National Express Bus has partnered with SQE and Zenobē to overhaul its UK energy procurement model.
The move, which National Express said would enable it to reduce costs, manage risk and cut emissions, will see a two-year collaborative agreement provides National Express Bus with an end-to-end power management solution for its electric fleet.
SQE’s dynamic procurement model will enable Zenobē to manage 47GWh of renewable energy, supporting National Express Bus’s ambition to achieve a zero-emission fleet, it said.
The power supply solution has enabled National Express Bus to move away from a traditional fixed-price energy contract, which can expose organisations to significant cost risk during periods of market volatility, it added.
The new model facilitated by SQE’s platform allows National Express Bus to purchase electricity through Zenobē’s power procurement team at live wholesale prices, and sell unused energy back to the grid when consumption is lower than forecast.
The approach is particularly well suited to National Express Bus’s operational profile, with 80-90% of energy consumption occurring overnight as vehicles return to depots for charging.
Roy Brewer, Head of Strategic Sourcing at Mobico Group – parent company of National Express Bus – said:
“As volatility in the energy market continues, we need to be smarter about how we buy energy. SQE and Zenobē’s approach is a breath of fresh air in corporate energy procurement.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with SQE – a market disruptor who genuinely understands our needs and has given us the most cost-effective route to energy procurement. Corporate energy procurement is historically complex, but its line-by-line, transparent invoicing – which gives us access to site-specific half-hourly data – has enabled us to truly understand, and report on, where and how we’re using energy.”
Chris Bowden, founder and CEO, SQE, said:
“The UK’s power market is in the midst of a profound transformation – one which is redrawing the landscape for industrial and commercial energy users. There’s an urgent need for businesses to abandon a passive, analogue approach to energy consumption to establish a strategy that manages risk exposure and generates revenue – turning energy into a competitive advantage.
“We’re proud to collaborate with Zenobē to help National Express Bus navigate today’s complex energy market and take greater control of its procurement strategy. This partnership shows how large transport operators can cut costs, manage risk and align energy procurement with sustainability goals – even with market volatility.”
Al Wilson, Power Procurement and Renewable Solutions Director at Zenobē, said:
“Zenobē’s coordinated approach with SQE is market-leading in the transport sector and will protect the long-term financial viability of electric bus operations into the future.
“With National Express Bus we are delivering renewable power for 467 electric buses, grounded in a unique new strategy utilising SQE’s innovative supply products and hourly markets, delivering significant savings when compared to more traditional approaches.”
Image courtesy of Zenobe
