EKOenergy
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| Formation | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit network |
| Purpose | Environmental protection, promotion of renewable energy |
| Headquarters | Helsinki, Finland |
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Area served
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International |
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Staff
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3 |
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Volunteers
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over 100 |
| Website | www |
EKOenergy is an ecolabel for electricity. It is a not-for-profit initiative of the EKOenergy Network, a group of more than 40 environmental organizations from 30 countries. EKOenergy started in 2013 in Europe. Its secretariat is based in Helsinki. Nowadays, EKOenergy is the only international ecolabel for renewable electricity. It is available all over the world and its material is available in more than 30 languages.
Every member organization (all not-for-profit organisations) appoints one person to the EKOenergy Board, the Network’s highest governing authority. The Board takes decisions in consultation with the Advisory Group, which consist of experts from different stakeholder groups, including electricity industry, consumers and environmentalists, among others.
Other language version of the label can be found in various countries. E.g. EKOénergie in France, EKOenergie in Germany or EKOenergia in Finland.
Only electricity from renewable sources can be sold as EKOenergy. But EKOenergy is more than just green electricity. EKOenergy also sets criteria for the following aspects:
Well known sellers of EKOenergy certified electricity include Fortum,Vattenfall, Ekosähkö and Gesternova. Also sellers of electricity tracking certificates can help consumers to get EKOenergy: E.g. ECOHZ and South Pole Group. A full list of licensed sellers can be found on EKOenergy’s website: http://www.ekoenergy.org/buying-ekoenergy/licensees/. An increasing number of EKOenergy consumers uses the label in its own communication: e.g. Otava Printing and Saimaan juomatehdas.
For each MWh of EKOenergy sold, the seller pays a minimum of €0.10 to EKOenergy’s Climate Fund. This money is used to finance climate projects that would not have happened without the contributions. These projects are managed by experienced organisations. All projects are selected in an open process, with sellers, buyers and independent experts actively involved. Examples of funded projects:
Whenever hydropower is sold with the EKOenergy label, €0.10/ MWh go to the Environmental Fund, to finance river restoration projects. Examples of earlier funded projects:
The European versions of the LEED Standard explicitly recommend the use of EKOenergy labelled electricity. Buildings aiming at LEED certification can get extra points if the electricity used in that building is EKOenergy certified. The text “LEED 2009 BD+C Supplemental Reference Guide with Alternative Compliance Paths for Europe” gives EKOenergy the same status as Green-e certified RECs in the US. They write: "The EKOenergy electricity certification scheme represents the best available pan-European option for the sustainable and additional consumption of renewable electricity within Europe. EKOenergy certifies renewable electricity that goes beyond the regulations of European directives and national governments of Europe."
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Wikipedia