A lot of our customers choose Think Hire’s solar generators to power their sites as part of their company’s net zero strategy. But what exactly is ‘net zero’, how is the target being applied around the world and how can Think Hire help?

What does ‘net zero’ mean?

‘Net zero’ means not increasing the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. It takes into account all the things that increase gasses like CO2, such as burning fossil fuels, and balances them against all the actions taken to remove these gasses, such as planting trees and carbon capture projects. If you remove as much CO2 as you create, then you are having a ‘net zero’ impact on the climate.

Solar generators from Think Hire support your net zero targets because they don’t create any CO2 in the first place. We can also help you to reach your net zero targets by supporting electric vehicles and plant, as well as helping you to manage your energy use more effectively through Think Energy Panorama, powered by Galooli.

Net zero around the world

Pretty much every country is committed to achieving net zero at some point in the future. The 197 signatories to the Paris Agreement in 2015 are committed to reaching net zero by 2050. China and Russia are targeting 2060 for net zero, while India, one of the largest producers of CO2, aims for net zero by 2070. However, some experts think that this might be too late to avoid an environmental catastrophe.

Here in the UK, we are committed to the Paris Agreement, with the aim of achieving a 60% reduction in CO2 (compared to pre-1990 levels) by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Our strategies for achieving this include banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035 and new schemes to promote heat pumps for heating homes.

Net zero is not zero

Laudable though the net zero targets are, it’s important to understand that net zero does not mean that companies and countries are producing zero CO2. What’s more, the target doesn’t include any reduction in the current levels of CO2 already in our atmosphere. Net zero is not about making things better, it’s about not making things any worse.

The issue is complicated further by the fact that richer countries, who are often the ones creating the most CO2, often find ways to get around net zero. Importing energy intensive goods from other countries means that they produce the CO2. This improves your rating, even though the CO2 was produced by making goods for your country. Wealthy countries can also trade their CO2 production with less developed nations, so on balance there appears to be a reduction, even though that country would have probably reduced their CO2 production anyway.

Solar generators mean real zero

Installing a solar generator from Think Hire means more than net zero, it means absolute zero. By using a solar generator to power your site with energy from the sun, you avoid creating any CO2 in the first place. There’s no need to ‘cook the books’ with carbon trades, or to invest in expensive carbon capture technology, because there is no carbon produced in the first place. Even our hybrid solar generators are predominantly solar powered, and only use their back up generators in rare cases of high demand. Even then you can use HVO or LPG to reduce emissions.

At Think Hire, we firmly believe that the best way to control the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere is to not produce CO2 in the first place. To find out more about our low carbon solar generators and solar site lighting, get in touch with our team today.