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An independent certification scheme for green electricity tariffs for homes and businesses has been launched in the UK.

The ‘Green Energy Certified’ label will be given to tariffs that have been assessed by an independent panel and meet energy regulator Ofgem’s Green Supply Guidelines.

The guidelines stipulate that suppliers of accredited green tariffs must go above and beyond what the Government already requires in terms of sourcing more renewable energy and reducing emissions.

As well as delivering renewable energy, green tariffs accredited under the new scheme will have to mitigate an additional 50 kg of CO₂ equivalent emissions per customer per year or 1 tonne of CO₂ equivalent a year for carbon offsetting activities.

Ofgem’s Sarah Harrison says the new label will give consumers peace of mind that when they sign up to a green tariff it will bring additional environmental benefits.

Tariffs from seven energy suppliers – British Gas, E.On, EDF Energy, Good Energy, RWE npower, Scottish and Southern Energy and Scottish Power – have been assessed by the independent panel chaired by Solitaire Townsend and will be available online.

“Only 2% of Britons currently buy green energy, but I hope that a trustworthy label will convince many more to go green,” says Townsend.

Good Energy is one of the suppliers that have been accredited for its new ‘100% Green & Gold’ tariff.

“We‘re delighted that the new guidelines support the model of 100% renewable electricity that we’ve always operated and hope that others will be encouraged to follow suit,” says CEO Juliet Davenport.

She says that the new certification scheme will boost demand for renewables and put an end to greenwash in the electricity market.
Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, warns that the guidelines and certification need to be implemented robustly to give consumers confidence.

“For far too long, green tariffs have been a swamp of misleading and confusing schemes and have done little or nothing to drive forward new renewable energy,” he says.

For further information:
www.greenenergyscheme.org
www.ofgem.gov.uk/
www.goodenergy.co.uk
www.wwf.org.uk/