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Are Britain’s green energy tariffs as green as they say they are? We uncover the details.
In the pursuit of a sustainable future, understanding and leveraging green energy tariffs has become increasingly important, especially for electric vehicle (EV) owners.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the intricacies of green energy tariffs, the challenges of truly green energy consumption, and how EV drivers can optimise their charging habits for a clean energy future.
Green energy tariffs are designed to promote renewable energy use. When you opt for such a tariff, your energy provider promises to match some or all of the electricity you use with renewable energy generated from clean energy sources like wind, solar, or hydro. However, the 'greenness' of these tariffs varies significantly. Some are fully renewable, others are partially renewable, and some might be more marketing than reality—a practice known as 'greenwashing'.
Despite the good intentions behind green tariffs, they don't always equate to 100% green energy usage. For instance, consider the UK's energy consumption on 1 November 2023. The energy used during peak hours comes from a mix of renewable and non-renewable sources. To achieve the greenest charge for your EV, it's crucial to charge when renewable sources are at their peak and non-renewable sources are minimal.
The availability and efficiency of green energy vary significantly across regions - as shown in this UK energy source map. Generating energy is one thing, but transporting and storing it is another challenge. This means a region's green energy capacity largely depends on nearby generation sources, leading to considerable differences in carbon intensity from one area to another.
Smart charging technology offers a solution, particularly for EV drivers. It's not just about when you charge, but also how you charge. Our smart charging app prioritises green energy based on your region's energy mix. As this can vary with the weather and other factors, ev.energy will calculate the best time to charge your EV each day to minimise carbon emissions using live grid data. This technology can even be extended to your home solar generation to provide an almost zero-carbon charging solution.
Leveraging clean energy isn't limited to EVs. You can use tools like National Grid’s WhenToPlugIn app to receive forecasts on the carbon intensity in your region and see the best times to run household appliances. This way, you can extend your green energy practices to all aspects of your home.
You can earn points to claim cash rewards in the ev.energy app to encourage and compensate for your green EV charging behavior. For every 7kWh+ ‘Smart Charging’ session, you earn points which add up to approximately £5 to £10 a month. To learn more, visit the ev.energy Rewards page.
Regardless of the green credentials of your energy tariff, ev.energy’s Smart Charging feature is a powerful tool for reducing your carbon emissions.
Ready to contribute to a more sustainable future? Visit our Smart Charging page to forecast your potential carbon savings today.
