On the path to Net Zero
The UK’s electricity generation was the “cleanest ever” in 2024, according to the Carbon Brief, with renewable energy making up more than half of our electricity for the first time. The benefits of this are already revealing themselves with greenhouse gas emissions falling by 3.6% last year.
With the closure of the UK’s last coal power station, a wide range of major wind and solar projects underway across the country and a near 40% increase in electric vehicles on the road, the nation is making significant strides on the path to net zero.
The UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 action plan aims to accelerate this even further, having committed to a target of 95% of Great Britain’s electricity generation being produced by clean sources, with no more than 5% coming from unabated gas* and to be used only when essential.
Gas and the energy transition
When the UK’s last coal power station, at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, stopped operations last year, the energy storage inherent in coal stocks went with it too. Whilst ending our reliance on coal is unequivocally a good thing, as more renewables come online we need to maintain security of supply whilst driving that switch to a greener energy system.
SSE Thermal sites based on the east coast of Yorkshire at Atwick and Aldborough are an essential part of this journey, offering valuable flexibility and hedging services to the UK and interconnected gas markets. The sites hold around 40% of the UK’s conventional underground gas storage.
As part of the transition to a net zero future, SSE Thermal business is exploring opportunities to convert the gas storage facilities to store low-carbon hydrogen, which can be used to decarbonise power and wider industry.
The maintenance of these storage facilities is vital and our Industrial Services team are now on hand having recently signed a 3 year contract with SSE Thermal for their upkeep.
Veolia’s Industrial Services
Veolia's Industrial Services team provides a range of tailored solutions to keep sites operational, clean and efficient, ranging from specialist decontamination services to emergency response for chemical and hydrocarbon spillages.
At SSE Thermal’s gas storage facilities, our team of experts deliver high pressure water cleaning on tanks, heat exchangers, pipe works and interceptors, along with the management of liquid waste produced on site.
Our expertise in securing optimal efficiency and compliance with stringent standards for SSE Thermal also includes the latest innovations in CCTV inspection and drain cleaning. Our versatile camera crawlers, with 360-degree views and 300m range, provide comprehensive visual data which we can use to deliver detailed drainage mapping. By understanding pipe dimensions, access points, and problem areas, we provide a complete maintenance solution, thereby helping to maintain a secure energy supply, essential as energy demands are predicted to double by 2050.
“Our Industrial Services are an integral part of our service offering for our industrial customers, especially those carbon-intensive businesses looking to become greener. We’re incredibly proud to be working with such an ambitious customer as SSE Thermal, helping deliver reliable energy as the UK transitions to Clean Power by 2030.”
John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer - Industrial, Water & Energy for Veolia UK, Ireland and Nordics at Veolia
