Bonn, January 20, 2023: After the 2022 certification period, it is now clear that over 200 green electricity tariffs have been awarded the Grüner Strom-Label. A total of 51 energy suppliers thus rely on the green electricity label of the environmental associations. The Grüner Strom-Label guarantees 100 percent genuine green electricity as well as investments in the energy transition. Ten energy suppliers went through the full assessment procedure for the first time during this certification period. All assessments were carried out by the independent certification body GUTcert and the Board of Directors of the Green Electricity Label association.

"It is very gratifying that in the past two years some new energy providers have decided to have their green electricity tariffs certified according to our strict criteria," said Rosa Hemmers (EUROSOLAR e.V.), deputy chair of the board. "Even in the current discussions about the extension of the operation of nuclear and coal-fired power plants, it must not be forgotten that the energy transition must take place as quickly as possible. Green electricity tariffs labeled by us contribute to this."

One of the energy providers with a green electricity tariff tested for the first time is Knauber Erdgas GmbH. The regionally anchored family business and Grüner Strom Label e.V. are linked not only by their headquarters in Bonn, but also by their commitment to sustainable development. "We are proud to be a partner of Grüner Strom Label e.V.," says Lars Rochow, Head of Sales Control and Product Management at Knauber Erdgas GmbH. "What excites us about it is that we can contribute and implement our own ideas for sustainable projects. With the solar plant for the Bonn animal shelter, we have the opportunity together with our customers to make a personal contribution to climate protection in our neighborhood."

The core criterion of Green Electricity certification is that electricity suppliers support the expansion of renewable energies with a fixed amount per kilowatt hour sold. The guaranteed investments flow into a wide range of energy turnaround projects, such as the installation of the Photovoltaic system on the roof of the Bonn animal shelter. The animal shelter can use the electricity generated directly for itself, so that the electricity costs are eliminated. This means that the facility, which relies on donations, can better spend available funds on the care of the animals.

Another project was realized in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: With the funding amount of the Grüner Strom-Labels, in Neustadt-Glewe the Multipurpose battery storage "WBS" 500 put into operation. Storage facilities can be used to compensate for the fluctuations that occur when electricity is generated from renewable sources such as wind and sun. In addition, they can be used in a variety of ways, for example to charge electric vehicles. As a result, 17 public charging stations with a total of 513 kilowatts were subsequently installed in the WEMAG electricity grid area. These projects are thanks in part to WEMAG customers on the "Ökostrom Aktiv" tariff. 

In total, more than 1,800 energy transition projects have been co-financed with over 90 million euros through the seals of approval since 1999. Co-financing with Green Electricity and Green Gas funding triggered total investments of an estimated 500 million euros in sustainable future projects. As this is mostly partial funding, the money actually invested is about 5.5 times higher.

Keywords

Certification, green power, green electricity tariff, renewable energies, solar power, energy efficiency, energy infrastructure, energy transition, EUROSOLAR, Knauber

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 or 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.

Newsletter: www.gruenerstromlabel.de/newsletter/