There is no easy route to a greener future

As we strive towards a greener future, we are entering a complex period of transition which requires careful navigation. As low carbon sources aren’t yet producing enough energy consistently, we cannot simply switch off the old hydro-carbon technology. The desire for a greener future is being driven in part by climate change, with more extreme weather events threatening business continuity in a variety of ways. Matthew Hanson, Head of Marketing at environmental risk reduction specialists Adler and Allan, examines this energy and environmental evolution and the complexities of the transition period against a backdrop of internal transition as the 90-year-old company refreshes its brand to join up its people, services and customers.

The energy evolution
Whether your business is transport, utilities, food manufacturer, telecoms, banking, data storage or even renewable energy, to meet ongoing legislation you are likely to need to diversify your energy infrastructure and investment. At a time of transition in the economy as a whole, energy and the use of energy will change whether you are a supplier or a consumer. Many sectors will have a long transition period of using both hydro-carbon and renewable energy sources at the same time as we migrate over. The way you navigate the transition now, could determine your success in the future.

We shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that a green future doesn’t come with risks and liquid fuels like hydrogen or renewables are still potentially hazardous and require asset protection. An effective transition plan will help you stay one step ahead of your competitors.

As we transition to new energy sources, we will need to continue to maintain an ageing infrastructure of hydro-carbon fuel tanks which require traditional skills such as tank cleaning, together with a knowledge of specialist health and safety. More and more we are seeing these traditional skills diminishing as young engineers future proof themselves by, understandably, specialising in the skills of the new technology. What will happen if the skills run out before the technology expires?

As the energy market evolves so too does the legislation surrounding it, and not just around new technology. Recognising their age, traditional fuel assets are subject to more and more stringent legislation to prevent contamination such as the SEPA legislation around containment and bund efficiency. Are you aware of your ongoing legal requirements in both new and old energy technology?

Whatever business you are in, the energy transition will change the way you do business in the future. As technology skills and legislation evolves and we begin to phase out the old and welcome in the new, requirements are changing.

Protecting your assets from Mother Nature
In the future, as we transition over to green energy sources, we are likely to see increased effects from climate change including flooding. “Global overheating is changing our weather and increasing our risk of flooding,” said Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency. Flooding is becoming a significant risk to our infrastructure and assets here in the UK as we deal with more extreme climates. Flooding can have a hugely damaging effect on important infrastructure assets, such as sub-stations and forecourts, which in turn can have a negative impact on consumers and can be hugely damaging for your brand.

Flooding often causes pollution incidents, and if your business can’t evidence a clear strategy to mitigate for flood, you could face prosecution. Law firm Clyde & Co points to a six-fold increase in average Environment Agency fines per prosecution in the last five years in this article in Resource, however the overall number of fines has dropped.

In any business today, preparedness for flooding and flood resilience should be part of an ongoing asset planning strategy. More than damaging physical assets, flooding can impact footfall, customer loyalty and reputation.

Working with a partner that can help you to literally weather the hardest of storms with both mitigation and response services as well as a full grasp of current legislation can ensure you future proof your business for whatever Mother Nature sends our way.

Navigating the transition
We are all making this transition. Adler and Allan has always been involved in energy, we started in coal and coke, moved to liquid fuels, now our new brand reflects the wider evolution to a more diverse energy infrastructure. Recognising the impact of more frequent and intense weather incidents, we have diversified our offering to include flood risk management, planning and emergency response services.

To meet evolving environmental demands, Adler and Allan has brought together a number of specialisms under its refreshed brand to drive a better customer experience and a more joined up service from one supplier. We give our customers peace of mind in detecting and identifying the environmental risks posed today and in the future. Partnering with you we will help you navigate the energy and climate transition supporting businesses through both predictable and unpredictable events. Our broad range of risk mitigation products and services keep businesses strong, reducing the prospect of litigation, costly fines and bad publicity, as well as reducing the threat to the environment.