Sustainable Energy First
Sustainable Energy First is a UK-based energy consultancy founded in 1997 that provides energy procurement, carbon compliance, revenue recovery, bureau data services, and site infrastructure projects to British enterprises via its Fusion Portal and Sustainable Energy Consortium.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersPreston, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sustainable Energy First does
Sustainable Energy First is a UK-based energy consultancy founded in 1997 that provides sustainability and energy management services to British businesses. The company operates a multi-service ecosystem covering energy procurement, carbon compliance and net-zero strategy, revenue recovery (energy cost and savings identification), energy bureau services (data enrichment and decarbonisation project identification), and site infrastructure projects. Its core technology platform is the Fusion Portal, a client-facing portal providing real-time access to energy consumption data, carbon reporting, and sustainability metrics. The company also operates the Sustainable Energy Consortium, a collaborative group-purchasing model that enables UK organisations to pool resources and collectively procure renewable energy agreements. Notable disclosed customers include Burger King UK (for whom the firm advised on a corporate PPA with the Alaska Wind Farm), Breedon Group, and Blenheim Palace, indicating a horizontal enterprise B2B go-to-market across multiple UK verticals.
The company's business model combines subscription-style recurring consultancy engagements with project-based professional services for revenue recovery and site works. Go-to-market is sales-led, targeting prominent UK organisations through direct enterprise engagement supported by content marketing, an active LinkedIn presence, and a monthly "Energy Advice Hub" newsletter. Distribution is primarily direct consultancy, supplemented by the self-service Fusion Portal for existing mid-market clients. Headcount is reported at 430+ sustainability specialists, and the company claims its customer base represents 3.3% of total UK business CO2e footprint, with a public commitment to decarbonise 327,170 tonnes of UK business CO2e by 2028. Sustainable Energy First is B Corp certified and has accumulated 44 accolades, including the Renewable Energy Project of the Year at the UK Green Business Awards 2026.
In August 2024, Sustainable Energy First acquired Inenco Group, expanding its energy solutions portfolio and signalling a roll-up consolidation strategy in the UK energy consultancy market. Ownership remains private and founder-led under the legal entity Sustainable Energy First Ltd, with no disclosed private equity or venture capital backing in the available data. Geographic focus is exclusively the United Kingdom.
Sustainable Energy First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sustainable Energy First
- Legal name
- Sustainable Energy First Ltd
- Website
- https://biu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Sustainable Energy First is a UK-based energy consultancy founded in 1997 that provides energy procurement, carbon compliance, revenue recovery, bureau data services, and site infrastructure projects to British enterprises via its Fusion Portal and Sustainable Energy Consortium.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sustainable Energy First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy & Sustainability Consulting
- SIC
- Electric & Other Services Combined (4931)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sector-Specific Net-Zero Pathways & Benchmarking (hard-to-abate methodologies) (EUABAKAI), Climate Finance Strategy (CapEx planning, green finance, incentives & grants) (EUABAKAG), Green Tariffs & Utility Renewable Supply Programs (EUAGADAJ)
Keywords
Where Sustainable Energy First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Preston
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sustainable Energy First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Energy Consultancy Services: Professional consultancy services for energy procurement, carbon compliance, net-zero planning, and sustainability strategy for UK businesses.
- Revenue Recovery Services: Services to recover energy costs and identify savings for clients through bureau services.
- Site Works Projects: Infrastructure project services for site energy improvements and sustainability upgrades.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Sustainable Energy First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sustainable Energy First is a UK-based energy consultancy that helps businesses decarbonise through energy procurement, carbon and net-zero compliance, energy bureau data services, revenue recovery, and site infrastructure projects. It delivers these services via 430+ sustainability consultants, the proprietary Fusion Portal client platform, and the collaborative Sustainable Energy Consortium for pooled renewable energy sourcing.
Product overview
Sustainable Energy First is a UK-based energy consultancy offering a sustainability ecosystem of interconnected services. The core offering includes the Sustainable Energy Consortium, a collaborative platform for businesses to address energy challenges collectively, supported by the Fusion Portal for client access to energy data and analytics. The service portfolio comprises specialised modules including Energy Bureau Services (data enrichment and decarbonisation project identification), Energy and Carbon Compliance, Energy Procurement (securing renewable energy), Revenue Recovery, and Site Works Projects. The company has also expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of Inenco Group (announced August 2024) and advised on corporate PPA transactions such as the Burger King UK wind farm agreement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sustainable Energy Consortium: A consortium model enabling businesses to pool energy procurement and access renewable energy agreements collectively.
Quantifiable outcome
- 327,170 tonnes CO2e carbon reduction targeted by 2028
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sustainable Energy First
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Sustainable Energy First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Sustainable Energy First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Inenco GroupcoreSustainable Energy First acquired Inenco Group in August 2024, expanding its energy solutions portfolio. The acquisition enhances Sustainable Energy First's capabilities in providing comprehensive energy consultancy services to UK businesses.
