Get renewable electricity

See below the Get low renewable electricity Sub-Actions. Click or tap the sections further below to reveal a summary of the benefits of getting renewable electricity, future-gazing to help visualise how this would work for you, a thought-provoking video, a step-by-step guide outlining how to achieve this Top Action, expert tips, and useful links and references.

It is recommended that you pick one or two of the Sub-Actions to progress at a time rather than try and complete them all at once. Visit our Approach page for other tips on how to set yourself up to minimise your environmental impact and get to net zero carbon.

Have you completed this Top Action already? You would need to complete:

• all the Halfway (0.5) Sub-Actions to complete half of the Top Action.
• all the Halfway (0.5) and Full (1.0) Sub-Actions to fully complete the Top Action.

Switching oour energy supplier and getting a green tariff may be the easiest action we can take to reduce our environmental impact and CO₂ emissions– and it can make a big difference.

Many energy suppliers now offer “green tariffs” for electricity and natural gas. Green tariffs match our consumption with certified renewable energy generation or they might contribute towards environmental schemes on our behalf to offset the impact of the energy used. Suppliers should declare which sources are included in the green tariff, and also what proportion of the supply is renewable. The electricity and gas that enters our homes will not change, as this comes directly from the national grid, supplied by the full range of renewable and fossil fuel based energy sources, which is constantly changing to match the national demand and renewable energy generation e.g. how much wind or sun there is. The energy supply to the grid will not change immediately when we sign up for a green tariff, so green tariffs do tend to initially be an accounting exercise i.e. claiming a share of the renewable energy already supplied to the grid, meaning there is less for others to claim. However, in the longer term, the use of green tariffs can promote renewable energy deployment to the grid, which is a big part of why we should switch to green tariffs. It also sends a message to the industry and to Government that we want to use renewable energy.

Despite the large number of people who keep the same energy provider year after year, it is actually really easy to do, especially by using a price comparison website. 

Prior to the 2022 energy crisis (and likely again at some point in the future when the energy market has stabilised), switching our energy provider could help save money at the same time as going green, although green tariffs are not always the cheapest. There may be savings to be found, particularly for those who have not switched for a while. However, in 2022 in the UK, with significant price inflation, it has generally been recommended to stay with existing providers on the standard variable tariff which is limited by the energy price cap.

If and when we can find a financially beneficial green tariff, there are no downsides to switching our energy, which is very easy and can save us money whilst helping to save the planet!

By installing our own renewable electricity generating technology at home, we can ensure that the electricity that we use during times of generation is 100% renewable – as good as it gets. When we are not able to use all of the renewable electricity at the time of generation, the energy not used is exported to the grid for others to use, and we can get paid for the electricity exported.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are relatively simple for professional installers to add to the roof of the majority of houses or blocks of flats, and usually require minimal internal works and disruption. They convert energy from the sun’s rays into electricity, although they do still generate a significant amount of electricity on cloudy days. Once the solar panels have been installed and paid for, when we use the energy from our solar PV panels, this will be free for the lifetime of the installation. The lifetime of solar PV panels is at least 25 years and potentially much longer although components such as the inverter may need replacing earlier. It may take a while for the initial investment to pay back (around 5-15 years), however, electricity prices may increase in future and we may also use more electricity for our heating and vehicles. By investing in solar PV panels, we are less reliant on the electricity grid which is partly served by fossil fuels and we are protecting ourselves from future price rises. We can be confident our bills will be more affordable for the foreseeable future. The use of fossil fuels (e.g. for our home energy use) can, in some cases, help to fund wars and social injustices as well as being an underlying cause of the climate and ecological emergency, and so should be minimised or preferably avoided.

Solar PV panels can be seen as fit and forget:

• we don’t need to make any effort to control them as they simply supply renewable electricity during the day, and we can continue to use your home electricity as before.
• they are very low maintenance, and are self-cleaning when it rains, although they would benefit from a proper clean perhaps once a year or so.

However, to get the most out of solar PV panels it is worth considering whether there are any energy using habits we could conveniently change so that the renewable electricity covers more of our usage (see the Expert Tips below).

Those living in in a rural location and with the opportunity could also consider installing a wind turbine or hydroelectric turbine. This would need a suitable windy space for a wind turbine, or a river for a hydroelectric turbine. Both technologies are excellent either on their own, or complementary to solar PV panels, as they generate more electricity during the winter, when we typically use more electricity but when the least solar electricity can be generated. They also generate electricity during the night.

