All new fixed electricity contracts for SSE business customers will now include 100% renewable electricity as standard.
This is to be generated by the company’s SSE Renewables arm, which operates offshore wind farms including Beatrice and Greater Gabbard, onshore wind farms such as Clyde and Keadby and hydroelectric stations such as Glendoe and Tummel Valley.
These green credentials are independently verified by EcoAct, and customers are provided with Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin Certificates.
Previously, SSE offered 100% renewable electricity as an optional extra to business customers.
“For the UK to meet its net zero targets, it’s important all businesses are able to adopt traceable renewable energy and this move makes it easy for them to do so”, said Nikki Flanders, managing director of SSE’s customer business.
It comes as the energy firm also launches the SSE Energy Solutions brand, bringing together its Business Energy and Distributed Energy arms.
This is to allow SSE to market its services as a one-stop shop for businesses and public sector bodies, with the company to help businesses and local authorities to ensure their existing or new essential energy infrastructure is as efficient and resilient as possible.
This includes installing electric vehicle (EV) hardware and service provision for fleets, buses and public hubs.
Over the past year, the operating profits of SSE’s Business Energy division were hit by approximately £80 million due to reduced demand, increased bad debt and £24 million of losses due to early settlement of excess commodity hedges.
However, the operating profit of its renewables arm jumped from £576.3 million to £731.8 million, with this including profits of £226 million from the sale of a 51% stake in the Seagreen offshore wind farm as well as the sale of a 10% stake in the Dogger Bank wind farm.