| 1. 12 years of EKOenergy - Thanks for your support |
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Last weekend, we celebrated our 12th anniversary, a good moment to reflect on the many achievements of the past years and to thank all of you who are involved in one way or another.
12 years of EKOenergy, that's 12 years of productive cooperation, 12 years of actions to promote renewable energy, 12 years of multilingual communication, 12 years of working with energy consumers of all sizes, 12 years of additional impact, 12 years of international solidarity, 12 years of fighting energy poverty, and much more.
Together, we have collected more than 10 million euros for renewable energy projects, enabling us to fund (so far) 126 impactful projects in 34 low- and middle-income countries. Through persistent and systematic outreach to energy consumers, we help speed up the energy transition. We have gradually become a worldwide recognised ecolabel, used by companies such as SAP, Hilti, SCHOTT, and Microsoft, and several UN publications highlight our contribution to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the active support of many of you. Thanks a lot to all our partners, authorised sellers, and consumers!
For an overview of the actions and achievements over the last year, see our annual report: EKOenergy in 2024 - Another year of concrete, impactful achievements (PDF, 9 MB). |
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| 2. Solar and nature can go hand in hand |
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Renewable energy, climate change, nature restoration, and the interaction between these are at the heart of EKOenergy's work. We explore findings about the impact of renewable energy production on nature, gather best practices regarding nature conservation, and showcase inspiring examples in our daily communications.
Last week, we published the report Solar and nature can go hand in hand (PDF, 2.3 MB), illustrating that it is possible to reconcile solar energy development with biodiversity conservation. Measures such as preserving wildlife corridors, sowing native vegetation, and creating suitable habitats for vulnerable and endangered species can minimise the impact of installations on nature and, if well planned and carefully implemented, even foster local biodiversity. The publication also zooms in on concrete examples of nature protection and restoration on solar farms.
Continued research reflecting experiences from diverse geographic contexts will refine strategies to support nature restoration on and near solar farms. This will ensure the energy transition not only saves us from catastrophic global warming but also supports the urgent need to protect our planet's web of life! |
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"A great example is EKOenergy, a nonprofit ecolabel for renewable energy that functions as a tool to enable consumers to add an extra layer of impact to their energy purchases. (...) EKOenergy is a trusted and recognised ecolabel for businesses committed to sustainability. It aligns with key international reporting frameworks."
OTC Flow, on its website |
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| 3. Renewable energy for Ukraine |
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Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine has been ongoing for three years. During that time, EKOenergy has taken several initiatives to support Ukrainians in their struggle for existence, self-determination, and democracy, and we are determined to continue doing so for as long as it takes.
Last year, we dedicated €100,000 from our campaign budget to actions supporting the deployment of renewable energy in Ukraine. Over the past weeks, we, once again, received updates about the concrete results of this support.
The RePower Ukraine Foundation sent us photos of a newly installed system at a hospital in Kharkiv, to which we contributed €50,000.
The other half of our support went to the #renewables4ukraine campaign of the Ukrainian Wind Energy Association. They have recently used part of that donation to install a solar system in a daycare centre in Borodyanka, a town that suffered significant destruction during the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Don't hesitate to contact us if you want to learn more about these projects or are considering a grant for similar projects.
The war against Ukraine is far from the only war raging, unfortunately, but it's a war that is heavily intertwined with the world's energy policy and the world's dependence on fossil fuels. Russia wouldn't be able to wage this cruel war if it didn't receive billions from exporting fossil fuels. Russia is also a prominent promoter of fake news, including fake news about climate change and renewable energy (see also item 9 of this Newsletter). If Russia wins, the world loses. |
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| "Now is the time to double down on our efforts. The work we are doing —strengthening community resilience through renewable energy, clean water access, and locally led development— is critical, both from a humanitarian and environmental perspective." - Andrea Johnson, Green Empowerment, in a letter to the organisation's donors and supporters (of which EKOenergy is one) |
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| 4. Welcome to the REC Market Meeting |
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EKOenergy is a proud supporting association of the REC Market Meeting 2025, taking place in Amsterdam on 8 and 9 April.
We are primarily involved in organising the D-stream sessions, which provide basic information about energy tracking systems such as Guarantees of Origin. Experienced panelists from different backgrounds will discuss the various aspects of energy attribute certificates and highlight new developments.
Additionally, two of EKOenergy's staff members will participate in several other panels.
The REC Market Meeting conferences, in which we have actively participated since the early days, have been a resounding success for over a decade, with a steadily growing number of delegates year after year. For more information on this year's edition, check out the conference website, where you will also find a list of attending companies and organisations.
We look forward to meeting many of you in Amsterdam! |
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| 5. 355 applications in response to our call for Climate Fund projects |
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EKOenergy users and sellers regularly ask us how we find and select the many projects we fund.
The process always starts with a call for projects. 14 February was the deadline for sending this year's applications for small Climate Fund grants (up to €60,000). We received 355 proposals for renewable energy projects in 63 low- and middle-income countries.
The selection process has now started. Check out the Climate Fund page on our website to read more about the many elements we consider during this process.
Thank you to all who submitted proposals. We genuinely appreciate all the people who dedicated their time and participated in planning and writing so many proposals.
Each year, we receive many more project proposals than we can fund, so additional support is welcome at any time. If you are not an EKOenergy user yet, consider becoming one. If you are already using EKOenergy, thanks a lot, and please remember that you can contact us at any time to discuss the payment of higher Climate Fund contributions to support specific projects. |
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| "Perpetuating fossil gas dependency by trading Russian with U.S. dependence, a highly risky bet at the outset of the Trump term with yet unknown consequences for Europe and the world." - Together with many other organisations, we co-signed a letter to EU Commissioner Jørgensen, asking to reject any measures that deepen the EU's dependence on foreign LNG |
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| 6. News from previously funded solar projects |
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Thanks to EKOenergy consumers worldwide, we can fund renewable energy projects in many countries. Here is some news from recently finished projects.
