In a landmark decision at the climate conference in Dubai, countries have finally agreed to move away from fossil fuels. It is an incredible achievement, especially considering the presence of over 2400 fossil fuel lobbyists at the conference and OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais urging member states to reject any agreement targeting fossil fuels.  

At EKOenergy, we applaud this decision and will continue to remind politicians of the commitments they have made.

It is encouraging to see that the energy transition is gaining momentum. Global solar installations are predicted to grow by 56% compared to last year, reaching a record-high volume of nearly 400 GW in 2023. Additionally, the battery sector is experiencing spectacular growth and evolution too, as highlighted in a recent report by RMI. While these developments give us reasons to be hopeful, we must remember that change does not happen by itself. The just-mentioned RMI report reminds us that "we got this far through the concerted efforts of companies, governments, researchers, and climate advocates. Continued growth will require continued effort. The path ahead is clear, but we still need to walk it."

In reflection of these insightful words, we recognise the imperative of collective action. It is a shared journey and if you have not already become a part of the EKOenergy community, we invite you to get in touch with us. Let's traverse this path together towards a sustainable future.

 

- UN Secretary-General António Guterres, at the end of the COP28 conference

Our focus on concrete, tangible action continues to yield success, and we are proud to present some of our achievements from the past three weeks:
 
- We are pleased to welcome five new authorised sellers from three different continents to the EKOenergy family.

- We added 200 more renewable energy installations from 15 countries to our EKOdirect database. These installations are available for our authorised sellers to sell EKOenergy-labelled energy.

- Liebherr, a leading manufacturer of construction machinery and mining equipment, wrote about its choice of EKOenergy as part of the group’s environmental protection strategy. 

- Every day we actively meet energy companies and consumers worldwide to promote sustainable energy solutions through climate-friendly virtual meetings.

- We have launched new calls for renewable energy projects and river restoration projects. See items 3 and 4 of this newsletter for more information.

- We have received promising confirmations about new EKOenergy-labelled volumes in 2023 and are optimistic about the projected growth in 2024.

- We received exciting updates from previously funded solar projects in Cameroon, Gambia, Malawi, Mali, and Nigeria, demonstrating the positive impact of our work.

- And more!

We would like to express our gratitude to everyone involved in these achievements. Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future for all.

 

- Liebherr, in its customer's magazine UpLoad 2/2023. In the same article they mention their choice of EKOenergy.

We are excited to announce the opening of a new call for Climate Fund projects at EKOenergy!

For every MWh of EKOenergy, €0.10 is allocated to EKOenergy’s Climate Fund to fund new renewable energy projects in low- and middle-income countries. All projects are selected through a transparent process.

This time, we will be able to support 15 to 20 wind and solar energy projects of up to €60,000 each. We welcome experienced non-profit organisations to submit project proposals by February 10th, 2024. Check out our website for more information.

Some of the EKOenergy users have shown interest in supporting projects from local NGOs in India, Malaysia and South Africa. Therefore, we particularly encourage such NGOs to submit their proposals. However, we welcome applications from other low-and middle-income countries as well.

We are also thrilled to announce a new call for river restoration projects in Germany, Norway and Sweden. As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, EKOenergy allocates €0.10 for every MWh of EKOenergy-labelled hydropower to our Environmental Fund. This fund is then used to finance small-scale river restoration projects in countries where most of the EKOenergy-labelled hydropower has been produced or sold.

With this new call, we aim to finance 2-3 river restoration projects. The maximum grant per project will be €30,000, and the main applicant must be a registered non-profit NGO. EKOenergy's funding can also be used for projects that are part of a larger restoration initiative but are a distinct, separately reportable activity.  

Are you interested in sending an application? Or do you know any organisations that could be interested? The deadline for proposals is February 9th, 2024. Check our website for more information and instructions for the application. Let's work together to positively impact our rivers and the environment!

Looking for a meaningful career opportunity that allows you to make a positive impact on the world? EKOenergy is seeking a B2B Key Account Manager to join our team.

We are looking for someone passionate about sustainability and corporate responsibility and with experience in B2B sales and marketing. As a B2B Key Account Manager, you will be responsible for expanding the use of EKOenergy-labelled energy among multinational companies and raising awareness about renewable energy.

