First Bus leads the way with three Net Zero Emission Depots
Following the full electrification of its commercial bus fleets in York, Leicester and Norwich, First Bus has today (Wednesday, August 28) announced that these three sites are now verified net zero-emission depots and are amongst the first in the country to achieve this milestone.
The depots have built on the progress of their fully electric commercial bus fleets by investing in the necessary additional carbon reduction requirements to claim net zero status.
Reaching this goal has meant going a step beyond eliminating fleet tailpipe emissions (First Bus’s Zero Emission Mission 2035) by accounting for other direct operational emissions associated with each site. This includes the energy used to power depots and ancillary vehicles.
Net zero was achieved by reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 90% compared to a baseline (FY20), and residual emissions (less than 10%) have been offset through supporting Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) carbon removals projects. Carbon Footprint Ltd, a leading environmental consultancy, has reviewed and verified these net-zero claims. *
Following bus fleet electrification at the three sites, First Bus continued its journey to net zero at each of its depots. For example, replacing the depot gas heating systems with electric heating and the symbolic removal of the on-site diesel refuelling tank at York. Other investments include installing solar PV panels on depot roofs and adopting energy efficiency measures in each building. In addition, First Bus buys 100% REGO**-certified renewable electricity.
This net zero blueprint will be used across the First Bus estate to achieve the wider business commitment of net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.
Another significant milestone for First Bus is the recent order placed with NewPower, a new enterprise that converts (“repowers”) diesel buses into zero-emission electric vehicles. Repowering buses extends the bus lifespan by six to nine years, and generates less carbon emissions than manufacturing a new vehicle. A repowered bus saves around 600 tonnes of tailpipe carbon emissions over ten years.
First Bus is committed to reducing its impact on the communities it serves whilst creating cleaner air for future generations.
By putting the bus at the heart of an integrated, sustainable and reliable transport network, the operator aims to tackle congestion, liberate roads and public spaces, and deal with the climate emergency by ending dependency on fossil fuels.
Isabel McAllister, Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer for First Bus, said: “We’re so proud that three of our depots are now verified as net zero-emission operations. This is a huge step for First Bus as we continue to lead the way in this space within the bus industry.
“We take our net zero-emission strategy incredibly seriously and look forward to continuing the electrification of our fleets, whilst ensuring we keep delivering on our sustainability promises to the benefit of our people and our customers.”
Dr Wendy Buckley, Client Director at Carbon Footprint Ltd, added: “First Bus is a clear leader in public transport innovation and one of the first to achieve net zero operations across three of its sites – we can’t wait to see further sites achieve this status in the future. Congratulations to the depot teams for the hard work that has gone into achieving this milestone.”
Ed Gillespie, Futurist, Environmental Entrepreneur, Campaigner and Author, said: “It is incredible to see the creative, ingenious and comprehensive approach that First Bus has implemented to radically decarbonise its bus fleet, depots, operations and indirect emissions.
“York, Norwich and Leicester represent an authentically trailblazing attitude to tackling climate change, improving urban air quality and influencing the whole system – from sharing electric vehicle charging facilities to transforming diesel vehicles into EVs.
“It is exciting to see these ancient cities pioneering a bold new future for 21st century public transport that works for people, place and planet.”
*Consistent with SBTi net zero definition.
** REGO Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin
ENDS
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
Net Zero emissions in transport
Road transport is a major and resilient source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 27% of the UK’s total emissions in 2021. Per customer, one diesel bus generates only a tenth of the carbon emissions of cars. If everyone in the UK switched just one car journey to a bus each month, it could save two million tonnes of CO2 every year.
Net Zero
Net Zero – as by the definition made by SBTI - requires reducing emissions to more than 90% and then removing the remaining 10% or less emissions with carbon removal projects (offsetting).
Diesel use (Scope 1) generates the majority of First Bus carbon emissions. Scope 2 (electricity use) emissions are minimised through investment in on-site renewable energy generation and purchase of 100% REGO accredited renewable electricity.
The operator also works closely with its goods and services suppliers and partners, such as vehicle manufacturers, to reduce Scope 3 operational and embodied carbon emissions from new vehicle manufacturing.
Scope 1 emissions are focussed on direct emissions from activities such as the use of diesel for vehicles and gas for heating buildings, and Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from electricity bought from the electric grid.
SBTI does not require scope 3 emissions reduction targets if these represent <40% of overall carbon emissions.
Scope 3 emissions
Whilst indirect emissions in its value chain (referred to as Scope 3 emissions) that sit outside the immediate Net Zero emission depot status account for less than 40% of overall emissions, First Bus is working to reduce these in parallel.
About First Bus
At First Bus, we’re on a mission to grow bus usage – so we’ll get behind initiatives that move people out of cars and onto the bus.
We’re one of the UK’s largest bus operators, transporting more than a million customers a day. We serve over 20% of the population of Great Britain with our local bus services, and over half of the UK’s top 15 most populated urban areas.
Transforming our business for the better, we’re putting our people and customers at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we’re the UK’s largest national bus operator to achieve real Living Wage employer status, cementing our position as an employer of choice in the sector.
We’re all about making journeys easier for our customers, which is why we were the first national bus operator to roll out Tap On, Tap Off payment technology across our entire fleet of around 4,500 buses. Our First Bus app has also been voted ‘best in class’ amongst UK bus operators.
First Bus is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. We already operate over 600 zero-emission buses – that’s 14% of our overall fleet.
We’re passionate about giving back to the communities we serve, which is why we’re helping local businesses to progress their own decarbonisation journeys – giving them access to our charging hubs while our buses are on the road.
We also operate the Aircoach network in Ireland, Specialist Passenger Solutions, First Travel Solutions, York Pullman Bus Company and Ensignbus. First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.
Find more information on our website here: https://news.firstbus.co.uk/