Five years ago, EKOenergy was amongst the first to work on the development of green energy contracts in the Russian Federation. We joined forces with local NGOs, participated in conferences, translated texts about sourcing of renewable energy and met with relevant agencies and companies.

In the last couple of months we got many concrete questions about EKOenergy-labelled energy in Russia. Meanwhile the International REC system took another step too and started adding the first Russian power plants to its database.

We are happy to inform you that last week the Russian energy supplier Uralenergosbyt became the first local EKOenergy licensee, making EKOenergy more accessible than ever to Russian businesses. We are happy to see things speeding up.

Furthermore, last week President Putin instructed the Russian government to work on the implementation of the Paris Agreement, "as long as it can go hand in hand with a strong economic development". We’re certain that Russian decision makers will also realise that renewables are the best way to power a strong economy.

- "Quando rinnovabile non é sinonimo di sostenibile", Alternativa sostenibile (In Italian)

As in previous years, we are a proud partner of the RE-Source conference, the annual gathering of renewable energy buyers and suppliers. RE-Source 2020 will take place from 7 to 11 December.

The conference happens virtually this year, which brings out certain limitations but also offers unique opportunities for many more people to join and to learn. It will be possible to schedule online chats and discussions with experts too.

See the RE-Source 2020 website for more information and for registration.

A reminder for those working with PPAs or building on-site installations: Renewable energy from such installations can carry the EKOenergy ecolabel too! Contact us for more information.

Between 2016 and 2019, EKOenergy's Climate Fund granted 49,000 euros in total to the Belgian initiative Solar Without Borders and their Togolese partner Solergie. This enabled them to finance the first smart solar nanogrids and launch Solergieboxes in off-grid Togolese villages.

Recently, the government of Togo has listed Solergie's nanogrids as one of the tools to reach the country's objective to electrify the whole country by 2030. Solergie received a license for 15 years including exemption of import taxes, VAT and a subsidy of 3 euros per month per client. The concrete target for Solergie is to bring solar energy to 100,000 families.

Congratulations Solergie! We are happy to see your hard work recognised.

We published two new Climate Story leaflets and a new River Story leaflet! These one-pagers tell about the concrete outcomes of the projects financed through EKOenergy's Climate Fund and Environmental Fund.

Thanks a lot to all consumers of EKOenergy-labelled energy. Projects like these wouldn't be possible without your choice.

- Ritex management department, EKOenergy user story

Following World Fish Migration Day on 24 October, 150 NGOs including EKOenergy banded together to call on the EU institutions to end public financing for new hydropower projects. Building new hydropower plants flies in the face of the European Green Deal’s biodiversity goals, given the small contribution new hydropower installations would bring to the energy transition weighted against the environmental damage they cause.

EKOenergy-labelled hydropower always comes from installations that fulfil specific requirements with regard to fish migration, continuous flow and the presence of natural habitats. Moreover, we exclude hydropower from dams built after 2012. We believe new financing should instead go to technologies that can expand rapidly with minimal impact on nature.

“Renewable power is defying the difficulties caused by the pandemic, showing robust growth while other fuels struggle,” said Dr. Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. “The resilience and positive prospects of the sector are clearly reflected by continued strong appetite from investors – and the future looks even brighter with new capacity additions on course to set fresh records this year and next.”

Over the first 10 months of 2020, China, India and the European Union have driven auctioned renewable power capacity worldwide 15% higher than in the same period last year – a new record that shows expectations of strong demand for renewables over the medium and long term. At the same time, shares of publicly listed renewable equipment manufacturers and project developers have been outperforming most major stock market indices and the overall energy sector. By October, shares of solar companies worldwide had more than doubled in value from December 2019.

Press release of the International Energy Agency, 10 November 2020. Or watch the YouTube video.