"Today there is an increasing awareness of the effects of energy use. People are asking more about the impact on both the local and global environments. I believe that responsibility for limiting that impact is shared between those who supply energy and those who use it. No matter what our age or lifestyle, what type of energy we use, whether we supply it or whether we consume it - we can all play our part.
As the Channel Islands’ largest suppliers of energy, we at Jersey Electricity pledge to work for the wider community. We seek a responsible balance between the costs and benefits of environmental excellence in the design and operation of our electricity supply system. More than this, we will provide education, products and services to empower users of electricity, more than any other fuel, to fulfill their role in the conservation of our finite energy resources. Only a shared effort will improve the legacy we leave to future generations. This section describes the issues we face together and the many options available to change things for the better"
Mike Liston - Chief Executive Officer
The Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations framework on climate change was extended to Jersey in December 2006. When comparing the Islands carbon emissions, Jersey has reduced such emissions by nearly 36% since 1990 thus achieving more than the emissions reduction targets set by the UK in the Kyoto Protocol. This is almost entirely attributable to the switch to low carbon imported electricity compared to the previous on Island oil fired electricity generation.
Table 1 Percentage change in the number of tonnes of carbon emissions per annum
|
|
Total road transport
|
Electricity Generation
|
Domestic and business
|
All
|
All less electricity generation
|
|
1990 – 2005
|
-5.6%
|
-94.7%
|
-1.8%
|
-35.8%
|
-3.2%
|
Source Jersey Statistics Unit
The Company’s move to purchasing the majority of its electricity from the French mainland has resulted in Energy related carbon emissions significantly reducing as noted above and the following table:
Figure 5 Energy related carbon emissions
As currently there is no international agreement on the treatment of aviation emissions these are excluded
Source: Jersey Energy Trends 2005 Statistics Unit
Being the only fuel available in Jersey which has low CO2 and carbon outputs enables customers to choose a heating and energy source which will reduce or maintain a low carbon footprint. The relative carbon emissions for different fuel types in Jersey are as follows:
Relative carbon emissions for different fuel types in Jersey
|
Heating type
|
Heating efficiency (%)
|
Carbon emissions (Kg CO2/kWh of effective heat)
|
|
Coal open fire
|
32
|
1.00
|
|
Coal open fire with back boiler
|
55
|
0.58
|
|
Gas central heating with existing boiler
|
65
|
0.33
|
|
Gas central heating with combi boiler
|
73
|
0.29
|
|
Gas central heating with condensing boiler
|
85
|
0.25
|
|
Oil central heating with existing boiler
|
65
|
0.42
|
|
Oil central heating with combi boiler
|
79
|
0.34
|
|
Oil central heating with condensing boiler
|
85
|
0.32
|
|
Electricity standard domestic rate
|
100
|
0.08
|
|
Electricity E7 night rate
|
100
|
0.08
|
Source: Jersey Electricity Company and Oxera calculations.