Bonn, June 7, 2022 - Sales of green electricity with the Green Electricity Label exceeded 1.8 terawatt hours last year. This represents a new record since the label was established. Compared to the previous year, electricity sales increased by a good 20 percent. In addition to rising sales of existing Green Electricity-certified green electricity tariffs, newly awarded tariffs also contributed to the strong growth. These include green electricity from Hamburg Energie and WestfalenWIND Strom GmbH.
With a total of over 100 certified green electricity tariffs (22 of which are available nationwide), the equivalent of more than half a million three-person households can be supplied with Grüner Strom-certified green electricity for the first time. Despite the current confusing and challenging situation on the energy markets, Grüner Strom Label e.V. assumes that green electricity sales will continue to increase in 2022.
"The importance of a secure supply of renewable energies is once again evident against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. The use of fossil fuels not only harms the climate and the environment. It also creates dependencies and provides scope for price speculation. What is needed now is the fastest possible expansion of renewable energies in all sectors," says Rosa Hemmers, deputy chairwoman of Grüner Strom Label e.V. "The core criterion of Green Electricity certification is investment in the energy turnaround by the electricity provider. In this way, every electricity customer can contribute to a sustainable energy supply by choosing an excellent green electricity tariff."
For every kilowatt hour consumed, energy providers must invest a fixed amount in energy transition projects. Following the completion of the last audit, which takes place every two years, it is now clear: In 2019, 95 projects were supported with a total of 6 million euros.
In addition to numerous photovoltaic systems, several tenant electricity projects were funded in Freiburg, Esslingen and five other cities. The implementation of tenant electricity projects is an important component of the decentralized energy transition and promotes the participation of tenants in an ecologically sustainable energy supply.
In addition, six local heating networks were implemented. For example, the energy infrastructure project in Moosach, Bavaria, enables sustainable heat generation for over 70 households. The thermal energy for the 4.4-kilometer network is generated by a combination of biomass boilers and solar thermal systems. The total investment of €2 million was subsidized by 20 percent through NATURSTROM AG's Green Electricity Investment Commitment.
Since 1999, a total of more than 1,600 energy transition projects, mainly in Germany, have been co-financed by the Grüner Strom-Label with over 85 million euros. Since this mostly involves partial funding of projects, the money actually invested is about 5.5 times higher. It is estimated that total investments of more than 500 million euros in Energiewende projects were triggered by co-financing with Green Electricity funding.
Keywords
Green electricity, energy transition, green electricity sales 2021, green electricity label, green electricity certification, renewable energies, green electricity provider, Naturstrom, BUND, NABU, Deutsche Umwelthilfe
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 Grüner Strom-Label for green electricity with added value and the Grünes Gas-Label for environmentally compatible biogas. The association is backed by non-profit environmental and consumer associations and peace organizations, including NABU, BUND, EUROSOLAR and the Verbraucher Initiative. Grüner Storm-Label and Grünes Gas-Label are the only seals of approval for green electricity and biogas in Germany that are supported and recommended by leading environmental associations. www.gruenerstromlabel.de
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