With community at heart, Star Energy Group fosters social and environmental responsibility
Historically, Star Energy Group (Star Energy) primarily focused on oil and gas extraction. But as time went on, the British energy company strategically shifted towards leveraging its highly complementary skill set to develop a significant geothermal business, thereby facilitating the transition to a renewable future. For more than three decades, Star Energy has been a pivotal player in onshore energy production in Britain, safely exploring, developing, and producing onshore oil and gas at its sites. The organization’s management and technical teams boast many years of experience in onshore energy production, with most of them living and working in the communities in which Star Energy operates.
While there remains an undeniable need for oil and gas in a net-zero environment, Star Energy has begun to diversify into renewable energy with the acquisition of GT Energy, a geothermal energy developer, in 2020. This move marked the company’s expansion into the UK renewable energy sector, where there is a clear opportunity to decarbonize large-scale heat. Geothermal resources, characterized by hot water reservoirs at varying temperatures and depths beneath the Earth’s surface, offer a sustainable energy solution for use in heating and cooling.
Predictable and stable
A pair of wells, known as a doublet, from a few feet to several miles deep into these underground reservoirs, are filled with brine. One of the two wells is used to extract the geothermal resources by pumping the hot water to the surface. From there, the heat is transferred to the surface system through a heat exchanger. The brine is then returned to the reservoir through the second well. After being heated by passing through the heat exchanger, the water in the surface system can be utilized for district heating networks or connected directly to other customer networks. By embracing geothermal energy, Star Energy aims to decarbonize heating, reduce its reliance on imports, and help to safeguard Britain’s energy security. Indeed, as a non-extractive renewable energy source, geothermal heat can play a key role in cutting the UK’s carbon emissions. Moreover, unlike other forms of renewable energy like wind and solar, geothermal heat is constant, switchable, and unaffected by the weather, ensuring a predictable and stable energy supply.
In the field of oil and gas, Star Energy constantly strives to conduct its operations with the least possible environmental impact. To do so, the company rigorously complies with all relevant regulation and legislation while enhancing the working environment of its employees. As part of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, Star Energy is committed to sustainable and responsible practices, aiming to preserve and enhance the environment while collaborating with communities to deliver lasting socio-economic benefits. In other words, environmental and social responsibility are central to its vision, strategy, and day-to-day operations. When it comes to social responsibility, the company is devoted to giving back to its communities, as evidenced by the impactful Star Energy Community Fund.
Through the Community Fund, Star Energy aims to safeguard the vitality of the communities where it operates. Since its launch in 2008, the Community Fund has allocated over £1 million to projects that are charitable, educational, or benevolent. Additionally, Star Energy encourages applications to the Community Fund from local schools, especially those involving projects that engage with the broader community. The selection of projects is overseen by an independent panel comprising representatives from local authorities or relevant community organizations in the fund’s operational areas.
Star Energy’s work with the KIDS Smile Centre is a prime example of the impact of the Community Fund. Through its support, the KIDS Smile Centre in Waterlooville, Hampshire, was able to acquire specialized musical equipment for delivering music therapy sessions to local disabled children and young individuals in need. The music therapy sessions have positively impacted over 120 children and young people with a variety of disabilities, primarily individuals coping with autism and sensory impairments. Group music activities have fostered self-development, a sense of accomplishment, and empowerment among the participants. Through projects like the KIDS Smile Centre, Star Energy stays true to its mission of creating a positive and lasting impact on the communities it serves.
Sustainable stewardship 
Going hand-in-hand with its dedication to collaborate with and enhance the local community, Star Energy consistently prioritizes the wellbeing of its valued team. Accordingly, the company places a strong emphasis on promoting health and safety in the workplace by complying with stringent regulations, thereby maintaining a positive safety culture across every aspect of its operations. For example, Star Energy is highly compliant with Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) regulations. COMAH regulations are designed to serve two critical functions: prevent major incidents involving hazardous substances and limit the consequences to people and the environment in the event that any such incidents occur. Additionally, Star Energy adheres to established company and industry standards and processes, which ensure the implementation of safe and responsible working practices throughout all of its operational activities. These standards encompass all facets of the company’s health, safety, and environmental management obligations, designed to not only meet but exceed the expectations of its employees, external contractors, government regulators, joint venture partners, and the communities it engages with.
As Star Energy evolves beyond its traditional oil and gas roots, its strategic shift towards renewable geothermal energy highlights its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Alongside unwavering community support and industry-leading safety standards, the company’s diversification positions it as a trailblazer in guiding Britain towards a low-carbon future.