| 1. Gesternova's "Month of EKOenergy" |
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The Spanish energy supplier Gesternova is once again organising a “Month of EKOenergy”.
Throughout the entire month of October, Gesternova and its sales agents are dedicating their efforts to EKOenergy-labelled electricity in various ways, including:
- Featuring EKOenergy and our label’s concrete achievements on their homepage, blog and social media
- Offering all new clients that join in October a contract for EKOenergy-labelled electricity, at no additional costs
- Reaching out to the media
- And more!
On October 6th, Gesternova’s Commercial Director, Javier Del Fraile Tejedor, and one of their EKOenergy clients, Blueground Madrid’s General Manager, Francisco Juliusberger, joined the Spanish radio program Ecogestiona along with our volunteer Velizara Koleva. The program focused on the EKOenergy ecolabel and its tangible results (in Spanish).
We thank Gesternova for their enthusiastic promotion of EKOenergy! If you are an authorised seller interested in organising a promotional event for EKOenergy in your country, please feel free to reach out to us! |
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| "Congrats Gesternova👏. We came on board with you guys because of your EKOenergy ecolabel offering and have been very impressed with your service!" - Verdonce, a satisfied EKOenergy consumer, on LinkedIn |
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| 2. Today is World Ecolabel Day |
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This year, World Ecolabel Day is on October 12th. World Ecolabel Day highlights the invaluable role ecolabels play in helping consumers identify environmentally friendly products, thus contributing to a more sustainable world.
Ecolabels differ from other “green symbols” or claims through several key characteristics. They are granted by impartial third parties to products or services that undergo independent assessments to verify their alignment with clear environmental standards. While requirements and product categories may vary, all standards address multiple environmental concerns. Ecolabels' criteria are achievable, verifiable, and measurable. They are openly accessible for review, and they are consistently updated to reflect environmental excellence.
EKOenergy, as an independent non-profit ecolabel, fulfils this role in the energy sector. We're proud to witness the growing number of energy consumers who are placing their trust in our label every year. Furthermore, the recent modifications to the CDP Climate Change 2023 Questionnaire for RE100 companies reflect the importance of third-party endorsements: An additional point is now awarded for the utilisation of supplementary voluntary labels linked to the procurement of renewable electricity, such as the EKOenergy label (as detailed in C8.2h under C8 Energy). |
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| 3. New publication: Concrete Impact Made Thanks to EKOenergy Users |
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Over the past decade, EKOenergy has transformed from an ambitious European initiative to an internationally recognised ecolabel for renewable energy, available across all continents and in more than 70 countries.
Our simple yet practical concept and easily recognisable logo have played a crucial role, but none of our accomplishments would have been possible without our authorised sellers and consumers who trust our work by choosing EKOenergy-labelled energy.
In the past 10 years, we have:
- Provided €2.76 million to fund 94 renewable energy projects in 29 countries
- Contributed €450,000 to support 25 river protection projects
- Donated €70,000 to the #Renewables4Ukraine campaign
- And so much more!
Learn more about the positive impact of the EKOenergy label over the past decade in our latest publication "Concrete Impact Made Thanks to EKOenergy Users". |
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| "What is happening is that millions of people are losing their jobs due to different effects of climate change: rising sea levels, droughts and other phenomena affecting the planet have left many people adrift. Conversely, the transition to renewable forms of energy, properly managed, as well as efforts to adapt to the damage caused by climate change, are capable of generating countless jobs in different sectors. " - Pope Francis, in his apostolic exhortation "to all people of good will on the climate crisis" |
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| 4. News from our previously funded Climate Fund projects |
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For every MWh of EKOenergy, €0.10 is allocated to EKOenergy's Climate Fund, dedicated to funding new renewable energy projects in low and middle-income countries. These projects not only enhance the living conditions of local communities but also contribute to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In recent weeks, we received news from several of the projects we have previously funded.
- The Siemenpuu Foundation shared photos from various ongoing projects co-funded by EKOenergy in Mali. One of them is in Kela village, where solar-powered freezers and dryers enable food processing and storage. The solar system now also powers a flour mill and a phone charging station.
- In another project co-financed by EKOenergy in Mali, the Malian NGO Association Malienne pour le Développement, la Protection de l’Environnement et la Lutte Contre la Désertification (AMADE PELCODE) enhances livelihoods and climate resilience of women's groups and vulnerable communities, especially in the villages of Komi-Komi and Dio-Gare. Recently, they have constructed a well and installed a solar-powered pump, supplying water for a one-hectare horticultural area and a nearby maternity clinic.
- The NGO HARD (Health And Rural Development) Balochistan posted photos about the launch of their new project "Provision of Roof Solar Energy Systems", funded by EKOenergy. Under the project, they will bring solar power to 100 households, 5 schools and 5 health centres in five villages in Tehsil Aranj, Khuzdar Balochistan district, one of the poorest and most inaccessible areas in Pakistan.
