UK EV charging infrastructure company Gridserve wins the IJGlobal ESG Corporate Transition Award in the infrastructure category with one judge saying it had achieved “deep and comprehensive integration of ESG”.

One of the judges added: “Having a biodiversity policy with a dedicated biodiversity and nature sanctuary manager is incredibly forward-thinking for an EV charging company.”

Another of the independent panel of judges added: “It's exciting that Gridserve is going above and beyond the usual activities of an EV charging company and implementing net positive changes to their chargers, such as green walls which have a huge biodiversity positive impact – and without any expectation of higher revenue accordingly.”

In its submission, Gridserve stated that it has policies in place that are relevant to ESG, ranging from an ESG policy itself through to a use of natural resources management procedure; biodiversity policy; prevention of financial crime policy; right though to a whistleblowing policy; equity, diversity and inclusion policy; and a responsible sourcing policy/supplier sustainability manual.

Gridserve states: “We are the first UK EV charging infrastructure company to establish and certify a Green Finance Framework. The certification was by S&P Global’s Shades of Green, achieving Dark Green – their highest rating. They rated our governance score as ‘excellent’, their highest rating. This evidences the high ESG standards that we have set ourselves and our market-leading approach.

“We have been certified to ISO 9001, 14001, ISO 14064 and we are working towards 45001.

“We hold ISO certifications for integrating standards into our work, showcasing compliance in areas like circular economy, product lifecycle, recyclability, and waste reduction. ISO 14001 compliance involves considering lifecycle stages and a 5-stage waste hierarchy: prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery and disposal.

“Gridserve's site waste management plans align with this hierarchy and are shared with local councils as part of the construction method statement. Our ISO 14064 carbon reduction accreditation – supported by external auditors Achilles – employs e-manage software for data input and verification.

“Gridserve was the first sustainable energy company, globally, to obtain ISO 14064 accreditation with Achilles, in January 2023.”

At Gridserve’s solar parks, 13,000 tonnes of carbon are saved and 62GWh of clean energy is generated annually – the equivalent of 220 million miles in an EV – enough to go to the moon and back 450 times.

The Clayhill 10MWp hybrid solar farm generates 9.5GWh of clean energy every year for Electric Super Hubs and Electric Forecourts, which is enough charge to drive 16,7 million miles.

The submission states: “Every EV we lease, 100 trees are planted on the drivers’ behalf. To date more than 46,000 trees have been planted which helps to combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, removing and storing carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air.

“At our most recent Electric Forecourt project, around 85% (by weight) of construction and demolition waste was prepared for reuse, recycling and other material recovery.

“Electric Forecourt sites take advantage of the latest innovations in green infrastructure, like green walls, and the landscaping is designed to maximise biodiversity gain through the use of native species and pollinator-friendly planting.

“Where it proves impossible to achieve 10% biodiversity net gain on site, we reach out to the local conservation community to identify sites and projects where – through a financial contribution – we can offset any shortfall in biodiversity net gain.

“Through the conversion of low-grade arable farmland to permanent grassland, solar farms represent a significant increase in carbon storage, with an additional 6,000 tonnes of carbon stored on 5 solar hybrid farm sites, which we either own, and/or designed, built, operate and maintain.”