As EKOenergy grows, so does our Climate Fund!

We've just decided to grant €308,583 to six solar energy projects in Cameroon, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Togo. In total, this year's Climate Fund grants now exceed 4.5 million euros, with more to come.

Led by local organisations, the six new projects will improve access to clean energy and essential services for tens of thousands of people. For example, in Nigeria, the Centre for Renewable Energy and Action on Climate Change will install solar mini-grids to power water kiosks and sanitation facilities in three villages. In Togo, the NGO Veille et Actions Axées sur le Développement Durable will construct solar-powered, multi-use platforms for processing agricultural products and ensuring a safe water supply in two villages, thereby reducing fossil fuel use and combating deforestation.

Check out the map on the Climate Fund page on our website for an overview of all funded projects.

Thanks a lot to all those who choose EKOenergy-labelled energy. Your choice has a positive impact in many ways and places.

Last week, we attended the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, organised by the United Nations Development Programme, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, and others.

The implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is at risk in many parts of the world, and a new impetus is needed to turn the tide. The conference highlighted the importance of implementing the many scalable solutions that are now available.

We are happy and proud to have been among the invitees and speakers. Gustav Nygren from EKOenergy presented our contribution to the realisation of the SDGs in a session about the electrification of the transport sector at the invitation of EKOenergy user Mercedes-Benz. Thank you very much for involving us in this inspiring event.

Now is the time for action! If you agree but aren't sure where to start, we'll be happy to help. Our nonprofit ecolabel is a readily available tool to create numerous positive impacts!

"We follow the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and RE100 standards, prioritising solar and wind power and using the EKOenergy label where available."
 

- Thank you, Acne Studios, for using EKOenergy-labelled electricity and for writing about it in your latest sustainability report!

Last Sunday was World Oceans Day, highlighting the urgent need to protect our oceans.

We seized the opportunity to highlight some of the connections between EKOenergy's daily activities and Sustainable Development Goal 14, "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development."

First and foremost, there are many direct links between a fast transition to renewable energy, the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels, and the protection of our oceans.

The fossil fuel era is causing devastation not only on land but even more so in the seas. The oceans absorb around 90% of the heat generated by global warming, resulting in marine heat waves even at greater depths. They also absorb almost 30% of human CO₂ emissions, causing ocean acidification and making it increasingly difficult for organisms such as corals, mollusks, and some plankton to build and maintain their calcium-based structures. Furthermore, millions of metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean, posing lethal threats to aquatic species in various ways.

With EKOenergy, we also focus on marine biodiversity when promoting renewable energy. EKOenergy-labelled energy originates from renewable energy installations that meet additional sustainability criteria, such as wind and solar installations outside marine and terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas.

Additionally, we collect and disseminate examples of how the deployment of wind and solar can go hand in hand with nature, and we regularly support calls and actions to protect our seas against oil and gas exploitation and plastic pollution. Last week, a coalition of more than 200 environmental organisations and groups, including EKOenergy, asked governments to ban all offshore oil and gas exploration immediately and commit to comprehensive ocean protection measures.

 

- OceanCare and more than 200 other organisations and groups, including EKOenergy, in an open letter to decision-makers

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is the worldwide standard for carbon accounting. Its Scope 2 Guidance sets the rules for allocating carbon emissions related to the production of purchased electricity and heat.

Like all standards, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol regularly reviews its criteria to check if any updates are needed. It's now reviewing the Scope 2 Guidance, along with several other sets of criteria.

Our input and expectations for the review process are straightforward: Let's make it easier and more attractive for consumers to choose renewable energy by focusing on continuation, simplification, and participation. No company should be able to use the ongoing process as a reason to delay climate action. Instead, the process should serve as a reminder that everyone can and should do more to speed up the energy transition.

Unfortunately, the first reports of the ongoing work don't sound very promising yet. Some of the drafts sound very technical or theoretical. This was enough of a reason for the Clean Energy Buyers Alliance to voice its dissatisfaction publicly. We agree: The reviewers don't work in a vacuum. They should develop rules that can guide millions to concrete and impactful action. We're on it and will keep you informed!

Recently, we reached 10,000 followers on LinkedIn!

While we are present on various social media platforms, including Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook, LinkedIn is the platform where we can reach our primary target groups most easily. With over 1.5 million impressions in the first five months of 2025, our LinkedIn account is also our most active.

If you aren't following us on LinkedIn yet, feel free to check out our account. We post almost daily: about concrete results of EKOenergy's work, about actions and campaigns we develop, about new evolutions in the renewable energy markets, and more!