As some of the renewable energy generated by renewable energy technology is exported to the wider electricity grid, our installations will contribute to the decarbonisation of the grid. Although the grid is decarbonising over time, it is only by adding further renewable energy generating technology that this will happen.

By adding renewable energy generating technology to our homes, their values may increase, as the benefits are becoming more widely recognised by home-owners and industry. We may for instance be able to get a larger mortgage for a home with energy measures such as renewable energy generating technology installed.

Try and imagine how your life will be and how you will feel when you complete this EcoTracker Top Action. This may feel like a big change or a small change, but really focus on how the benefits of the change could impact and improve your life and the lives of others.

For instance try and imagine how you will feel about:

• your reduced environmental impact which will help avoid the worst effects of climate change and ecological breakdown within your lifetime, helping to ensure you and others can live a long and full life.
• improved long term prospects for your children and future generations, who will have a much greater opportunity to avoid climate change and ecological breakdown during their lives. They will be much safer than in the alternative future of extreme climate change and ecological breakdown and many lives will be saved. Will you be able to look your child in the eye in years to come and say that you have done everything you can to protect their future?
• improved opportunities and social justice (climate justice) for those around the world who are currently struggling with the early impacts of climate change and ecological breakdown, with many lives and livelihoods saved.
• maintaining your lifestyle whilst reducing your environmental impact.
• saving money.
• supporting and generating clean renewable electricity.
• improve your energy security and reduce your reliance on the wider electricity grid, and protecting yourself from future price rises.
• contribute to the decarbonisation of the wider electricity grid.
• sending a message to the industry and Government that you want to use renewable energy.
• some of the above may be really life-changing for you and your overall standard of living.

An effective way of developing a commitment and ongoing motivation to progressing this EcoTracker Top Action is to work out which of the themes above generate the most powerful emotional responses for you personally. Then try to capture this in some way and store it for when you might need motivation later.

You might be able to create a strong image in your memory, or a link to existing memories. You might want to write down how you feel say on a post-it note or in a diary as a reminder; perhaps somewhere that you will regularly see the message or somewhere you can come back to when you want to. You might even want to share this on your ‘progress thread’ on social media. If you are feeling creative, perhaps even draw an image to represent your future. Also, consider whether you might already have an object which could trigger your motivation e.g. a picture of your children.

These steps are generic because this is your unique personal journey and you will need to explore the details for yourself, using this process and the Expert Tips below as a guide and support.

The time required to complete steps may vary quite a lot depending on your resources or skill level, or whether or not you do the work yourself or pay a professional to do it. It is recommended that you pick one or two of the Sub-Actions to progress at a time rather than try and do them all at once, and so you may go through steps multiple times for the different Sub-Actions before you have completed the Top Action.

1. Build motivation from within to complete this EcoTracker Top Action, assisted by reading the Benefits and Future-gazing to imagine how your life will improve (10 minutes)
2. Make a personal commitment and share this to social media (5 minutes)
3. Book a time in your diary for progressing your EcoTracker actions – you may wish to set up a regular slot for taking actions (5 minutes)
4. Research – read the guidance on this EcoTracker Top Action page such as the Expert Tips and you may wish to visit your community for support (30 minutes +)
5. Discuss with others in your household and agree broadly what you will do (15-30 minutes)
6. Get the resources lined up e.g. find what you need online, locate or borrow/rent/buy the materials and tools (2-3 hours)
7. Make a final decision on exactly what you will do and book in a date (15 minutes)
8. Complete all Sub-Actions to enable you to complete the Full Top Action (5 + hours)
9. Visit our Tracker page, and share your progress to social media (5 minutes). You may want to share your progress as you go through the steps for each Sub-Action.
10. Once you’ve mastered this Top Action, why not also help others in the community complete their’s, with tips and support (1 minute, periodically)

In the UK, Ofgem outline the process for switching your energy supplier, and suggest using a price comparison website and having your postcode, the name of your current supplier and tariff to hand (which you can find in a recent bill). Citizens Advice Bureau outline other considerations for switching. The best time to change your energy tariff is typically any time you don’t have to pay exit fees from your contract. However, in 2022 in the UK, with significant price inflation, it has generally been recommended to stay with existing providers on the standard variable tariff which is limited by the energy price cap.

Uswitch, one of the many price comparison websites, have provided a video to show how easy switching is, and they suggest it takes about 10 minutes.

