Global power generation is continuing to rise and vastly responsible for pollution than any other single activity. According to a new report by Bloomberg, corporations purchased over 13.4 gigawatts of green energy in 2018 through sustained contracts, more than 200% of the volume they purchased the previous year. Many more companies are continuing to install renewable energy sources on their property.
A Dutch perspective on how manufacturing companies are switching to renewable energy can be attributed to sustainability’s most significant benefits. Beyond trying to avoid colossal bills associated with resources such as coal, natural gas, and oil, Dutch companies are trying to demonstrate that they are environmentally conscious.
A Shifting Perspective
What began as “greenwashing” is shifting corporate attitudes towards business and environmental sustainability. In what seems as enhanced framing and remodeling of business operations, processes, and core manufacturing, leveraging renewable sources helps businesses tap unexplored opportunities.
“As Holland moves to set up a land of over a thousand windmills, there isn’t a doubt that the economy is transitioning from fossil fuel energy,” says Nina van der Lei, a marketing lead for adviesjagers. “While investors are adopting a more cautious approach, there is no need to fall into a slightly pessimistic approach yet. The path to becoming a low-carbon economy is promising, particularly because the government is deploying renewable energy by more than 40% of what is currently there.”
As part of the country’s broader efforts to combat the effects of climate change, this transition is part of the global plan to be a climate-neutral continent by 2050. Leading businesses across many sectors have already prioritized to rethink their energy consumption habits and leverage renewable energy.
Public Image
Social responsibility policy scales consumer satisfaction beyond just receiving excellent products and services. Driven by the need to show consumers and other stakeholders that business models have everyone’s interests at heart, manufacturing companies deploy strategic choices in energy selection.
The utility industry, for instance, is planning to lose 50% of its workforce in the next decade. This means that companies will be driving skills developed in decades to redundancy, yet saving millions of dollars in the long-term. Although this move may seem like a sustainable consideration, consumers are becoming more conscious about businesses’ priorities by slowly shifting allegiance to more “considerate” companies.
In what looks like a critical examination of businesses’ core values, switching to renewable energy can give a firm a positive public boost. In addition to aligning with what employees want, companies involve various stakeholders to align their business goals with the company’s core values.
Fiscal Efficacy
Changes in quantities of fuel, swings in demand for electricity, and generation costs cause phenomenal fluctuations in non-renewable energy sources. Spending thousands of pounds on energy won’t give a company an edge over other competitors who might have switched to renewable energy sources. Although the initial investment may be high, leveraging renewable energy sources help reduce costs by over 75%.
First implemented by leading tech companies, attaining next-generation technology sustainability means moving towards 100% renewable energy. Cloud centers implementing the same approach are shifting towards advanced virtual video conferencing that allows employees to meet without emissions released through transportation.