Switch to a Green Energy SUpplier
Choosing a supplier with renewable energy from sources like wind, solar, or hydro helps reduce your carbon footprint and supports a cleaner grid. Switching to a green energy provider is simple—it takes just a few minutes, and the supplier takes care of the rest, including paperwork and the switch-over. Plus, many green tariffs are competitively priced, so you could save money too.
We’ve included some information on how energy suppliers work, but feel free to skip. The TLDR is that green tariffs may market themselves as green but don’t really support renewable energy.
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Electricity
Energy suppliers differ from energy generators, who produce the electricity that is fed into the national grid. Suppliers purchase this energy from the wholesale market, though some, particularly those focused on renewable energy, also generate part of their own supply.
The electricity you receive comes from the national grid, which is powered by a mix of energy from various generators. This mix doesn’t change based on which supplier you choose. However, when a supplier offers 100% renewable electricity, they ensure that the energy you use is backed by renewable sources. This is typically achieved through Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates, which verify that an equivalent amount of electricity has been generated from renewable sources. REGO certificates can be:
Generated by the supplier if they produce their own renewable energy.
Purchased from the wholesale market, where renewable energy producers sell their certificates.
Acquired through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), where the supplier directly partners with renewable energy generators (such as wind farms or solar plants), securing a direct supply of renewable electricity and the corresponding REGO certificates.
PPAs are valuable because they provide long-term financial support for renewable projects, ensuring financial stability for generators and encouraging the development of new clean energy capacity.
While REGOs are a useful tool, they have limitations. Suppliers can buy them cheaply during periods of high renewable energy production and use them to offset energy consumed when renewables are less available. This means even with a "100% renewable" tariff, your electricity will still include fossil fuels or nuclear power. Further, some suppliers may engage in greenwashing by marketing "green" tariffs based solely on buying REGOs without truly supporting renewable energy, or they may offer non-green tariffs alongside.
To ensure your choice genuinely supports renewable growth, choose a supplier that only offers green tariffs and goes beyond buying REGOs. Look for suppliers that partner with renewable generators through PPAs, generate their own energy, or invest in new renewable projects, making a real contribution to decarbonising the grid.
Gas
While electricity has seen significant decarbonisation through renewable sources, gas has been harder to make green as it’s still primarily derived from fossil fuels like natural gas.
However, many green energy suppliers offer green gas tariffs that offset the carbon emissions from the gas you use. This is typically done by purchasing biomethane, a renewable form of gas made from organic waste, or through carbon offset schemes. These options help reduce your overall carbon footprint and support the transition to greener energy, even though gas has not yet fully moved to renewable sources.
Steps for Switching
Check if your current supplier is truly green: Visit their website for details on renewable energy tariffs and look for those that go beyond REGOs to actively support renewable energy. Check if they offer non-green tariffs alongside green ones, as this could indicate ongoing support for fossil fuels.
Explore alternatives: If your supplier isn’t green or you’re looking for a better deal, consider other options.
We recommend Octopus Energy! if you use this link, both you and Green Yaks get £50, and we’ll plant ten trees as a thank you!
You can also compare alternatives on sites like Uswitch. While Octopus Energy doesn’t work with comparison sites, Uswitch offers a tiered green accreditation tag (look for Silver or above). If comparing quotes between options and Octopus, just make sure you’re comparing the same plan details, such as kWh usage, contract lengths, and exit fees.
Make the switch! Simply follow the steps, and your new supplier will handle everything for you. It’s that easy!
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