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Our green energy

We don’t just supply green energy, we make it too
Our green energy

Vegan energy

It’s hard to imagine using animals to generate energy, but it happens. For example, manure from factory farms is burned as biomass or used in anaerobic digestion vats to produce biomethane. Animals are exploited to produce a small proportion of the UK’s energy, but it gets into the mix for a much larger proportion of homes. Several of the big energy suppliers and so-called green energy companies have animal waste in their fuel mix.

But that’s only part of the story. Livestock farming is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the UK and around the world.

We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be greener and more ethical if animals weren’t used to generate energy?’ So, we reviewed all our energy sources and eliminated anything involving animals. Ecotricity is the only energy company in the world certified as vegan by both the Vegan Society and Viva!, the vegan charity.

What is vegan energy?

Simply put, vegan energy is energy produced without involving animals. Solar, wind and geothermal power all produce green electricity without using animals but gas can be more problematic.

Anaerobic digestion of green matter – certified by The Vegan Society and Viva! – is a genuinely green, vegan way to make biogas. This can be used to create electricity or further treated to make biomethane, which can be used as household gas. It’s what we’ll be doing in our new green gasmills.

What’s the difference between green energy and vegan energy?

The big problem comes when energy companies add animal by-products (silage, manure, etc) from the livestock factory farming industry to the mix.

It’s still green, theoretically, but it isn’t vegan and it isn’t right.

What’s the impact of livestock farming on the climate crisis?

In total, agriculture and deforestation are responsible for a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions – and animal farming is responsible for 60% of the emissions from agriculture.

By switching to a plant-based diet, we could easily free up enough land to have enough food for everyone. We could also rewild a significant amount of the countryside, rewetting peat bogs and boosting tree numbers in Britain, which are all valuable carbon stores for the planet.

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It's a surprise to most people that animal by-products are used to generate energy. (Note: no animals were harmed creating this image!)

Is your energy contaminated?

Energy supplierAnimal waste in fuel mixFeedstock details
Chart showing which energy companies are vegan
Yes
Poultry litter and slurry
Chart showing which energy companies are vegan
Yes
Poultry manure
Chart showing which energy companies are vegan
Yes
Animal processing by-products
Chart showing which energy companies are vegan
Yes
Cattle slurry
Chart showing which energy companies are vegan
Yes
Animal manures
Chart showing which energy companies are vegan
Yes
Cattle slurry
This is based on the biomass REGOs that each of the suppliers has redeemed for their 22/23 fuel mix (report from Ofgem)
Feedstocks confirmed on the UK Biogas Map or AD plant's company website
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Climate Clock

The Climate Clock is a version of the Doomsday clock that has been running since 1947 - this tracks the risk of global man-made disaster, through man made technology (like nuclear weapons) - displaying the minutes and seconds left before midnight, when disaster strikes. The climate crisis is a small part of the calculations made.
The climate clock uses a similar approach, but, focuses only on the climate crisis - which is the biggest and most urgent existential threat we face.
"The Climate Clock is a countdown to the biggest man-made disaster we face - but also a measure by which we can track our progress - moving from fossil to renewable energy. It shows we have no time to lose - the clock is ticking…" Dale Vince, OBE.