Bonn, March 14, 2018: According to preliminary data, around 1.16 terawatt hours of green electricity were certified with the Green Electricity label in 2017. This corresponds to the electricity needs of more than 360,000 three-person households. Compared to 2016, the certified green electricity volume increased by a good six percent. For every kilowatt hour consumed, suppliers of Green Electricity-certified green electricity products must invest a fixed amount in energy transition projects within two years. In 2016, for example, around 100 selected projects were supported with more than seven million euros. This mostly involves partial funding. The total investment in the projects amounts to more than 45 million euros.

"The Grüner Strom-Label demonstrably guarantees investments in the energy future, such as nature-compatible photovoltaic and wind power plants, tenant electricity projects or e-mobility," says Dietmar Oeliger, Chairman of Grüner Strom Label e.V. "Through the many realized projects, customers can see with their own eyes that they have chosen a green electricity product that brings real benefits for the environment. It is important to us that there is a diversity of players, so that everyone has the chance to actively help shape the energy transition in their region."

Overall, 2016 showed that Green Electricity funding was used for many different projects. A large part went to the expansion of renewable energy plants. However, energy providers also increasingly invested in new technologies and future projects.

One example of this is the tenant electricity project run by Heidelberg's municipal utility company: photovoltaic systems on three apartment buildings supply clean solar power, which is stored in batteries when there is surplus production. Tenants can track their electricity, heat and water consumption via an app. In addition, the 21 tenants are motivated to adjust their energy consumption to the production of solar electricity. This is cheaper than green electricity from the public grid. Thus, all sides benefit from the project: the tenants save money and the public power grid is relieved. The Heidelberg tenant electricity project received the German Solar Prize in 2017. Stadtwerke Heidelberg has been offering green electricity tariffs that have been awarded the green electricity label by environmental associations since 2000.

Through the Green Electricity certification model, more than 1,300 energy transition projects have now been funded with over 55 million euros. Since this mostly involves partial funding of projects, the money actually invested is around four to five times higher.

For more information on the Grüner Strom-Label's support projects, visit:
http://www.gruenerstromlabel.de/gruener-strom/energiewende-projekte/

About Grüner Strom Label e.V.
The Grüner Strom Label e.V. certifies green energy products. The association awards two seals of approval for this purpose: the Green Electricity Label for green electricity with added value and the Green Gas Label for environmentally compatible biogas. The association is backed by seven non-profit environmental and consumer associations and peace organizations. The Green Electricity and Green Gas labels are the only quality seals for green electricity and biogas in Germany that are supported by leading environmental associations.