- Evolve EnergycoreEvolve Energy acts as the contractual counterparty enabling real-time, half-hourly matching of Burger King UK's electricity consumption with renewable energy output from wind farms. Sustainable Energy First advised on structuring the cPPA transaction.
- Alaska Wind Farmminor8-MW wind farm in Dorset, UK with four refurbished 2-MW Vestas turbines generating approximately 17 GWh of renewable electricity annually. Source of renewable energy for Burger King UK cPPA.
- Project Net ZerominorPartner organisation in the sustainable energy ecosystem, supporting UK businesses with net-zero initiatives.
- Energy Advice HubminorCollaborative content partnership providing energy, carbon and compliance insights. Sustainable Energy First curates monthly newsletter content for the hub.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sustainable Energy First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Drax Group: UK-listed power generator and energy services provider that has built out sustainability advisory and renewable PPA services for corporate customers. Comparable as a UK-headquartered incumbent offering renewable energy supply and sustainability advisory.
- Centrica Business Solutions: B2B energy management and decarbonization arm of Centrica, offering energy procurement, demand response, and on-site generation. Overlaps directly with SEF's energy procurement and site works modules, but is part of a much larger UK utility group.
- Schneider Electric Sustainability Business: Schneider Electric's energy and sustainability services division provides energy management consulting, software (EcoStruxure), and advisory. Comparable in serving enterprise clients on energy procurement, decarbonization, and ESG reporting as part of a much larger portfolio.
- ENGIE Impact: Sustainability and energy services arm of global utility ENGIE, offering strategy, advisory, and decarbonization solutions to large enterprises. Operates as a much larger incumbent in the same net-zero and energy transition space as SEF.
Direct peers
- South Pole: Global climate consultancy and solutions provider offering carbon strategy, climate finance, and PPA advisory. Directly comparable service portfolio, including renewable energy procurement advisory that mirrors SEF's Burger King cPPA work.
- Carbon Trust: UK-based advisory organization helping businesses and governments with carbon reduction, compliance, and net-zero strategy. Closest direct peer given overlapping UK footprint, sustainability advisory focus, and enterprise/government clientele.
- Ricardo Energy & Environment: UK-based energy, environment, and climate advisory practice within Ricardo plc. Comparable in delivering policy, regulation, and net-zero consulting to UK corporates and public sector, and one of the closest UK-headquartered competitors.
- EcoAct (an ENGIE company): Paris-headquartered carbon strategy and net-zero consultancy serving corporates on target-setting, climate reporting, and transition planning. Comparable in its services-led model and enterprise client base, and now operating as a broad incumbent under ENGIE.
Emerging players
- Watershed: US-based carbon accounting and climate disclosure software platform serving large enterprises. Overlaps with SEF's bureau, data enrichment, and carbon compliance modules, but is software-led and could increasingly compete on the analytics layer of SEF's stack.
- Persefoni: Climate management and accounting platform for enterprises and financial institutions, automating carbon footprint measurement. Adjacent to SEF's compliance and bureau services; represents the platform-led challenger to traditional energy consultancies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sustainable Energy First social profiles
Digital presenceSustainable Energy First compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Sustainable Energy First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sustainable Energy First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sustainable Energy First subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sustainable Energy First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sustainable Energy First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Energy First
What does Sustainable Energy First do?
Sustainable Energy First is a UK-based energy consultancy that helps businesses decarbonise through energy procurement, carbon and net-zero compliance, energy bureau data services, revenue recovery, and site infrastructure projects. It delivers these services via 430+ sustainability consultants, the proprietary Fusion Portal client platform, and the collaborative Sustainable Energy Consortium for pooled renewable energy sourcing.
Is Sustainable Energy First a public or private company?
Sustainable Energy First is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sustainable Energy First founded?
Sustainable Energy First was founded in 1997. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Sustainable Energy First based?
Sustainable Energy First is headquartered in Preston, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Sustainable Energy First make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Energy Consultancy Services are the primary driver. The others are revenue Recovery Services and site Works Projects.
Who are Sustainable Energy First's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Drax Group, Centrica Business Solutions, Schneider Electric Sustainability Business and ENGIE Impact. Direct peers are South Pole, Carbon Trust, Ricardo Energy & Environment and EcoAct (an ENGIE company). Emerging players are Watershed and Persefoni.
Does Sustainable Energy First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sustainable Energy First.
What industry is Sustainable Energy First in?
Sustainable Energy First's product category is Energy & Sustainability Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAKAH, Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD), with a secondary code of EUABAKAI, Sector-Specific Net-Zero Pathways & Benchmarking (hard-to-abate methodologies). Its SIC code is 4931.