EKOenergy

EKOenergy
Formation February 2013,
Type NGO, non-profit ecolabel
Legal status Network
Purpose Environmental protection, nature conservation
Headquarters Helsinki
Location
  • Itälahdenkatu 22 B, 00210 Helsinki
Membership
 NGOs
Official language
 multilingual
Budget
 100.000€
Staff
 employs 2 people at its central office in Helsinki
Volunteers
 over 100
Website www.ekoenergy.org

EKOenergy label is an international ecolabel for electricity. It is managed by a network of European environmental NGOs. The secretariat is located in Helsinki and hosted by the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC).[1]

The main goal the ecolabel is to increase the sustainability of energy consumption, as well as raising awareness of the environmental issues related to the production of energy.[2]

History

Alongside Swedish Bra Miljöval, the Finnish Norppaenergia was the first ecolabel for electricity in the world. FANC, the biggest environmental NGO in Finland had operated the Norppaenergia label since 1998.[3]

In May 2010 FANC announced its intention to create an international ecolabel for electricity.[4] Bellona Russia, the Estonian Fund for Nature, the Latvian Fund for Nature, Ecoserveis and AccioNatura from Spain as well as 100% energia verde and REEF from Italy joined the project soon. In the initial stages of setting up the network RECS International also offered its cooperation. Following several rounds of public consultation, on 23rd of February 2013, the EKOenergy Board approved the text ‘EKOenergy – Network and label’.[5]

Kokkolan Energia has certified the Riutunkari windfarm near Oulu into the EKOenergy system.[6]

EKOenergy criteria

EKOenergy sets criteria for:

Electricity sold as EKOenergy must be produced from renewable energy sources, which fulfill the sustainability criteria of the ecolabel. The EKOenergy label can be granted to electricity generated by windpower facilities provided that they are not located: on nature reserves, on World Heritage Sites or on Important Bird Areas. Hydropower stations get EKOenergy eligibility by committing to implement measures reducing negative environmental impacts.[7]


References

External links