The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has signed a new long-term partnership with Pozitive Energy, to explore ways to support grassroots clubs and Twickenham Stadium during the energy crisis.
B2B energy provider Pozitive, which is part of Pozitive Planet, will create case studies, offer technologies for measuring energy output, provide tariffs based on the RFU’s energy profile, energy storage solutions and electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions.
“At a time of rising energy costs, we are pleased to be working with an innovative, technology focussed company that can provide the RFU and our member clubs with guidance and analysis on cost management and tailor-make packages based on need,” said Rob Grenville-Jones, RFU commercial partnerships director said:
“The Pozitive Energy team’s passion for the sport, through their involvement and volunteer work at a club local to their Colchester headquarters, shines through and we are delighted to have them on board as a partner.”
The partnership started on 1 September 2022, and builds on the companies previous relationship, with Pozitive Energy already supplying eight of the RFU’’s artificial grass pitch venues. Additionally, the provider has a long long-standing partnership with local rugby club, Mersea Island RFC.
“We are absolutely delighted to enter into this long-term partnership with the RFU,” said Steve Daniels, Pozitive Energy chief sales officer and co-founder.
“Having personally played rugby all my life, now coaching a youth side and being part of a club committee, I fully understand the pressures clubs are under to reduce costs wherever possible and also to reduce the administrative burden for its volunteers. Everyone at Pozitive is looking forward to working with the RFU and grassroots clubs in order to achieve this goal.”
A number of rugby clubs and stadiums have been looking to clean energy technologies like battery energy storage and EV chargers, as well as renewables in recent years as they aim to reduce their carbon footprint.
For example, Solivus has completed the installation of more than 600 ultra-thin-layer solar panels on the roof of Premiership rugby club Northampton Saints’ stadium earlier this year. Llanelli Scarlets, Hemsworth Rugby Club and Driffield Rugby Club amongst other all now have solar installations.
Beyond rugby, football stadiums are also looking to green their operations with Tottenham Hotspur installing rooftop solar and battery storage, and Bristol City signing a power purchase agreement for solar energy. Similarly the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Newport has installed 2,000 solar panels, working with community solar organisation Engi Co-op.
Pozitive specialises in multi-site organisations such as retailers, hotels and restaurant chains, property management companies, care homes, petrol stations and government organisations.
In 2020, it signed a five year, exclusive trading agreement with Shell Energy Europe for both electricity and gas, allowing it to continue to grow its operations.