- In July 2020, EKOenergy provided a grant of €22,000 to the UK-based NGO Renewable World and their Nepalese partners to kickstart their UREKA project. The project takes place in the Achham District of Nepal and focuses on enhancing agricultural yields by introducing solar-powered water pumps. The project is ongoing with the support of numerous other donors. We have received photos showcasing a recently installed solar system and pump.
For an overview of all the 94 projects we have financed to date, check out the Climate Fund page on our website. |
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| "All UNFCCC Parties should agree to a rapid, just, and equitable global phase-out of fossil fuels in all sectors by 2050 at the latest, in line with a 1.5°C temperature limit. Each country should adopt binding commitments to ensure it does its part, with historically and presently large and rich polluters moving earlier." - Letter by environmental NGOs to the European Commissioner for Climate |
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| 5. GÜNDER and Oomi featured EKOenergy |
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Our success in achieving concrete results would not have been possible without the invaluable support of many. A special thanks to all those who have helped us share our message of how consumers can accelerate the energy transition.
We are proud to share two great examples from the past week: GÜNDER from Türkiye and Oomi from Finland both published articles about our work.
GÜNDER, the Turkish division of the International Solar Energy Society, published a bilingual Turkish-English interview with Merve Güngör from EKOenergy. You can read the interview in both languages on p.72-77 of the latest edition of their magazine GÜNDERGI. Many thanks to the GÜNDER team!
The Finnish energy company Oomi published an article about EKOenergy in their customers magazine and on their website. The article is based on an interview with EKOenergy user eQ and EKOenergy’s Secretariat. It serves as a reminder of the numerous compelling reasons to choose EKOenergy, including its NGO-driven commitment to promoting the energy transition, endorsement from various standards and organisations, and its growing popularity among both small and large consumers. Thanks, Oomi for sharing this message! |
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| 6. EKOenergy through PPAs |
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EKOenergy’s criteria are applicable to any sourcing method. You can purchase EKOenergy-labelled energy through green tariffs, unbundled EACs, PPAs, and other procurement methods, as long as our criteria are met.
Using EKOenergy-labelled electricity through a PPA can bring numerous benefits, such as:
- Enabling the off-taker to contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals
- Introducing an extra dimension of leadership by supporting off-grid solar projects that we finance in low and middle-income countries
- Facilitating communication about renewable energy consumption: all EKOenergy users are entitled to use our internationally recognised and protected logo in their own communication, for example on products made with EKOenergy.
Notable EKOenergy users who have purchased EKOenergy-labelled electricity through PPAs include the Iliad Group, a major player in the European telecoms sector, and SCHOTT, a leading international glass manufacturer.
If you would like to learn more, please feel free to reach out for a virtual meeting anytime or a face-to-face meeting with Merve Güngör from our Secretariat at the RE-Source conference in Amsterdam. |
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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 climate crisis, renewable energy, and climate action worldwide.
Here are some of our recent posts:
- EKOenergy's Ivy Award was handed to Javier Del Fraile Tejedor and Paula Velasco Suárez from Gesternova Energia by our former volunteer Icíar Montes in Madrid. (from our LinkedIn)
- According to recent report by @BloombergNEF, renewables and particularly solar energy are set to be the cheapest option for Bangladesh to meet growing electricity demand 🔌. (from our X)
- Join us in Amsterdam for the largest gathering of renewable energy buyers and suppliers on 26-27 October 2023! This year’s RE-Source event is more important than ever before: As your company’s 2030 targets draw ever closer, it’s time to accelerate your renewable energy procurement strategy and be part of the energy transition! (from our LinkedIn)
- Congratulations to EKOenergy-seller @deltaglobalsa on their new warehouse and office near Guayaquil, Ecuador. The first thing Deltaglobal did was install solar panels! Their activities are now partially powered by on-site produced EKOenergy-labelled solar power! Thanks a lot to all those who made this possible! (from our Instagram)
- The IEA's new Net Zero Emissions Scenario says to stay below 1.5°C: ❌ No new oil and gas fields or coal mines, ✅ Triple renewable energy by 2030, ✅ Double energy efficiency. (from our X) |
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| 8. Record number of days exceeding 1.5°C in 2023 |
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In 2023, approximately one-third of the days have already witnessed an average global temperature surpassing the critical threshold of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Maintaining temperatures below this threshold is widely considered crucial to mitigate the most damaging impacts of climate change, and is one of the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
Going over the 1.5°C threshold for a day or a week doesn't mean that the target of the Paris Agreement hasn't been reached. That would only be the case if the limit is exceeded across a 20 or 30-year average. Currently, the long-term average warming figure sits at around 1.2°C. However, the more frequently 1.5°C is breached for individual days, the closer the world gets to surpassing this mark in the longer term.
Ultimately, the inevitable conclusion remains the same: Global warming is happening in line with the worst-case scenarios and we have squandered the chance for a steady and gradual transition towards a sustainable economy. Our only remaining option is a swift and equitable phase-out of all fossil fuels, coupled with a speedy restoration of nature and a significant reduction of animal farming. |
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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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