EKO
Find out how this
tariff is eco–labelled

EKO has been certified by the global, independent ecolabel for electricity and gas – EKOenergy.

Electricity and gas sold with the EKOenergy label fulfils strict environmental criteria and raises funds for new renewable energy projects.

The label is a non–profit initiative of the EKOenergy Network, a group of dozens of environmental organisations from many different countries.

They are a non–gorvernmental organisation (NGO).

You can find out more about the organisation who ecolabels our energy, here.

Our EKO tariff is sustainably produced renewable energy. It must also fulfil the strict sustainability criteria set by the EKOenergy Network before it can be eco–labelled as truly sustainable.

The energy in our EKO tariff is renewable, green energy. To prove this, the ecolabel requires that the origin of the energy is reliably tracked and double counting of environmental attributes is excluded (i.e. they are absolutely sure that only 1 person or company can claim a specific MWh of renewable energy). Therefore, only instruments that fulfil the quality criteria of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 Guidance are accepted.

In the UK, energy is tracked with Guarantees of Origin, as regulated by European legislation and via the UK Green Gas Certification Scheme for green gas.

Green energy can only be sold with the ecolabel after power plants have been approved by EKOenergy’s Secretariat or by EKOenergy’s Board.

Our sustainability criteria cover the following aspects:

• Wind energy and solar energy can be sold as eco–labelled electricity if the installations are located outside protected nature areas and outside important bird areas. The same rules apply to energy from geothermal installations and from marine energy installations.
• Eco–labelled hydropower comes from installations that safeguard a continuous flow of water, take into account fish migration and leave suitable habitats for aquatic species.
• With regard to bioenergy (for the production of electricity, biogas and heat) the ecolabel only accepts the use of organic waste from agriculture, municipalities and industry, and specific types of woody biomass (excluding roots, stumps and large logs). These resources must be used in 100% renewable energy installations.

When you use EKO energy in your home, a minimum of €0.10 (ten Eurocents) per MWh goes to the eco–label’s Climate Fund.

With these contributions, they finance clean energy projects in remote communities in developing countries. In this way, they make sure that your demand for eco–labelled energy leads to new renewable energy installations in places where they are needed the most.

The ecolabel organises an annual audit to verify that sold/used EKO energy volumes fulfil all the requirements listed in their sustainability criteria.

The audit is based on facts and figures that are certified or confirmed by public authorities and/or reliable third–party certification organisations.

Eco–labelled hydropower will only come from installations that allow a continuous flow of water, safeguarding marine habitats, take into account fish migration and leave suitable habitats for aquatic species. Hydropower can only be sold with their label after consultation with local environmental organisations.

Wind energy and solar energy can be sold as eco–labelled electricity if the installations are located outside protected nature areas and outside important bird areas. The same rules apply to energy from geothermal installations and from marine energy installations.

All energy installations including Solar and geothermal, must be located outside protected nature areas.

The ecolabel is based on audits and verification made by national and regional authorities. If the necessary information is not available, an external independent auditor checks if the strict sustainability requirements are fulfilled.

To track the origin of the electricity, the ecolabel uses the European Guarantees of Origin system.

Our green gas is produced from sustainable types of biomass, such as biowaste and organic residues and in the UK, and the ecolabel uses the UK Green Gas Certification Scheme to verify the origins.

When you buy EKO electricity or gas, a minimum of €0.10 (ten eurocents) per MWh will go into the ecolabel’s Climate Fund. This finances clean energy projects in remote communities of developing countries.

The EKOenergy ecolabel was launched in 2013. The organisation financed the first Climate Fund projects in 2015 and, since then, they have financed a total of 79 projects with a combined sum of €2,287,798.00. [Figure correct as of 2023]

By choosing our EKO tariff you effortlessly contribute to concrete change that wouldn’t happen otherwise.

You can view an up to date map showing all the projects the ecolabel have financed as a direct result of the consumer’s desire to support eco–labelled energy, here: Interactive map

All projects financed by the ecolabel are selected through a transparent process and contribute to the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These climate projects are one of EKOenergy’s ways to ensure additionality, i.e. that your green power purchase leads to additional benefits.