SP Energy Networks have been awarded the Planet Mark certification, for the fifth consecutive year, in recognition of their commitment to carbon footprint reduction.

Planet Mark is an internationally recognised sustainability certification, awarded annually to businesses that are committed to reducing their carbon emissions. The certification recognises continuous improvement and encourages action. It involves the annual verification of our carbon footprint data and confirmation that our footprint is reducing year on year.

SP hosted the Planet Mark 'Carbon Battle Bus' at two of our sites during its Zero Carbon Tour of 45 UK towns and cities in the lead up to and during the UN COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow in November. These visits allowed the Planet Mark team to learn more about the work that we are doing to reduce our carbon footprint and help deliver Net Zero.

The bus visited our Merseyside District office in September, when the Planet Mark team hosted a carbon reduction workshop to explore the next steps on the journey towards our ambitious 2035 Net Zero target, and representatives from their SP Manweb distribution business shared some of their recent successes in leading the way to a greener future.

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And during the COP26 summit, the 'Carbon Battle Bus' visited SP's new 'Net Zero substation', located within a few hundred metres of where world leaders gathered to discuss the way forward in the fight against climate change.

A combination of innovative new equipment is being trialled at the substation with the aim of reducing associated carbon emissions by 15%, which equates to 2.6 tonnes of CO¬2 equivalent, and enabling greater control and monitoring of the low voltage (LV) network.

SP have worked closely with suppliers Siemens to develop new 'clean air' switchgear technology which is completely free of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), a greenhouse gas commonly used as an insulator in substations, and with Kyte Powertech to develop a low loss transformer filled with a 100% renewable and biodegradable insulating fluid, as well as fitting fibre optic temperature sensors to provide greater understanding of the internal operating conditions.

By working with Planet Mark, we have ensured that our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint have contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Planet Mark have also provided support and guidance as we look to set credible Net Zero targets that align with the Science Based Targets Initiative's (SBTi's) global Net Zero Standard.

Steve Malkin, founder and CEO of Planet Mark, said: "We were delighted to meet up with SP Energy Networks during the Zero Carbon Tour flagship event as part of the Together For Our Planet campaign in the build up to and during COP26. Through the critical race to Net Zero we can all play a part in improving our planet's future and SP Energy Networks is certainly playing its part by developing innovative solutions such as the Net Zero substation near the COP26 venue in Glasgow."

Graham Campbell, Director of Processes and Technology at SP Energy Networks, said: "We are committed as an electricity network operator to achieving our ambitious Net Zero targets, and to achieve Planet Mark certification for a fifth consecutive year is fantastic recognition of our commitment to continuously reduce our carbon footprint. We will continue to seek innovative new ways to decarbonise our networks, such as the new Net Zero substation in Glasgow, and right across our business operations."