Inflite Engineering Services has secured a new electricity supply arrangement at London Stansted Airport after appointing Evolve Energy Supply Ltd as its licensed supplier, enabling it to move away from the site’s private wire network tariff.
The change allows the UK-based aviation engineering business to purchase electricity directly from a third-party supplier rather than relying on the airport’s private wire structure, giving it greater control over energy purchasing, costs and future decarbonisation plans.
The arrangement makes use of provisions introduced under UK Electricity and Gas Regulations in 2011, which allow customers on private wire networks to access competitive supply through a generic metering dispensation. However, adoption of this route has remained limited across the industry due to the technical and logistical complexity involved.
At airport sites in particular, implementation can require installation of fiscal metering infrastructure, detailed safety assessments, and coordination with multiple stakeholders, including restrictions linked to runway operations and access planning.
Martin Reynolds, Group COO & CFO of Inflite Group, said: “For many years, we have been exploring ways to take a more active role in managing our energy supply, and we’re pleased to have now reached a solution that supports our long-term operational and sustainability goals.”
He added that working with advisers and Evolve Energy helped the company navigate what he described as a “highly technical and regulated process.”
Evolve Energy COO James Hall said the project took around 2.5 years to complete. He said: “Creating a competitive supply option for sites located on private wire networks is possible, but rarely pursued – and for good reason, it’s incredibly complex.”
He added that the deal demonstrates that alternative supply arrangements can be delivered where suitable expertise and coordination are in place.
The arrangement reflects continued incremental change in how some industrial users located on private wire networks are beginning to access competitive electricity supply options in the UK market.
