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Green energy

Due to rising costs, many providers have removed their deals from the market, so we're unable to switch you right now.

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What are green energy tariffs?

A green energy tariff matches the energy you buy with renewable energy.

Some tariffs are 100% renewable, while others use a proportionate mix of renewable and non-renewable energy. You can also get nuclear-free or carbon-offsetting green tariffs.

Energy regulator Ofgem has worked to increase the transparency of green deals. That means it’s much easier to see whether suppliers’ tariffs are using 100% renewable energy or a mix – it’ll be clearly signposted with each tariff.

Your energy supplier should also tell you what sources are used to provide your energy, like wind, solar, coal or nuclear.

Green energy tariffs usually only apply to your electricity supply, but there are a few green gas deals, or dual fuel options, available too. You can’t easily source renewable gas, so with these tariffs, your carbon is offset instead.

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How to I switch to a green energy supplier?

  1. Pop in your postcode

    We need to know your address and a few other details to get your quotes

  2. Compare tariffs

    Check which providers use green energy, and weigh up the price, supplier rating and early exit fees of each

  3. Pick your new energy deal

    Once you’ve found the right tariff, sign up and your new supplier will handle the switch

Where does green energy come from?

Here are a few different ways green energy is generated:

  1. Wind

    Wind pushes around large blades to drive a wind turbine which converts the energy into electricity

  2. Solar

    Solar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity

  3. Hydroelectric

    Large volumes of falling water drive a turbine which makes electricity

  4. Wave

    Captured from waves in the ocean, rivers, lakes, and canals instead of falling water

  5. Tidal

    The tide rises and falls twice a day due to the moon’s gravitational pull. The energy this produces is turned into electricity

  6. Biofuels

    Biological materials, such as plant matter, can be used as a fuel source to power generators, producing electricity. Biofuels are also mixed into non-renewable gas supplies

Green tariffs that aren’t 100% renewable combine one of the above methods with regular fossil fuels to help offset carbon.

Carbon offsetting

With these tariffs, your carbon emissions are balanced out by the supplier investing in carbon reduction projects.

For example, a green energy tariff that offsets two tonnes of carbon, means there’s two tonnes less carbon in the air than there would have been otherwise.

Selling energy back to the grid

If you generate renewable energy yourself – for example, if you have solar panels on your roof that produce more energy than you can use – you can pick a tariff that lets you feed surplus energy back into the grid.

These ‘feed-in’ tariffs were part of a scheme which was closed to new applicants on 31 March 2019. It’s been replaced with a new scheme called the smart export guarantee (SEG).

Are green energy tariffs more expensive?

Green options may prove a little more expensive than other tariffs, due to the investment the energy firms put into sustainable projects and renewable technology. But that’s not to say you’ll always pay more.

What you pay depends on your energy usage, and how competitive the deal you pick is. Some customers find themselves paying less - while helping the planet at the same time.

How do I know I’m getting a green deal?

Due to an Ofgem investigation back in June 2014, it should be clearly stated whether a deal is green and whether it provides any environmental benefits. Energy providers also need to show that environmental benefits happen because consumers chose a tariff and not solely due to subsidies or supplier obligations.

Suppliers must be able to prove where your green electricity supply comes from by having the right amount of Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates. REGO’s are a way for suppliers to prove that the energy they provide is renewable. Ofgem issue one REGO certificate per megawatt hour of energy produced by a renewable source.

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Page last reviewed: 19 July 2023

[2] According to Ofgem, January 2023. Infographic: Bills, prices and profits.