Even if you don’t want to switch your energy supplier, your current supplier may offer a green tariff for you to move to.

Do beware that some green tariffs are much better than others. There are energy suppliers that own and operate their own renewable energy sources or buy the energy for their green tariffs from others as it is generated through Power Purchase Agreements. Such green tariffs ensure that the energy supplied is backed up by renewable energy at the time of use. However, the renewable energy supply is not always well matched with the demand, for instance, outside peak hours on a sunny and windy day there may be more renewable energy generated than can be used. When renewable energy is generated, a Renewable Energy Guarantees Origin (REGO) certificate is issued. REGO certificates can be sold separately to the energy itself so many suppliers simply buy up excess REGO certificates and then use these to claim the renewable energy generation as part of their green tariffs – even though they will not always be supplying sufficient renewable energy when you are using it.

It is relatively challenging at present to produce large volumes of renewable gas (e.g. biogas) and therefore there is much less renewable gas available than renewable electricity; typically this is produced via anaerobic digestion e.g. from food waste. As a result, carbon offset gas tariffs are much more common than renewable gas tariffs; the energy supplier pays to plant trees (or undertake other carbon reduction measures) to offset the emissions from your gas.

When a customer switches to a renewable energy tariff, in the ideal world this would switch on more renewable energy generation capacity. In practice, very few of the suppliers actually build more renewable energy generation with their profits (which should improve when customers switch to them). However, there are some that make a big difference including pioneering companies who have been doing this for years.

Comparison websites tend to allow you to filter for green tariffs, many of which are very competitively priced.

Energy Saving Trust  identified the following UK suppliers who all clearly list the renewable sources of their energy on their websites, back in February 2020, and they suggest that these tariffs are as green as they get. They note that other suppliers may meet the same standard but couldn’t be identified during the investigation.

• Green Energy UK – the UK’s only supplier of 100% green gas and electricity – potentially the greenest of the green tariffs.
• Ecotricity – also supports rewilding through a partnership with RSPB – their tariffs are well worth considering for those who want to also support nature and help address the biodiversity crisis.
• Good Energy – also offers a specialist tariff for those with Air Source Heat Pumps (see below).

Getting a green tariff is not a substitute for installing renewable energy technology, but rather a complementary measure. It is worth doing even if you have a renewable energy supply as you will still be importing from the grid when the renewable source is not generating. If you have solar panels, consider an energy provider which offers the Smart Export Guarantee and get paid for the energy you export to the grid when you can’t use it. Solar Energy UK provide a table of suppliers who offer this. If you have a heat pump (see the Get low carbon heating Top Action) some specialist tariffs are emerging that are targeted at supporting the cost effective running of this technology.

Looking to the future and for those who already have battery storage, it is certainly worth considering a flexible “time-of-use” tariff for which the cost of energy varies through the day depending on demand. This incentivises people to charge their batteries when there is excess renewable energy on the grid and then feed surplus stored energy into the grid during peak times such as early evening. If you use a flexible tariff effectively, you can reduce your bills whilst also supporting the decarbonisation of the wider energy grid. Providers such as Octopus Energy offer flexible tariffs and there are expected to be many more providers in future. Watch this space.

This section covers the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines and hydroelectric turbines. Please note that installing a heat pump, solar hot water panels or a biomass boiler is part of the Get low carbon heating EcoTracker Top Action.

Solar PV panels can be retro-fitted to the roofs of the majority of houses and blocks of flats, without needing planning permission, although if your home has heritage value (e.g. is a listed building) you may need to obtain consent (which is not guaranteed) and to minimise the aesthetic impact. In the UK solar PV panels work best with south facing roofs sloping at around 30°, but also work well for flat roofs, east or west facing roofs or even south facing walls. If you are renting your property, encourage your landlord to consider installing solar PV panels. If you’re living in a flat, you might consider grouping together with other residents to encourage your freeholder to install solar PV panels and/or provide funding towards the array.

It is advisable to have a smart meter installed before getting solar PV panels, as this is required in the UK in order to get paid for electricity generated that you don’t use and which is exported to the grid. Contact your energy supplier and ask to have one installed.

Start by finding some reputable installers and doing some research. In the UK look for Trustmark and Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified installers via Simple Energy Advice and read the guidance from the Energy Saving Trust to inform yourself with further details. Also find out if you have a Solar Streets scheme in your area, which organises bulk purchase and installation of a standard solar PV system for a discounted price.

