 Wholetime fire stations; 240 Retained Duty System fire stations; 42 Volunteer stations
- SFRS has 666 operational appliances across Scotland, and 7,906 staff members. Almost half are wholetime operational firefighters.
- In 2018-19, SFRS attended 92,432 incidents. This included 26,726 fires; 12,936 non-fire incidents; and 51,988 fire false alarms
- In 2018/19, SFRS conducted 69,197 Home Fire Safety Visits, and fitted 37,536 smoke alarms
- Since 2013/14, SFRS has visited 267,528 unique homes (10.9% of Scottish households) and fitted 119,649 smoke alarms
