EKOenergy is an international ecolabel for electricity. Buying Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) with this ecolabel guarantees that the renewable energy fulfils strict environmental criteria and the ecolabel raises funds for new renewable energy projects in developing countries.
The ecolabel is a not-for-profit initiative of the EKOenergy Network, a group of more than 40 environmental organisations from more than 30 countries.
Focus areas
EKOenergy goes one step further than directives and government regulations. Electricity sold with EKOenergy:
- Guarantees renewable energy from hydropower, wind power, solar power, bioenergy or geothermal energy
- Assures sustainable and nature-friendly energy. EKOenergy applies strict sustainability requirements to power production. For each MWh of hydropower sold as EKOenergy, minimum EUR 0.10 is paid into the EKOenergy Environmental Fund to finance river restoration projects, building fish passages and restoring spawning grounds
- Contributes to new renewable energy projects: for each MWh of EKOenergy sold, at least EUR 0.10 s allocated to EKOenergy’s Climate Fund. It is used to finance new renewable energy projects, managed by experienced organisations, in developing countries. These projects could not happen without these contributions
EKOenergy all over the world
The EKOenergy ecolabel brings additionality to renewable energy certificates, such as Guarantees of Origin (GOs), RECs and I-RECs. EKOenergy was launched in Northern Europe in 2013 and is now gradually expanding its global reach. Driven largely by corporate consumers’ increased interest in renewable energy, EKOenergy is now available in more than 40 countries. In most of these countries, the EKOenergy secretariat and their supporters share information in local language.
Recognised ecolabel
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 (chapter 11) specifically mentions the EKOenergy’s Climate Fund as ways for companies to make extra efforts to spur the deployment of renewable energy.
In CDP’s technical notes for accounting of Scope 2, CDP recommends EKOenergy as an instrument for companies to show leadership.
LEED, a standard for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, recommends EKOenergy-labelled electricity as a sound method of working towards points for LEED certification.