While you do not need to be an expert in the energy market, you should be willing to learn and have a go-get attitude. You will have a supportive team backing you up, but we also expect you to work independently.

At EKOenergy, we are committed to promoting sustainable energy solutions and have been growing rapidly over the years. If you are ready to roll up your sleeves and join us in making a positive impact on the world, check out our website for more information on this exciting opportunity.

At EKOenergy, we believe that access to clean energy is a fundamental human right and an essential tool for lifting people out of poverty. That is why for every megawatt-hour of EKOenergy consumed, €0.10 is allocated to fund renewable energy projects in low- and middle-income countries. All funded projects aim to enhance the living conditions of local communities and contribute to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We are thrilled to receive regular updates from previously funded projects:

- The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has started deploying solar power to the Ondenwari Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa, Nigeria, thanks to a grant of €40,000 from EKOenergy's Climate Fund.

- In Malawi, RENAMA (Renew'N'able Malawi) installed solar-powered water pumping systems in three rural primary schools and two rural secondary schools in Thyolo District, with a grant of €39,720 from EKOenergy's Climate Fund. "We are happy to update you that work has been completed and clean drinking water is now flowing from the solar-powered systems in all 5 schools. It was all smiles and loud cries of joy when the solar pump started pumping water," wrote RENAMA.

- OIKOS East Africa is installing solar pumping systems in two off-grid villages in the Simanjiro district, Tanzania, thanks to a €26,800 grant. This project will bring clean and reliable power to the communities and ensure access to clean and safe water.

- In Jiffarong, Gambia, the Finnish NGO Dodo and their local partners installed a solar-powered pump and drip irrigation system in a community vegetable garden, repaired a solar energy system for the local school and trained users in drip irrigation and solar power knowledge, thanks to a grant of €15,000 from EKOenergy's Climate Fund. This project's final report, which we received last week, confirms that it positively impacted the community and the environment.

We are proud to support these projects and grateful to our consumers for choosing EKOenergy. Your choice makes a difference and helps us create a more sustainable future for all.

 

- Article about a solar project financed by EKOenergy, on the Nigerian news site Daily Newscraft

Stay informed about the latest news and developments from EKOenergy by following us on social media!

Here are some highlights from our recent posts:

- EKOenergy co-signed the Global100RE Network's call to accelerate the transition towards 100% renewable energy in an efficient, just, democratic, inclusive, and equitable manner now. (From our LinkedIn)  

- We are proud and thankful that a growing group of companies is choosing EKOenergy-labelled energy as a solid part of their ESG strategy. Our label is an internationally recognised tool to speed up the energy transition and our work contributes to the implementation of multiple Sustainable Development Goals. (From our LinkedIn)

- 👏 Greetings from the EKOenergy Secretariat. Today is International Volunteer Day! This year's theme is "the power of collective action"! We take the opportunity to thank our amazing EKOenergy volunteers, who help us promote renewable energy in many countries and in multiple languages! (From our Instagram)

- A delegation of the Shandong Provincial Product Quality Inspection Institute (SDQI), China, visited the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, and we took the opportunity to inform the visitors about EKOenergy's work and ambitions too!  (From our Facebook)

- At COP 28, nations agreed to transition away from fossil fuels! Together, we can make it happen #fastfairforever. (From our X)

The recent COP28 summit saw over 300 organisations, including EKOenergy, urge world leaders to triple renewable energy capacity to 11,000 GW by 2030. This ambitious target has been adopted in the final declaration of the conference, marking the first time that renewable energy's positive impact and climate-saving potential have been recognised by all nations.

Tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by the end of the decade is the most effective and cost-efficient way to keep the world on course for a 1.5°C target. Renewable energy technologies are mature, cost-competitive, and can be deployed at scale very quickly. The agreement reached at COP28 needs to be followed up with urgent action and implementation.

Everyone can contribute to this goal by switching to renewable energy themselves, encouraging others to do the same, and reminding decision-makers at all levels about the promises made at COP28. The 3x renewables initiative will unleash a huge wave of investments and job creation, providing affordable access to secure, local energy and clean air.