Bonn, December 07, 2017. 95 percent of Germans support the expansion of renewable energies. So it seems only understandable that over 10 million households purchase green electricity - around one-fifth of all households in Germany. However, independent observers such as ÖKO TEST and consumer centers give the market a poor report card: The legal requirements alone do not guarantee added value for environmental and climate protection; many so-called green power products and also labels are only apparently green. From the testers' point of view, the Grüner Strom-Label helps to find a genuine green electricity tariff in the complex green electricity market.
There are currently over 1,000 electricity providers in Germany. Many providers lure consumers with cheap electricity rates that are also supposed to be green. "Often, providers simply procure eco-certificates for their cheap coal and nuclear power and then sell that to us as a sustainable energy product," says Dietmar Oeliger, chairman of Grüner Strom Label e.V., which awards the Grüner Strom seal of approval on behalf of environmental associations such as BUND, Deutscher Naturschutzring and NABU. "Consumers can't tell right away what they're being led to believe."
Green electricity seals such as the Grüner Strom-Label create transparency by "separating the wheat from the chaff," confirms ÖKO-TEST in its current special energy issue. The tariff characteristics of all Green Electricity certified products were again rated as 'very good'. Tip for Stromwechsler*innen, to which regionality is with the heart: Since ÖKO TEST only lists nationwide rates, the authors point out that there are also good certified rates that are only available regionally.
"Green electricity tariffs that do not add value to climate protection are deceptive packages. They do not meet consumers' expectations," Oeliger continues, pointing out that there are also glaring differences in quality among the various green power labels. Time and again, independent market observers confirm the trustworthiness of the Grüner Strom-Label. For example, the European consumer organization BEUC, the Lower Saxony consumer center and now once again ÖKO-Test have recognized the label's high quality standards with top marks.
The eco-label of the environmental associations also receives these awards because it is the only label that guarantees investments in the nature-friendly expansion of renewable energies. More than 1,200 projects have already been supported with more than 50 million euros. For example, the student initiative Solar Powers e.V. had a photovoltaic system with an output of 30 kilowatts installed on the roof of the TU Central Library in Berlin, supported by Green Electricity funding. It was an all-around successful project, because: the students operate the system themselves, thus gaining practical experience, and the previously unused roof area now produces green electricity for the TU.
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.
Your contact
Christian Knops
Green Gas Certification Manager