Big six retailer British Gas has announced it has signed a deal with the Catholic Church to provide 100 per cent renewable energy to 5,000 churches and schools.
The deal with the church’s energy procurement group, Inter-diocesan Fuel Management (IFM), covers 2,800 churches from 20 of the 22 Catholic dioceses in England and Wales, including landmarks such as Westminster, Nottingham and Plymouth Cathedrals.
A further 2,200 schools, care homes and community centres across the UK will also be covered.
The Catholic Church is one of the largest single consumers of green gas certificates based on annual volume, according to British Gas.
British Gas Business will supply a volume of green gas and electricity to power the equivalent of more than 20,000 UK homes. Furthermore, the supplier says the deal will remove 32 ktCO₂e of carbon emissions annually, or the equivalent of taking over 21,000 cars off the road.
The Centrica-owned energy giant supplies renewable electricity to more than 9,000 UK businesses.
Gab Barbaro, managing director of British Gas Business, said: “We commend IFM and the Catholic church for their desire to take the lead on renewable energy adoption, and hope that others will follow.
“We’re seeing more and more organisations looking to switch to both renewable gas and electricity, particularly given the recent ‘net zero’ commitment made by government.
“This contract demonstrates that it is becoming easier than ever to cut carbon emissions from our public and private sector buildings.”