- In 2024, we granted €57,884 to the nonprofit organisation Renew'N'Able Malawi (RENAMA) for a solar project in an off-grid village in Malawi. In close cooperation with the local community, including the local schools, RENAMA's dedicated experts built a 10 kW energy kiosk and demonstrated the life-changing impacts of introducing solar. Earlier this month, the kiosk was officially inaugurated, and we received a well-made video about the project and the official opening.
- In 2023, the nonprofit organisation GRET received €26,000 from our Climate Fund to bring solar power to a remote, off-grid village in Madagascar. The Agence Française de Développement and the Artelia Foundation co-funded the project. With our joint support, GRET installed a solar-powered "Energy House" (5 kW, and expandable) in Sahanimira village, benefiting 2,400 residents, including school children and health professionals, who previously relied on costly, unreliable energy sources (battery lamps, candles, and expensive generators for their energy needs), or had to travel to neighbouring villages.
- Between 2020 and 2024, we co-funded 15 short-term solar projects in the south of Mali in cooperation with the Finnish development NGO Siemenpuu Foundation, which specialises in funding projects implemented by grassroots civil society organisations. Recently, we received more photos of several finished projects: solar energy for health centers, schools, agricultural cooperatives, etc., enabling them to have lights (including street lights), install fridges, and power small electric devices.
- We received more photos from a solar project we funded in 2023 and 2024 in northeast Cambodia: Solar energy powering water pumps and facilitating irrigation.
Check out the Climate Fund page on our website for an overview of all funded projects and short reports about the finished projects. |
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| 7. More than 8,000 renewable energy installations in EKOdirect |
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There are now more than 8,000 installations from more than 80 countries in our EKOdirect database.
EKOenergy's authorised sellers use EKOdirect to check which production they can use to serve their EKOenergy clients.
If you are an EKOenergy seller and yet have to receive access to EKOdirect, don't hesitate to contact us. |
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| "The Greenhouse Gas Protocol reviewers shouldn’t re-do the work that their predecessors have done. The basic principles of the Scope 2 Guidance still work today." - Steven Vanholme, EKOenergy, in a blog by the Leapfrog Alliance |
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| 8. 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 reacting to our posts, you help us spread our message and ensure that our future posts will also appear in your feed.
Here are some of our recent posts on various social media channels:
- Our weekly reminder for decision-makers: The solutions to the ecological and societal challenges are available, affordable, and have many co-benefits. Stop spreading fear, fake news, and solutions from the past. (From our Bluesky)
- If you are looking for some good news this Sunday, here we have something for you: A new study in the UK confirms that well-managed solar farms can boost wildlife! (From our LinkedIn)
- Another solar project funded by EKOenergy's Climate Fund, in Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia: Solar-powered water pumping + purification systems, and capacity-building on watershed conservation. (From our Bluesky)
- Chapter 2 of our recently published 2024 Annual Report shows how all kinds of energy consumers choose EKOenergy-labelled renewable energy to make an additional positive impact. (From our LinkedIn)
- 🙌 Choosing EKOenergy means using 100% sustainable energy while also supporting our efforts to promote renewables worldwide. For example, with our team, we contact companies in many countries and encourage them to follow your example! (From our Instagram)
- Concrete action and direct interaction (with living people, not with bots) is the best antidote to hatred, greed, and lies. Let's do all we can to build the world we want. (From our Facebook)
- When bullies choose the side of the aggressor, as they usually do, the rest of us should double down in supporting the aggressed. (From our Bluesky)
- Our four recently arrived European Solidarity Corps volunteers have their on-arrival training, organised by the Finnish National Agency for Education. (From our Instagram)
- With clean energy investments twice the size of those of fossil fuels, UN climate chief Simon Stiell calls it a “money-making opportunity” that is “too big to ignore”. (From our Bluesky) |
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| 9. Russia is a primary source of fake news about climate change and renewables |
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It's becoming increasingly clear that Russia has been waging a disinformation war against the West for many decades and that it continues doing so almost unhindered.
Russia has built upon the USSR's tradition of manipulation and infiltration and has rapidly adapted to the great opportunities offered by the internet and social media.
Not many are aware that the disinformation campaigns often target environmental politics in particular. As a petrostate, Russia wants to undermine any measure that could reduce the demand for fossil fuels. Additionally, environmental issues are often a driver for international cooperation and constructive, solution-oriented action, which are all the antipodes of what conservative and ultranationalistic dictatorships such as the Russian Federation embody.
For example, Russia has continuously tried to undermine public confidence in climate science, net zero, and the EU's Green Deal. The goal is to hinder solutions and create public dissatisfaction.
A recent article on DeSmog summarises the findings of a new report by Poland’s military counterintelligence service: Between May 2022 and May 2024, Russia was the main "communication creator" in online discussions about green energy on Polish social media and news sites. In the two years following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin sought to "undermine green policies, promote conspiracy theories and […] attack climate activists directly".
Another example is the "the meddling in green party democratic politics in a litany of states. This is done by both the defamation of activists and green party leaders, but also by empowering climate skeptic parties like the A.f.D. in Germany and further population of "globalist" conspiracy theories. Most notably, Russia launched a disinformation campaign against German Green Party Leader Annalena Baerbock in 2021 after she criticised the construction of the NordStream 2 pipeline."
And now, one of their age-long contacts (or "assets") made it, partially with their help, to the president of the United States. |
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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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