So-called “green” electricity refers to electricity produced from renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind, rain, tides, or geothermal energy. Unlike fossil fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas, renewable energy sources produce little or no greenhouse gases or harmful pollutants when converted into electricity. Adopting green electricity is therefore a civic approach that helps reduce environmental impact and combat climate change. However, many electricity suppliers overuse the term “green electricity” to gain a foothold in the energy market. To choose your green electricity supplier, choose a company with one or more of the certification labels recognized in Europe.
A label to guarantee the good faith of the green electricity supplier
Among the certification labels in force in Europe, one of them is French. For consumers established in the territory, it is therefore quite natural to begin the search for a green electricity supplier based on the criterion of possession of this certification. This is the VertVolt label, developed by the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME).
This label differentiates electricity offers that claim to be “green” , but without guaranteeing the renewable nature of all the energy sold, from offers that are truly 100% green. For example, Alterna has this certification label, which immediately places it in the position of a player that can be trusted. The energy it sells comes exclusively from its 330 renewable energy production farms.
European certification labels
Beyond this national label for green electricity wanted by Ademe, other European certification labels are intended to attest to the reliability of green electricity suppliers. These include, for example, the Guarantees of Origin, or GO, labels. They are an integral part of a standard European system that certifies the renewable origin of the electricity produced. Each guarantee of origin represents 1 MWh of green electricity in this system.
For its part, EKOenergy is a pan-European label, managed by an association of environmental organizations. It aims to go beyond simple guarantees of origin and ensures that electricity production methods have had only a minimal impact on biodiversity and habitat. EOKenergy also promotes projects that promote the development of renewable energies. For consumers, choosing this label is a guarantee of making a conscious energy choice.
Other national certification labels with European influence
So, as we must implement a series of criteria to choose a supplier for a smartphone subscription, we must be increasingly vigilant when selecting our green electricity supplier. Indeed,, leaves one doubtful. This is why other certification labels can also serve as clues that we are indeed in the presence of a trustworthy interlocutor.
For example, we can mention the Green-e label, an American certification used by some European suppliers and which meets rigorous standards. Naturmade Star is a Swiss label guaranteeing environmentally friendly electricity production. Finally, TÜV is a German organization specializing in certification , inspection and testing. Its branches operate in different countries to carry out extremely demanding audits.
