The Catholic church has become one of the largest single consumers of green gas certificates in the UK after it signed a new supply deal with British Gas.

Under the deal with the Catholic church’s energy procurement group, Inter-diocesan Fuel Management (IFM), British Gas will supply renewable energy to 2,800 churches from 20 of the 22 Catholic dioceses in England and Wales, including Westminster, Nottingham and Plymouth cathedrals. The contract also covers more than 2,200 schools, care homes and community centres across the country. 

Gab Barbaro, managing director of British Gas Business, said: “We commend IFM and the Catholic church for their desire to take the lead on renewable energy adoption, and hope that others will follow.

“We’re seeing more and more organisations looking to switch to both renewable gas and electricity, particularly given the recent ‘net zero’ commitment made by government. This contract demonstrates that it is becoming easier than ever to cut carbon emissions from our public and private sector buildings.”

British Gas offers its existing SME business customers a 100% renewable electricity tariff at no extra cost when they sign up to a new fixed term contract.