Energy Guides

Green energy suppliers

By Hazel Cottrell hazel.cottrell@consumerchoices.co.uk

How do you know which ‘green’ energy supplier is the greenest? This guide assesses the credentials of the main green energy suppliers in the UK (Updated 10/2/10).

We’re all becoming more aware of our impact on the environment and more concerned about how we can reduce our carbon footprint.

As a result, a number of green energy suppliers have appeared on the market, targeting environmentally-aware customers. But how do you know which offers the greenest energy?

In this guide we assess the green claims made by the three main UK companies who market themselves as ‘green’, and find out which is making the biggest difference to the environment.

NOTE: Many other standard energy providers, including the big six energy giants and newcomer OVO Energy, offer green energy tariffs. These are not discussed here, but more information on them can be found in our guide to green energy tariffs.

• Green Energy
• Good Energy
• Ecotricity
• Which green energy supplier is best?

Green Energy

Green Energy only supplies 100% green electricity, but some of this energy is “deep green” and some is “pale green”. It gives customers a choice of two tariffs, as follows:

• Deep Green tariff – 100% of the electricity you use is matched with a supply from renewable power – for example energy from hydro, solar and wind.
• Pale Green tariff - Instead of renewable sources, your electricity is matched with “green” energy from combined heat and power (CHP) generators. CHP generators produce cleaner, more environmentally friendly energy than conventional power stations as they capture and use the heat released when creating electricity.

The Deep Green tariff is slightly more expensive, but more environmentally friendly than the Pale Green tariff. Customers can decide what price they’re prepared to put on being green.

Good Energy

Good Energy only offers one tariff, which consists of 100% renewable green electricity. It sources this electricity from renewable generators, including wind, hydro and solar, from across the country.

It has over 500 independent renewable electricity generators on its books, plus it has its own wind farm down in Delabole, Cornwall.

More information on Good Energy

Ecotricity

Ecotricity is investing a vast amount of money (an average of £450 per customer per year over the last five years) in building new sources of green energy – mainly in the form of windmills.

Ecotricity says that because it is run on a “not-for-dividend” model and has no shareholders or investors to keep happy, it’s free to dedicate all its money to its mission of changing the way electricity is made.

Ecotricity offers two tariffs, as follows:

• New Energy – The electricity for this tariff is made up of almost 50% of Ecotricity’s own-generated green electricity. This percentage has grown significantly over the past few years, from 20% in 2005-2006 and is growing further as the company builds more windmills. This is topped up with “brown” energy bought on the wholesale market. Ecotricity’s price promise means the New Energy tariff won’t cost you any more than the standard tariff of your regional supplier.
• New Energy Plus – This tariff is for consumers who want 100% renewable energy now. It has the same percentage of Ecotricity’s own-generated green electricity, but is topped up with green energy bought on the wholesale market. It’s around £20 more expensive per year than the New Energy tariff.

Whichever tariff you choose, the money you spend on energy bills will be used by Ecotricity to build more windmills.

In November 2009, Ecotricity said it was planning to become the UK's first supplier to offer green gas from February 2010.

More information on Ecotricity

Which green energy supplier is best?

All three of these green energy suppliers allow customers to get 100% renewable electricity.

Opting for any of the green tariffs above will help you reduce your carbon footprint and do your bit for the environment.

There are other factors to weigh up – not least price – and we would strongly recommend you do an accurate energy comparison to find the most suitable green deal for you.