EDF Energy
EDF Energy produces, distributes, and supplies energy in Great Britain. EDF Energy is one of the largest energy companies in the UK. We employ over 12,000 people, are the largest electricity supplier for London, the south east and the south west of England and supply energy to around 5.1 million customers. We own and manage the electricity distribution network covering the south and east of England and we operate coal-fired and gas-fired power stations, private CHP plants and wind farms. We are also one of the largest private networks operators in the UK, having important contracts with BAA`s Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the London Underground and Canary Wharf.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Service provider
- Industry Type:
- Energy - Energy Utilities
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 2003
- Employees:
- Over 1000
About Us
We're EDF Energy, the UK's largest producer of low-carbon electricity. If you want to know more about our history, our mission and ambitions, or to read our reporting, this is the place.
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies and the largest producer of low-carbon electricity, producing around one-sixth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear power stations, wind farms, coal and gas power stations and combined heat and power plants. The company supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customer accounts and is the biggest supplier of electricity by volume in Great Britain.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear plants, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants could generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe's largest power companies. The company employs around 15,000 people at locations across the UK.
Our History
EDF Energy as we know it today was born in 2003
- But our history actually began during the years leading up to 2002, when three energy companies ─ SEEBoard, London Energy and SWEB ─ were brought together.
- Since then, we've grown steadily, integrating and streamlining our operations to become more responsive and effective in a fast-changing marketplace.
- The combination of EDF Energy and British Energy in 2009 forms one of the UK’s largest energy companies. The combined business is the UK’s largest producer of electricity.
- We’re now involved in some of the UK’s most important projects and developments. Growing to become one of the country’s largest energy companies in such a short time is an impressive achievement.
Business Strategy
We operate in a complex market environment characterised by volatile commodity markets, high levels of competition and, despite liberalisation, Government interventions to deliver continually developing energy policy objectives.
In spite of the current economic downturn, demand for electricity is expected to increase in the long-term as decarbonisation policies prompt fuel switching from gas and oil to low-carbon electricity particularly in the heat and transport sectors.
We seek to enhance business value through continued operational excellence, achieving maximum value from our existing nuclear and coal assets, increasing downstream profitability based on a fair risk reward relationship with customers, and by leading the revival of nuclear new build in the UK. We plan to build up to four new nuclear reactors in the UK: a twin at Hinkley Point and a further twin at Sizewell.
The proposed new nuclear power station development, Hinkley Point C, will provide a significant contribution to the urgent need for low-carbon generation capacity in the UK, and to security of supply. It is estimated that when the new power station is operational the emissions of more than 10 million tonnes (t) of CO2per annum will be avoided by displacement of the existing; more carbon-intensive generation mix in the UK. The investment required is up to £20billion and will be funded by Nuclear New Build shareholders through equity injections.
The plans are conditional on the necessary consents being received and a robust investment framework being in place. Thus, we are playing a key role in current discussions with the UK Government on electricity market reform required to create favourable conditions to support these investments.
Other important strategic actions include delivering the new West Burton B Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (“CCGT”) and a fast cycle gas storage project, managing the impact of the phase out of coal generation capacity driven by the Large Combustion Plant Directive (“LCPD”) and the Industrial Emissions Directive (“IED”), securing lifetime extensions for existing nuclear plants, and continued delivery of renewable generation projects. Downstream, we aim to improve the profitability of our customer business through controlled margin management, increased cost efficiency and transformation of key processes, supported by investments in people and information systems, and in line with retail market review recommendations.
Future financial success for us will be highly dependent on the returns achieved by existing and new nuclear plants, which in turn are driven largely by wholesale market power price development. We are focused on improving the risk profile of the portfolio in the longer term by optimising routes to the wholesale market for nuclear output, participating in the creation of a fit for purpose regulatory framework and setting up a rigorous investment framework.
In order to achieve our strategic ambitions, developing and retaining high performing people remains central to our core values. We have continued to invest heavily in the training and development of our people across the business including through our own Nuclear Power Academy to deliver specialist training. To support our substantial investment plans in the UK, we expect to recruit over 7,000 talented employees from 2011 onwards.
Our Better Energy Ambitions
Our mission
Driving progress for people – a successful and responsible long-term energy business, trusted by customers and powering a thriving society and a healthy environment.
We’ll deliver our mission through our company ambitions – the Better Energy Ambitions. These are our plan for a sustainable business.
To achieve Zero Harm to people
- Our aim is Zero Harm to our people and the communities we serve. Our targets include a focus on:
- Our safety
- Our well-being
- Public safety
To be the best and most trusted for customers
- We will be the best and most-trusted energy company, known for helping customers. Our targets include a focus on:
- Customer service and trust
- Energy efficiency
- Vulnerable customers
To power society without costing the Earth
We will lead the decarbonisation of the UK electricity sector whilst achieving an increasingly positive environmental impact across our operations. Our targets include a focus on:
- To reduce the intensity of carbon emissions from our electricity generation to less than 100g CO2 per kWh by 2030
- To achieve an increasingly positive environmental impact from our operations across land, air and water
To achieve strong financial and ethical performance
We will make strong and trusted financial and ethical performance central to how we do business, providing an essential service in a responsible way. Our targets include a focus on:
- Strong financial performance
- Ethical supply chain and business conduct
To deliver safe, secure and responsible nuclear electricity
We will continue to deliver the highest standards of nuclear safety in our existing and new build activity, and help shape long-term solutions to radioactive waste. Our targets include a focus on:
- Nuclear safety
- Long-term solutions to radioactive waste
To empower our people to be a force for good
We will inspire and enable our people to perform as a force for good, driving progress at work and across the communities we serve. Our targets include a focus on:
- Diversity and inclusion
- Skills (for our people and the next generation)
- Communities (including volunteering and schools)