Businesses make energy efficiency gains of €55m during 2007

Media Information
7th November 2008

Ireland's Largest Business Energy Users Make Energy Efficiency Gains Worth €55million During 2007

430,000 tonnes of CO₂emissions avoided by business energy users

Ireland's largest energy using companies made significant cost savings and energy efficiency gains in 2007 through membership of Sustainable Energy Ireland's (SEI) advanced energy management programmes.

Mr. Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources attended a special briefing with Chief Executives of some of the leading companies, prior to the launch of the Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) annual report. The report showed that in 2007, member companies, whose combined energy use accounts for 11% of our Total National Primary Energy Requirement, avoided energy costs of €55 million and over 430,000 tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to taking 100,000 cars off Irish roads. This represents a 7% gain in energy efficiency for the year.

According to the report, the achievements of member companies in improving energy efficiency and reducing operational costs come at a time when rising costs are putting increased pressure on business. The result of the companies commitment to pursuing best practice in energy management is particularly evident with the founding members of LIEN. Those companies which are in the LIEN since its establishment in 1995 have made energy savings of 30% over the thirteen year period.

The report provides detailed analysis of the performance of each of the members of LIEN and those working towards IS393, the Irish Energy Management Standard, during 2007. The total estimated energy spend of these companies was €800 million. The average LIEN member, which includes companies like Intel, Tesco, Google, Diageo and Glanbia, has an energy spend in excess of €7 million. The report also revealed that the membership base of LIEN is expanding year on year and now incorporates 120 of Ireland's largest industrial companies across all sectors of the economy, including the commercial and services sector.

Commenting on the achievements of the LIEN members Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Mr. Eamon Ryan said; "In the coming years, every business, no matter what size, will need to use energy more intelligently. The fact that the network is expanding reflects a growing realisation by the business community of this. I congratulate all involved in this worthwhile programme, in particular, the founding members for their long-term commitment. Having already achieved substantial success, they continue to work towards identifying new opportunities and creative solutions to generate additional savings, which is an example to us all. "

Brian Motherway, Head of Industry, SEI said; "Irish business has realised that the time has come to get out of carbon. Businesses know that the energy landscape is changing and that deep rooted structural changes are necessary to stay in business. The energy cost pressures businesses are currently experiencing make this agenda all the more urgent."

80 of the 120 companies in LIEN are now working toward achieving the Irish Energy Management Standard, IS393 through participation in SEI's Energy Agreements Programme. SEI estimates that these companies account for three quarters of industrial energy spend and CO₂ emissions. Both European and international versions of energy management standards are currently under development and are being based on IS393. This means that certified IS393 companies are following international best practice energy management in advance of their introduction, making them global leaders in energy efficiency.
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Editors Notes:
About SEI
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is the statutory authority