You’ll need to ensure that you have sufficient money available to invest in the solar PV panels. Energy Saving Trust suggests that the average domestic solar PV system in the UK is 3.5kWp and costs around £4,800 (at 2021 prices). If you don’t currently have the money available consider whether you could get cheap finance, e.g. by remortgaging your home. If so, do make sure the electricity bill savings from getting the solar PV panels installed would cover the ongoing cost of repaying your loan, or where relevant you might decide you are happy with the idea of paying a bit more for renewable electricity. Alternatively, if you’re struggling to find the money, you could focus on other EcoTracker Top Actions which save money and make savings over some years until you can afford to get solar PV installed – you can find these on the Actions page by filtering the Top Actions accordingly.

Decide which type of PV system you would ideally like before discussing this with installers, or ask for their suggestions:

• Consider roughly how many solar PV panels you might be able to fit on your sun-facing roof(s) (south / east / west facing / flat roof(s) in the UK and elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, or north / east / west facing / flat roof(s) in the southern hemisphere, or east / west facing / flat roof(s) near the equator). Each typical panel is around 1.6m x 1m and you are likely to need to allow for some space around the edge for access (around half a metre). Your installer will be able to advise on this.
• If you use a lot of electricity, and can accommodate a large array, bigger may be better. The central equipment and installation costs are a fairly significant part of the total, with the price of the panels themselves having come down a lot in recent years, so getting a larger array may be provide relatively more value than a smaller array. A larger array will help you generate more electricity during the winter, when you need it most, although it will rarely be able to cover your larger energy uses during the winter period.
• Also consider your future needs, such as whether you might use more electricity in future, which many of us might do if we get electric-based heating such as a heat pump (see the Get low carbon heating Top Action) or an electric vehicle (see the Low impact driving Top Action) in future, or for instance, if you think your family might grow.
• The largest standard size of a PV array in the UK is 4kWp (typically 12-16 panels), and this is automatically accepted by the UK electricity distribution network operator, using a G98 application. Larger arrays need assessment and approval via a G99 application, which is often accepted but may take time. Your installer will arrange this, but going for an array larger than 4kWp may delay the process.
• Also consider whether you prefer polycrystalline or monocrystalline panels. Polycrystalline panels are typically tinted blue and monocrystalline panels are black. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also more expensive; they may be the best option if you have a small roof area or want to make the most of the area you have. Roof integrated PV (e.g. solar tiles) or thin film PV are also options for various situations – such as for heritage buildings, for which aesthetics are critical – but these options are typically much more expensive than monocrystalline panels.
• Also consider the inverter – a key part of the installation that affects the performance of the panels. This converts the solar energy so that it can be used in the home. The majority of inverters take energy from the PV using a “string system”, in which the electricity generated by the whole array of panels is limited to the level of the panel generating the least; therefore, if one panel is shaded, this would limit the performance of the rest of the panels. Alternatively there are systems available with a different set-up that can utilise all the electricity generated by every panel, using micro-inverters or power optimisers. Solar Edge is the best known system of this type, and is excellent where your roof is partly shaded or where you want to install panels on multiple roofs or if you simply want to maximise the electricity generated by the system. The Solar Edge inverters also have a longer lifetime than typical inverters, and come with a monitoring package. They are a premium product and so typically come at an additional cost.
• To make the most of your PV, do consider the following extra options:
  • Get a PV diverter fitted to heat your hot water tank whenever you have surplus solar electricity generation. This is a good option to go for if you are struggling with the Get low carbon heating Top Action.
• • Get an electric battery, to allow you to store the renewable electricity generated for use later e.g. in the evening. Do be aware that batteries typically have a significant environmental cost of manufacture at present (as reported here by the Guardian), but prices have come down a lot recently and the increasing availability of time-of-use energy tariffs makes these potentially financially attractive. There is expected to be much innovation with batteries in coming years, and you can easily get a battery added later.  
  • Get an electric vehicle charging point added if you are considering getting an electric vehicle (see the Low impact driving Top Action).
• Consider bird proofing your panels. Birds, usually feral pidgeons, are increasingly discovering that solar PV panels offer an attractive covered nesting spot. Whilst Rewilding is an EcoTracker Top Action, nesting birds can cause long term problems to solar PV installations and at the very least they will create mess which will reduce the efficiency of the panels. Either get bird proofing when the birds start moving in, or pre-empt them to secure your panels and your investment.

