Urbanvolt

URBANVOLT

The future is bright

Clean energy company UrbanVolt is helping hundreds of Irish companies reduce their carbon footprint and begin their journey to energy independence

Kevin Maughan, CEO, UrbanVolt

In a world that is numb to shocking climate change news, what steps can we actually take to make a real difference? Consumers have tried for a decade to stem the tide and save the planet for our children, but they face a constant struggle with feeling helpless. While it’s true that one person can make very little difference, large corporate entities, when they decide to act, can drive real and meaningful change.

By opting for clean energy, companies are not only helping the planet but also starting the journey to energy independence that will remove our reliance on fossil fuels and the creaking infrastructure that powers our electricity grid.

According to the International Energy Agency, global renewable electricity capacity is forecast to rise more than 60% in 2026 from 2020 levels. Renewables alone are set to account for almost 95% of the increase in global power capacity through 2026, with solar PV providing more than half. The die is cast, portents of the future have crystallised and renewable energy has won out as the cheapest form of energy on the planet.

That’s where UrbanVolt comes in. We are a clean energy partner specialising in LED and solar installations for commercial and industrial buildings. Since 2015, we have been helping hundreds of Irish companies reduce their carbon footprint and begin their journey to energy independence by removing the need for upfront capital.

UrbanVolt began their business with the core objective of educating and inspiring clients to make a difference to the world. Despite consumers radically changing their behaviour over the last two decades, carbon emissions have continued to rise and are still accelerating. Consumers simply do not have the scale to impact global carbon emissions in time to save our planet from irreparable damage. Businesses must be mobilised if we are to achieve our stated goals.

UrbanVolt built a service offering that delivers LED lighting and solar installations to companies — without any need for upfront investment. For example, in terms of rooftop solar, UrbanVolt covers the cost of design, installation and all maintenance for the system for up to 30 years and the client signs a Power Purchase Agreement where they only have to pay a fixed price per kilowatt-hour.

As a business, you have two options when looking at solar. You can go the CapEx route, which means you will pay for the solar panels and take full risk and responsibility. When being sold these installations however, there is false information surrounding what panels can actually produce and the solar energy you can actually consume.

Here’s the thing - the system needs to be designed to meet the demand of the client without producing excess energy that the client cannot use, or else you are installing redundant capacity.

The other route is UrbanVolt’s ‘as a service’ model which means there is no capital or operational risk. UrbanVolt looks after the hidden costs that you do not see like planning permission, glint and glare reports and also all the maintenance costs for

URBANVOLT

THERE IS A MORAL OBLIGATION ON COMPANIES TO TRY AND REDUCE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT. THE GREAT THING ABOUT URBANVOLT IS THAT THERE’S NOT ONLY ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, BUT THERE’S ALSO FINANCIAL BENEFIT. IT’S A GREAT CHOICE TO MAKE Don O’Neill, Managing Director of Manhattan Peanuts

the duration of the agreement. It also means that you are not left with the responsibility of disposing of the panels when they eventually have to be replaced. You also dramatically reduce your carbon emissions and hit sustainability targets. Sounds like a no-brainer, right?

We have dramatically reduced energy consumption for our customers through the innovative light and solar as a service models, and our clients save millions of tons of CO2 every single year. Along the way, we have won countless awards and also became Ireland’s fi rst certifi ed B Corporation. As a Certifi ed B Corp, UrbanVolt meets the highest standards of verifi ed social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability. Becoming a B Corp hard-coded our mission into the DNA of the company and we are living proof that business holds the key to changing the world.

The question is no longer ‘if’ companies will embrace renewable energy, the questions now are ‘when’ and ‘how’. Companies will have to embrace a fundamental change and really try and create a better world for our children and grandchildren. Those that don’t make this transition will simply not exist in twenty years’ time. We work hard every day to help companies make this transition, so join us on the journey to energy independence and let’s accelerate this transition to a sustainable future together.

See urbanvolt.com for more information