Expert help from energy giant to help your business achieve its carbon neutral and energy use goals

James Cottrill, is External Director of B2B Sales for E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions. He is the key to developing partnerships with business to help them with all aspects of energy production and conservation aimed at reducing their carbon footprint through renewable energy options and energy efficiencies.

He has worked alongside companies as diverse as distilleries and dairies, harbour ports and hospitals to help them in planning, designing and building infrastructures for energy solutions.

We caught up with James to find out more about his role, why it’s needed and what it entails, and why he’s so passionate about the job.

"I genuinely believe we’re making a real impact,” James said. “When you look at the scale of carbon reduction achieved through some of our projects, it’s significant. It’s a clear sign that we’re not just talking about change, we’re delivering it. And for me, there’s a real sense of pride in knowing that we’re helping to accelerate the transition to net zero and contributing to a more sustainable future."

Why do businesses need to plan for reducing carbon?

“Some have set clear sustainability targets, whether driven by regulation, industry standards, or internal ambition. Our role is to understand those goals, identify the challenges, and support them in achieving meaningful, measurable progress,” James continued.

Increasingly, customers, clients, and investors are also demanding action. Demonstrating a genuine commitment to decarbonisation isn’t just about compliance, it’s about strengthening brand credibility and building long-term resilience.

Saving money

It’s not just about environmental responsibility, improving energy efficiency and reducing consumption directly impacts the bottom line. Just as households save money by turning off unused devices or lowering the thermostat, there are commercial equivalents that can deliver substantial operational savings across industrial/commercial estates facilities.

While installing solar panels or replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump requires upfront investment, the long-term cost savings and carbon reductions can be significant. Businesses have a real opportunity to rethink how they source, store, and use energy, adopting technologies that deliver both financial and environmental returns.

“At E.ON, we support this transition by offering fully funded solutions with zero customer CAPEX, removing barriers to decarbonisation and accelerating the journey to net zero,” James said.

“E.ON is investing in carbon-neutral energy solutions through major infrastructure projects like Blackburn Meadows in Sheffield. From this site, we’re delivering a multi-million-pound expansion of Sheffield’s heat network, extending it by around 10km beyond the existing 8km. This will connect more homes and businesses across the Lower Don Valley, providing low-carbon, cost-effective heating and supporting the city’s wider decarbonisation goals.”

What’s the first step?

Partnership is key.

“To deliver the right net-zero solution, we first take the time to truly understand each business, its operations, infrastructure, and ambitions. Whether it’s a factory, port, or hospital, we work on site to gather data, map energy use, and uncover opportunities for cost and carbon reduction,” said James.

“Only then do we design a holistic, tailored approach—integrating solutions like on-site generation, energy efficiency measures, heat recovery, storage, and smart controls. The result is a strategy that aligns with their goals and delivers long-term value, lower costs, reduced carbon and greater energy resilience.”

What do solutions look like?

The solutions E.ON develop span the full spectrum of energy infrastructure and efficiency, ranging from practical upgrades like insulation and low-carbon heating, to large-scale generation projects such as onshore wind or solar.

Because they work with businesses of all sizes, every project is bespoke but the insights they gain from one partnership often inform and strengthen the next.

For example, they’re partnering with Peel Ports Group to install the UK's largest roof-mounted solar array at the Port of Liverpool. This project involves up to 63,000 solar panels across 26 buildings, generating up to 31MW of renewable electricity, meeting approximately 25% of the port's annual energy needs and reducing CO₂e emissions by over 6,500 tonnes annually. ​

Building lasting partnerships

E.ON support every aspect of an energy project, from design and development to construction, operation, and maintenance. Their team of experts works closely with businesses to navigate the challenges complexities of each stage, ensuring that projects are delivered seamlessly. They handle everything from securing grid connections and managing planning applications to ensuring minimal disruption to your daily operations.

“We understand the challenges businesses face in realising large-scale energy projects and our goal is to make this process as smooth as possible, allowing you to focus on your core operations,” James said.

"The satisfaction extends beyond the immediate benefits to our customers. Every project we deliver contributes to a broader environmental and societal impact, reducing carbon emissions, fostering sustainable energy practices, and helping communities transition to a cleaner, greener future. It's about creating lasting value, not just for our clients, but for the planet and future generations."

Find out what James and his team could do for your business. Check out the website here.