Wind farms to
power BT

BT has long been committed to contributing positively to society and building a sustainable future

As one of the UK�s largest electricity consumers, we can always do more to build a sustainable future.

So we launched our Wind for Change project � the UK�s biggest corporate green energy project outside the energy sector. The project brings together external funding and renewable energy partners to build wind turbines on sites around the country. By 2016, it is hoped that these turbines generate 25 per cent of our current electricity needs from cleaner energy.

It is hoped BT�s wind farms will be able to generate a total of 250MW of electricity. This is enough energy to power 122,000 homes � roughly the size of Aberdeen and Inverness combined. This will stop the release of 500,000 tonnes of CO2 each year compared to coal power � equivalent to 250,000 return air trips to New York from the UK.

But while the environmental case for the Wind for Change project is compelling, generating our own power actually makes good business sense for BT too. Richard Tarboton, Energy and Carbon Programme Director, explains, �We use around 0.7 per cent of the UK�s entire energy consumption. Not only will this project generate a financial return for BT, but it will also protect us from potential future increases in energy prices by securing a predictable supply of energy from a low carbon, renewable source.�

And as customers use services like broadband and videoconferencing to work flexibly and reduce travel, securing a supply of renewable energy becomes even more important for BT.

�The UK�s biggest corporate green energy project outside the energy sector�

A project of this scope and ambition needs a huge amount of planning and preparation. BT has already assessed over 5,000 of its UK sites, looking at factors such as wind speed, land conditions and how near they are to residential areas or places of natural beauty. Richard says, �We have narrowed our search to approximately 20 sites whose potential for development we are now actively scoping.

This involves undertaking detailed environmental impact assessments and installing �met� masts to measure wind speeds. Once we are satisfied that a site meets our criteria, we submit a planning application. We already have two in progress with more to follow soon.�

In the future, we may produce more than 25 per cent of our energy. So we are looking beyond the UK to places like India, the USA and a number of European countries to explore the potential for generating renewable energy in these countries too.

The Wind for Change initiative is not an isolated project but is part of BT�s wider strategy designed to conserve energy. Richard says, �It wouldn�t make any sense for us to put all this effort into generating our own power if as a business we wasted energy. So we have launched an energy saving campaign to run in parallel to our Wind for Change project.

�Over three years we expect our energy saving campaign to prevent the emission

of 75,000 tonnes of CO2 and save BT �15 million. Proving that doing good for the environment is also doing good for our business.�

�This means we�ve asked every BT employee to follow five simple energy saving tips like switching-off appliances from stand-by, closing windows when the air-conditioning is on and printing paper on both sides. These might seem like small gestures but, when you employ more than 100,000 people, in combination they will make a huge difference to our overall energy consumption.�

And it�s not just BT�s employees that are doing their bit. We have fitted smart meters at 98 per cent of BT�s sites to record energy use every 30 minutes and installed solar panels and micro wind turbines at some buildings. In addition, we have audited 50 of our biggest buildings to see how we can improve energy use.

Richard says, �Over three years we expect our energy saving campaign to prevent the emission of 75,000 tonnes of CO2 and save BT �15 million. Proving that doing good for the environment is also doing good for our business.�

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