Energy News

Ecotricity to supply ‘green’ gas for homes

Monday, 23 November 2009

By Hazel Cottrell - hazel@consumerchoices.co.uk

The first ever green gas tariff will soon be available from Ecotricity, which it says will allow customers to “change the world”.

Ecotricity will be the first energy supplier to make green gas available to British households.

Green gas, or biogas, is made during a composting-like process where microbes break down organic material, such as food waste and sewage.

From February 2010, Ecotricity will offer a green gas tariff that matches British Gas’ standard prices and allows customers to reduce their carbon footprint and cut landfill waste.

Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said: “By choosing green gas, customers can make a positive long-term change to the world we live in.”

He added: “Nobody has to carry on giving their money to the big multinational energy companies, who seem determined to keep burning whatever in the world they can get their hands on.”

Ecotricity said green gas has the potential to generate as much as half the UK’s domestic gas with the right government backing.

Chris Eagle, commercial manager at Energychoices.co.uk, said: “It’s worth noting that the gas provided by this tariff won’t be 100% green straight away.

“Ecotricity’s business model means the more customers that sign up, the more green gas plants it can build, and the higher percentage of gas supplied will be green (the rest will be brown gas bought on the energy market).

“This model has already worked with the company’s green electricity, and over the last five years has seen it invest £450 per year per customer in new sources of renewable electricity.”

“If you want to help create a supply of green gas for the future, signing up to Ecotricity is a great way to do so.”

Ecotricity’s green gas tariff will be available from February, but people can register their interest on Ecotricity’s website now.