| 1. EKOenergy in the new RE100 Technical Criteria |
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In case you missed it: The latest version of the RE100 Technical Criteria (Climate Group and CDP) emphasises again the importance of additional impact in renewable energy sourcing, explicitly mentioning EKOenergy as one of the approved ways to ensure impactful sourcing.
Our globally available ecolabel is a pragmatic and efficient tool for companies (RE100 and all others) and individuals who want to make an additional positive impact. Here's how choosing EKOenergy helps drive meaningful change:
- By choosing EKOenergy, energy users ensure their energy is sustainable and renewable, while also supporting our work to promote renewable energy, protect nature, and international solidarity.
- EKOenergy contributes to realising the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as highlighted in several UN publications.
- Through our Climate Fund, we support renewable energy in disadvantaged communities in low- and middle-income countries.
- Your demand for EKOenergy helps us reach energy companies worldwide, and each conversation is another opportunity to highlight the importance of a fast transition to sustainable, renewable energy.
- Our label is a practical tool for communicating concrete, inspiring examples of impactful climate action. Deeds, not words!
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"This project not only provides drinking water through a solar-powered system, it also eliminates at least 110,000 plastic bottles from the environment every year."
- Adrian Banie Lasimbang, on LinkedIn, about an EKOenergy-funded solar project in Malaysia |
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| 2. Eight PPAs for the supply of EKOenergy-labelled power |
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Last Tuesday, May 13th, the Iliad Group announced they have signed four more PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) for the supply of EKOenergy-labelled wind and solar power.
On the same day, they also celebrated the inauguration of the solar farm Ferme de Magné in Charente-Maritime, France, which results from a PPA deal they closed with Engie Green last year.
In total, the Iliad Group now has eight PPAs in three countries. These contracts represent around 220 GWh of renewable electricity annually, all of which will be labelled with EKOenergy.
By choosing EKOenergy, companies such as the Iliad Group support us in promoting renewable energy worldwide, ensuring many positive impacts well beyond the scope of their own PPA contract:
- All EKOenergy users contribute to funding solar projects in disadvantaged communities in low- and middle-income countries.
- EKOenergy is a readily available tool for embedding additional impacts and contributing to the realisation the Sustainable Development Goals.
- EKOenergy is explicitly mentioned and recommended by RE100, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and others.
- Our label allows the same additional quality criteria to be applied across all procurement methods. While few consumers meet all their energy needs through PPAs alone, many also use green tariffs, on-site installations, or unbundled EACs — and the EKOenergy label can be applied to all of them.
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"EcoIntellect Oy has chosen to use EKOenergy-labelled wind power. EKOenergy is an internationally available ecolabel for electricity, gas and heat managed by a non-profit environmental organisation. The energy it provides is 100% renewable and meets strict environmental criteria, while supporting renewable energy projects in developing countries."
- EcoIntellect, on its website - Thank you for choosing EKOenergy! |
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| 3. Biodiversity Day - Greetings from a river restoration project in Sweden |
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May 22nd is the International Day for Biological Diversity, a day to celebrate the variety of species and ecosystems on our planet and to remind us of the importance of preserving that diversity.
At EKOenergy, it's Biodiversity Day every day. In our work, promoting renewable energy, protecting nature, and supporting sustainable development all go hand in hand. For example, with our Environmental Fund we support river restoration projects.
We just received news from one of the recently funded projects.
Thanks to EKOenergy users in Sweden, we were able to grant €30,000 last year to a restoration project by the nonprofit organisation Rewilding Sweden in the Abramsån River in northern Sweden. Rewilding Sweden has successfully completed all planned activities and shared detailed updates, including a dedicated webpage and an engaging, informative video about the project and its results.
"After nearly a century in a channelised state, the Abramsån riverbed had become almost depleted of finer sediments such as gravel and sand — essential habitats for many aquatic insects, freshwater pearl mussels, and fish — due to the lack of larger boulders and natural trapping structures. As part of phase two in restoring Abramsån, Rewilding Sweden added 180 tonnes of sand and gravel to reintroduce a natural sediment mix. The added material also helps fill cavities between larger stones, raising the water level and enabling the river to reconnect with the surrounding land."
Thanks a lot to all those who make projects like this possible. |
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| 4. HubSpot uses EKOenergy to reach its SBTi-validated targets |
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3Degrees, an authorised EKOenergy seller and winner of EKOenergy's Oak Award in 2023, helps HubSpot, the customer platform for scaling businesses, reach its SBTi-validated (Science Based Targets initiative) climate targets.
We are proud and happy 3Degrees' experts recommended EKOenergy-labelled energy as one of the ways to do so. Our pragmatic approach makes impactful solutions more readily available, including for companies with many offices in various parts of the world, such as HubSpot.
