In its tenth anniversary year, South Pole Group, a leading sustainability solutions provider, has become a licensed partner of EKOenergy, the international network of environmental organisations promoting the use of sustainable electricity.
Aura Solar, South Pole Group's photovoltaic Programme of Activities in Baja California, Mexico, is the company's first renewable energy project bearing EKOenergy's international eco-label for electricity. Electricity and renewable energy certificates (RECs) can only be sold under the EKOenergy label if they come from power plants that fulfil strict environmental standards.
Following the ambitious low-carbon agenda set forth by the Paris climate change agreement, EKOenergy is an important mechanism for companies trying to reach their goals of reducing emissions and becoming carbon neutral. The eco-label offers them a means to go one step further than simply accounting for the carbon emissions of purchased electricity (so-called scope 2 emissions): it ensures that a portion of the price paid for electricity is reinvested in new renewable energy plants and helps to minimise the impacts of electricity production on ecosystems, habitats and the biodiversity of species. The label is currently recommended by the CDP and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for organisations carrying out green electricity purchases and by the USGBC to use for LEED certification of buildings.
“Quality is very important to us. As a service provider with the largest portfolio of renewable energy projects currently available on the market and with a strong focus on trading premium green certificates in all existing and future RECS schemes, we want to make sure that our customers can do more with their power purchases. EKOenergy further substantiates our claim on renewable electricity and positive impacts," underlines Michael Weber, Senior Key Account Manager Energy, South Pole Group.
“Electricity and renewable energy certificates sold with the EKOenergy label fulfill strict environmental criteria and raise funds for new renewable energy projects across the globe. We are very happy about the cooperation with the renowned South Pole Group; our expertise is well matched and together we will be able to help consumers worldwide commit to a 100% renewable and sustainable world," adds Steven Vanholme, programme coordinator at the EKOenergy Secretariat.