By engaging with our posts from time to time, you can help spread our message and make sure that future updates appear in your feed.

 

- Elena Pisanu, volunteer at EKOenergy, in a new article on our website

EKOenergy's Climate Fund enables people in disadvantaged communities in low- and middle-income countries to implement their renewable energy projects.
 
It's always encouraging to get updates from projects we are funding in many parts of the world. Here are more examples from the past few weeks:

- Last year, we granted €60,000 to the NGOs Green Empowerment, Forever Sabah Berhad, and TONIBUNG for the installation of a 16.5kW solar PV mini-grid system to provide 24-hour electricity to an off-grid village in eastern Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia. In their recent update, the project partners confirmed that all the components of the solar installation have now successfully arrived at the village. We look forward to receiving photos of the mini-grid soon! The project is part of a broader initiative focused on community engagement and environmental stewardship. For example, earlier this year, a Community Conservation Agreement was signed, affirming the local commitment to protecting a 45-acre (18-hectare) marine turtle nesting habitat.

- The NGOs Azada Verde and EsMaBaMa received a €38,588 grant for a project in Mozambique, enabling two agricultural associations to replace old diesel pump systems with solar irrigation systems. The works are ongoing!

- We received the final report of a solar project we co-funded in the Peruvian Amazon. You can read more about it in our newest Climate Stories leaflet: Empowering Indigenous communities in Ucayali, Peru through solar power.

July and August are calmer months for many companies. That may be a good time for a catch-up meeting with EKOenergy.

We are always eager to meet with energy companies and energy users and explore what we can do together.

- EKOenergy is a tool to facilitate companies' transition to renewable energy and help them make a positive impact. Would you like to get an overview of our ten main sales arguments?

- Can we assist you with creating texts and visuals for your communication about impactful renewable energy procurement?

- We have grown considerably over the past few years, and we'd love to continue our growth and make more impact together with you!

Don't hesitate to contact us, and feel free to suggest a moment that suits you. 

 

- Yu Chen Shih, on LinkedIn

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:

- Our network of authorised EKOenergy sellers consists of a diverse range of energy suppliers, sustainability and PPA consultants, solar companies, and more. We’re always proud and happy to hear about the many activities our authorised sellers develop to promote renewable energy in general and EKOenergy in particular. (From our LinkedIn)

- 🕐 In a new article on our website, several of our volunteers explain why they participate in EKOenergy's "Now is the time to power up change" campaign. (From our Instagram)

- Thanks to all who supported us in one way or another in May! At EKOenergy, we had another month of concrete action. As always, we focused on what can be done, striving to do things a bit better each time while not forgetting to make life as enjoyable as possible for those around us. (From our LinkedIn)

- The UK’s solar farms and rooftops generated more electricity than ever before in the first five months of 2025! The solar electricity generated in 2025 to date has avoided the need to import £600m worth of gas. (From our Bluesky)

- 🇮🇹 3 Italian volunteers at our office! EKO-Cristina has just arrived (Welcome!), EKO-Elena arrived in January and will stay until the end of the year, and EKO-Nicolò's project lasts two more weeks! (From our Instagram)

- Today is World Environment Day. This year's edition focuses on plastic pollution, another disaster caused by the fossil fuel industry. (From our Bluesky)

- 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. (From our Facebook)

"At the heart of the energy transition lies a powerful engine: the reinforcing feedback loops inherent in the development and diffusion of many clean-energy technologies."
 

- Jan Rosenow, Simon Sharpe, and Max Collett in CarbonBrief

The IEA's World Energy Investment 2025 report highlights that investment trends are now being shaped by the onset of the ‘Age of Electricity’ and the rapid rise in electricity demand for industry, cooling, electric mobility, data centres, and artificial intelligence (AI). Ten years ago, investments in fossil fuel supply were 30% higher than those for electricity generation, grids, and storage. Today, these positions are reversed. Investment in the electricity sector is set to reach USD 1.5 trillion in 2025, some 50% higher than the total amount being spent on bringing oil, natural gas, and coal to market.

Investment in clean technologies – renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification – is on course to hit a record $2.2 trillion this year, reflecting not only efforts to reduce emissions but also the growing influence of industrial policy, energy security concerns and the cost competitiveness of electricity-based solutions.

Spending on low-emissions power generation has almost doubled over the past five years, led by solar PV. Investment in solar, both utility-scale and rooftop, is expected to reach USD 450 billion in 2025, making it the largest single item in the IEA's inventory of the world’s investment spending. Fierce competition among suppliers and ultra-low costs are seeing imported solar panels, often paired with batteries, become an important driver of energy investment in many emerging and developing economies.