Contact a number of installers, discuss your requirements and get quotes from the installers. They may need to visit your home to assess what is required. Then decide what is right for you.

When your solar PV panels are installed, sit back and relax, and enjoy your reduced bills!

Do be aware that generation is intermittent, so if you want to get the most out of the renewable electricity generated by your solar PV panels you could try changing your behaviour, although this is certainly optional:

• Make use of the renewable electricity at the time e.g. during the day. For instance, you could choose to cook and run your dishwasher during the day if you are at home.
• Spread your electrical use through the day where possible rather than putting all of your equipment on at the same time, which would be less likely to be covered by the renewable electricity.
• Solar PV panels can’t always cover larger electrical loads, but generation is typically highest during the middle of the day and also when it is sunny. You may want to schedule your electricity use around this.
• If you have electric-based hot water system, such as an immersion heater or heat pump, you can schedule this to run during the middle of the day.
• If you work from home on your own, consider getting a small electric desk or room heater for the area you work in; this could be significantly covered by the renewable electricity even during the middle of winter, and this avoids you needing to switch on your main heating system through the day.
• When you are replacing home electrical equipment or lighting that uses a lot of energy, do consider getting the more energy efficient options available (see the Reduce my home energy use Top Action); if you do so the electricity generated by your solar PV panels will be able to cover more of the electricity used.
• Use your smart meter or solar monitoring if you have it to identify which of your home electrical equipment uses more energy, and then try to use this equipment when you have renewable energy.  

It is very unlikely you will be able to get an array big enough to generate all your electricity needs all year round as there is much less solar energy available in winter, and you would need sufficient battery storage to cover the night time period.

Wind turbines do not function very well in urban or suburban areas as neighbouring buildings block the flow of wind, and planning regulations and negative opinions by neighbours are likely to make them challenging to install. However, innovative options may develop in coming years so do look out for developments. If you have a suitable space for a wind turbine, as for solar PV panels, find Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified installers, discuss your situation with them and get some quotes. Planning permission is required for wind turbines and should be sought, but your installer can tell your more about this.

Hydroelectric turbines are an option for very few people, but if you have a suitable river, do get in touch with relevant companies to explore this opportunity.

As for solar PV panels, application to the electrical distribution network operator is required for wind or hydroelectric turbines. If you proceed with these options it is essential that you choose to consider the impact on wildlife and mitigate this as far as possible and even try to make compensatory improvements. Similar principles also apply as for solar PV panels when seeking to get the most out of your wind or hydroelectric turbines, although the timings of generation will vary significantly and so your try to best match your energy usage to this.

To improve your financial payback, with all of these options make sure you are with an energy supplier that offers payment for excess electricity generated that is exported to the grid: an “export tariff”. Follow the process in the “Expert tips – switching your energy supplier” section, to ensure you can utilise the Smart Export Guarantee. Solar Energy UK provide a table of supplier that offer export tariffs.

It is important to consider the environmental cost of manufacture of products, including renewable energy generating technology. Typically, this impact will be “paid back” many times over the years of usage through the avoidance of the use of fossil fuels which are much more damaging to the environment.

Home renewable energy:

Energy Saving Trust: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/generating-renewable-energy/

Simple Energy Advice: https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/

Microgeneration Certification Scheme: https://mcscertified.com/

Solar Streets: https://solarstreets.co.uk/

Solar Energy UK: https://solarenergyuk.org/resource/smart-export-guarantee/

Solar Edge: https://www.solaredge.com/uk/homeowner-new

Guardian (reporting on electric battery environmental impact): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/14/electric-cost-lithium-mining-decarbonasation-salt-flats-chile

Switching your energy provider:

Energy Saving Trust: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/switching-your-energy-supplier/

Ofgem (includes a list of comparison sites to choose from): https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/switching-energy-tariff-or-supplier

Citizens Advice Bureau: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier/

Money Saving Expert: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/cheap-green-energy/

Uswitch video which shows just how easy switching your energy is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdPZycQN_SI

Energy suppliers highly rated by Energy saving trust (see link above):

Green Energy UK (the UK’s only supplier of 100% green gas and electricity – potentially the greenest of the green tariffs): https://www.greenenergyuk.com/OurEnergy

Ecotricity (also supports rewilding through a partnership with RSPB – their tariffs are well worth considering for those who want to also support nature and help address the biodiversity crisis):  https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/green-electricity

Good Energy (also offers a specialist tariff for those with Air Source Heat Pumps): https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/our-energy/