Be Prepared! – Esos Phase 2 (2019)- The Scope May Widen
Friday, 15th December 2017
Starting in 2015, large companies and organizations with over 250 employees, a turnover in excess of €50m (£39m), or balance sheet total in excess of €43 (£34m), have to produce and submit an energy audit to the Environment Agency every 4 years, unless they were already certified as meeting ISO 50001. The audit has to be approved or carried out by an accredited Lead Assessor and signed off by a Board director. Also, it has to include recommendations for improving the company’s energy efficiency and carbon emissions reduction.
ESOS stands for the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme, and is HM Government’s means of implementing a European Directive. Regardless of Brexit, the Government clearly intends to continue with the scheme in the next round that completes in 2019. The qualification date is 31 December 2018.
HMG’s Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are now consulting on major changes to the energy efficiency drive to meet our carbon targets set out in the Climate Change Act of 2008. Proposals include moving the carbon reduction commitment (CRC) into the climate change levy (CCL) as one tax; also, to widen the scope of ESOS to cover all registered companies reporting under the Companies Acts; and limited liability partnerships, (LLPs). The consultation, called Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SERC), ends in January 2018. Seatime Marine Consultants’ Bob Barnes, attended a BEIS briefing on SERC last November.
ESOS reports for the 2019 round must include 12 months continuous records of energy used in the company’s operations. These include building services, production facilities, road and even marine transport. For example, in 2015 Richard Thorne and Bob Barnes, with their strong marine background, who helped to form Seatime Marine Consultants in 2016, undertook ESOS audits of the Port of London Authority and Wightlink Ferries. In addition, Bob, as a member of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology (IMarEST)’s Emissions from Ships special interest group committee, is keeping tabs on the new international regulations coming into force in the next 3 years to report on and reduce ship emissions.
Seatime’s Lead Assessors are accredited by the Energy Institute’s Register of Professional Energy Consultants (www.energyinst.org/Rpec). Prior to joining Rpec, they were part of the Carbon Trust’s nationwide network of consultants undertaking opportunity assessments of many companies and organizations, analysing their energy data; and making costed recommendations with payback times to reduce their carbon footprint.
Now is the time therefore for all companies and organizations who, on conclusion of SERC, could be brought into scope for ESOS 2 in 2019, to review their energy policy, and set up or check that they have in place efficient monitoring and targeting of their energy use and costs. The sting in the tail for not complying with ESOS 2 will be fines of up to £90,000. Therefore, be prepared; and seek professional help if necessary!
Seatime Marine Consultants are members of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, and in Segensworth, Fareham PO15 5TD, phone: (01489) 558990, email: enquiries@seatimemarine.co.uk, and will be pleased to provide advice and audits to help companies reduce their carbon footprints and maritime carbon emissions; and to comply with ESOS 2.
