Reading, UK: Tomorrow’s budget is an opportunity to extend the Climate Change Agreement scheme beyond its current end date of 2025, says the Cold Chain Federation.
The cold storage climate change agreement provides a very effective framework for significant energy efficiency improvements in cold stores throughout the UK, and the scheme remains crucial as cold stores navigate the ongoing energy crisis, the federation says.
The climate change agreement scheme operates across multiple industries, offering tax benefits to businesses which sign up to energy efficiency targets. The cold storage industry saves more than £10m each year through successfully meeting its targets.
“The CCA for cold storage has been a great success, resulting in substantial energy efficiency improvements – the participating operators have consistently achieved the testing efficiency targets set by government over the past decade,” Tom Southall, executive director, Cold Chain Federation, says.
“The energy crisis remains seriously challenging for cold storage facilities and as many operators advance to more complex energy efficiency measures, the continuation of the CCA is vital in supporting that investment. In the spring budget we want to see the government announce an extension to the scheme beyond its current end date of 2025, to maintain momentum on energy efficiency improvements in cold stores and to enable operators to continue investing in our industry’s net zero future.”
The Cold Chain Federation has also asked the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to provide greater energy bill relief for cold storage facilities, as critical infrastructure for food supply where energy needs increase over the warmer summer months.
Under the proposals for the Energy Bill Discount Scheme, set to replace the Energy Bill Relief Scheme from 1 April 2023, most cold storage operators will not be eligible for the enhanced level of support meaning that their relief will plummet just as their energy needs increase.
The federation’s call comes as leaders of the UK’s temperature-controlled logistics industry gather tomorrow at the Cold Chain Federation’s Cold Chain Climate Summit.
The summit will see more than 200 professionals from the UK’s cold storage and distribution industry meet with global partners, academics and policy officials to explore the challenges and opportunities for the cold chain in tackling and adapting to climate change.
The summit takes place on 15 March 2023 at the Slate, Warwick Conferences. Speakers include Claire Walters (regional vice president, Lineage Logistics), Professor Alan McKinnon (Kuehne Logistics University), Dr Leyla Sayin (Centre for Sustainable Cooling) and Mollie Johnson (Department for Transport).
It will be followed by the inaugural Cold Chain Sustainability Awards, recognising businesses and individuals who are leading the way towards a more sustainable UK cold storage and temperature controlled transport sector.
