Arriva to power UK bus and rail sites with 100% renewable electricity

(London, Thursday 24 May 2018) Arriva, one of Europe’s leading passenger transport providers, announced today that almost all its UK bus and rail sites will be powered by 100% renewable electricity* after entering a three-year electricity supply contract with SSE Business Energy in the UK.

The new contract will allow Arriva to report zero carbon emission electricity, preventing an estimated 27,000 tonnes of CO_2e from entering the atmosphere each year. The volume of carbon saved is the equivalent to powering almost 25,000 homes with green electricity, or taking almost 95 million miles driven by an average car off the road.

SSE Business Energy will supply the sites operated by the Group’s UK businesses – including, for example, UK Bus, Arriva Rail North, Arriva Rail London, Chiltern Railways and Grand Central - with electricity fully backed by Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origins (REGOs)* and independently verified by Carbon Clear, a CDP Accredited Provider.

This makes Arriva the first major private transport operator in the UK to switch to a 100% renewable electricity supply, and marks a major milestone in its journey towards ‘Destination Green’ - a Europe-wide environmental sustainability programme aimed at reducing the Group’s environmental impacts.

As part of the contract, Arriva’s UK rail and bus sites will also have access to SSE’s online energy monitoring portal, Clarity, enabling them to monitor energy consumption and implement effective energy-saving practices.

Lorenzo Visentin, Head of Environment, Health and Safety, Arriva Group, said: “The signing of this contract marks an exciting step forward in our journey towards ‘Destination Green’ as we strive to reduce our environmental impacts.

“SSE has backed the electricity supply for our UK sites with generation from 100% renewable sources, supported by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin certificates*.

“As well as the actions we’re taking to reduce the environmental impact of our vehicle fleets, the new contract helps us achieve our goals relating to our wider business impacts. It’s a clear example of our commitment to decarbonising the transport sector and helping the UK meet its sustainability targets.”

 Amber McEwen, Head of Marketing, SSE Business Energy said:

“There is an increasing demand in the market for organisations to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious. SSE has the broadest portfolio of renewable energy generating assets in the UK and Ireland, and we’re delighted to be able to use these assets to offer SSE Green.

This contract makes Arriva the first major transport owning Group to switch to 100% renewable electricity supply in the UK and we hope that their switch to SSE Green encourages other transport organisations to follow suit and invest in renewable energy.”

 As part of its ‘Destination Green’ strategy in the UK, Arriva operates a range of low emission vehicles, including hybrid, gas and fully electric buses with zero tailpipe emissions. Arriva began operating London’s first all-electric bus route in 2014, and during 2017 introduced nearly 500 new buses, all Euro VI standard, hybrid, gas or electric.

Arriva UK Bus has invested heavily in new vehicles and technologies to run a greener, cleaner fleet. Since 2010, average emissions from Arriva’s UK bus fleet have reduced by over 50% (Particulate Matter) and over 40% (Nitrogen Oxides).

* Backed by a ‘Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin’ where consumption used is matched to an equivalent volume generated by our wind and hydro assets then exported to the National Grid.

ENDS