Ben Brading Bio

Ben Brading

Ben Brading ACA, BSc (hons), ARCS.Ben is a qualified accountant and has ten years of experience working in finance for high-growth tech companies, including uSwitch, Cazoo and Zoopla. Ben holds a degree in Physics from Imperial College London. He's passionate about helping businesses improve their operations to reduce the environmental consequences of their electricity and gas consumption.

batteries Choosing a commercial solar battery system

Solar batteries are an optional addition to a commercial solar installation that make an electrical system significantly more versatile. By storing excess solar energy, businesses can reduce peak electricity costs, maintain an emergency power backup, and even earn money by providing grid flexibility services. The right solar battery will pay for itself through reduced energy…

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Electricity pylon What Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement means for businesses

By the end of 2025, nearly every property in Britain will have a smart meter that automatically tracks and sends electricity usage data in real time. This digital revolution has enabled a major change in the energy market: the Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) reform. MHHS will overhaul how suppliers buy and sell electricity, using actual…

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becoming carbon neutral A guide to Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)

Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requires large UK businesses to disclose their energy use and emissions in their public annual reports. Approximately 12,000 businesses submit this disclosure each year, enhancing transparency around corporate energy consumption and carbon emissions. If your business is tackling SECR for the first time, the rules may seem complex. This…

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Industrial equipment Reactive power charges for businesses

Reactive power is a non-working element of an electricity supply that is necessary for equipment such as lifts, elevators, and air conditioning units. However, a high demand for reactive power indicates that a commercial property is not using power efficiently. Reactive power charges are charged to businesses with half-hourly meters that consume too much reactive…

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Contracts for difference Contracts for Difference for renewable energy

The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is a government subsidy encouraging investment in renewable energy in Britain. It ensures large-scale renewable projects, such as offshore wind farms, receive a guaranteed electricity price, providing financial stability before construction starts. Since 2014, the CfD scheme has offered financial stability at competitive prices for renewable energy, driving a…

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Solar panels on a commercial property roof Selling solar energy through a PPA

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are the most popular way for land owners and large businesses to export and sell their solar electricity to the grid. They are long-term agreements to sell renewable electricity between a buyer (typically an energy supplier or a large corporation) and the owner of a renewable energy source. A solar installation…

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