As explained in an article on 3Degrees' website, "Working closely with Diana Tovar, HubSpot’s Senior Environment Program Manager, the 3Degrees team helped curate a renewable energy portfolio that balanced practicality with purpose. Together, they identified projects that not only met the technical requirements but also aligned with HubSpot’s values around equity and climate justice. (...) By selecting these high-impact options, HubSpot was able to turn a complex challenge into a global solution that matched its sustainability commitments." |
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| "Each EKOenergy-labelled EAC helps to fund new build renewable energy projects in developing regions by contributing to EKOenergy's Climate Fund - which (...) embeds verified impact co-benefits directly into the renewable energy purchase." - 3Degrees, in How HubSpot made a global impact with smart renewable energy choices |
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| 5. Another record year for EKOenergy |
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We are working on our annual audit, during which we verify all EKOenergy-labelled volumes from 2024. The process is ongoing, but we have already confirmed that the EKOenergy volumes in 2024 exceeded those of 2023.
It's great to see EKOenergy grow each year. This proves we are on the right track and that consumers like our pragmatic and result-oriented approach! Thank you to all the dedicated EKOenergy sellers who make this possible.
Although our growth enables us to achieve more concrete results each year, we know of many impactful renewable energy projects and activities seeking additional support, such as solar installations for off-grid schools and hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. Additional support is always welcome! Have you ever considered encouraging companies in your supply chain to also use EKOenergy? Or would you have a budget to pay voluntary higher contributions to our Climate Fund? Feel free to contact us with any questions or if you’re interested in supporting specific projects. |
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| "That's why this project means so much to me. It shows that together we can create something powerful, but at the same time, something so valuable. I'm not just talking about installed solar panels, but most importantly about saving lives, enabling operations during blackouts, and giving people hope in very difficult times. " - Kateryna Lukashenko, EKOenergy, at the inauguration of a solar system at a hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine |
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| 6. We are a nonprofit and create opportunities for people to be involved |
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One of the aspects that sets us apart in the world of labels and certifications is that we are a nongovernmental nonprofit organisation.
Our statutory goals focus on nature and environmental protection. All activities we develop with our authorised sellers and all payments we receive from EKOenergy users will always serve the realisation of these objectives.
We involve people, particularly young volunteers, and allow them to learn about renewable energy and related topics. EKOenergy is, for example, an active participant in the European Solidarity Corps programme, allowing us to host young people at our office. These volunteers help us set up campaigns and spread the word in many languages. Last week, we received a very positive evaluation of our recent projects and a new grant, which will help us welcome new volunteers starting in August.
By choosing EKOenergy, you not only ensure that you use sustainable and renewable energy yourself, but your demand also helps us connect with energy companies, other users, and the general public. This way, we can advocate the energy transition in ways that wouldn't be possible otherwise. |
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| "The Board decided that the University will join Hansel’s joint procurement “State Electricity 2026 (00175)” once the current electricity procurement contract expires. (...) The joint procurement also takes sustainability into account, allowing the University to purchase renewable electricity, such as higher quality options like EKOenergy." - University of Jyväskylä, on its website |
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| 7. EKOenergy on social media |
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Stay connected with EKOenergy on social media to receive relevant updates on the global climate crisis, renewable energy, and climate action. By occasionally engaging with our posts, you help spread our message and ensure that future updates appear in your feed.
Here are some of our recent posts on our various social media channels:
- Today, on the International Day of Light, we’re reminded that for many communities around the world, light is not a given. Through EKOenergy’s Climate Fund, we’ve supported solar lighting initiatives that bring safe, clean light to homes, health clinics, and schools — while helping build lasting infrastructure for access and repair. (From our LinkedIn)
- 🔋 Batteries are the fastest-growing clean technology. They are already revolutionising the energy landscape and will do so even more in the coming years. (From our Instagram)
- In 2024, EKOenergy granted €53,000 to OIKOS East Africa to support the installation of solar-powered water pumping systems in three villages in Hanang District, Tanzania. You can read more about this impactful project in our newest Climate Story leaflet. (From our LinkedIn)
- With climate change intensifying and billions of people still lacking basic necessities, addressing both challenges simultaneously is not only possible but essential. (From our Bluesky)
- Greetings from the EKOenergy Secretariat! We are working on many things again: audits, welcoming new users, supporting our authorised sellers, writing reports, and more! (From our Instagram)
- Fridays For Future. We understand the problem, we know the solutions. The only thing we need to do is implement them, and fast. And that's precisely what we want! (From our Bluesky) |
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| 8. China's CO2 emissions have started falling thanks to clean power |
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China’s CO2 emissions have fallen slightly for over a year. This could mean they are close to reaching a peak and plateau, or even entering a period of structural decline.
A new analysis by Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, shows that China’s emissions were down 1.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025 and by 1% in the latest 12 months.
The reduction in China’s first-quarter CO2 emissions in 2025 was due to a 5.8% drop in the power sector. While power demand grew by 2.5% overall, there was a 4.7% drop in thermal power generation, mainly coal and gas.
Increases in solar, wind, and nuclear power generation, driven by investments in new generating capacity, more than covered the growth in demand. The increase in hydropower production, which is more related to seasonal variation, also helped push down fossil power generation. Additionally, average coal power plant efficiency improved.
For more details, check out the complete analysis on the website of Carbon Brief: Clean energy just put China’s CO2 emissions into reverse for first time. |
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We at EKOenergy are always enthusiastic to collaborate with new partners.
For further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch. |
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