GreenPower’s accreditation standards include:
- not allowing the use of native forest wood waste in biomass generators; and
- not allowing hydro generation that involves the redirection of environmental water flows in rivers.
- only allowing generation from facilities built since 1997; This is because we need to create 'new' renewable energy facilities. Other renewable energy exists, but it was built before 1997, and was already contributing energy to the electricity grid
Accreditation also means that retailers’ GreenPower sales and purchases are audited on an annual basis to ensure you get what you pay for.
Non-accredited renewable energy is not audited and green claims are therefore untested.
Retailers are also audited to check they haven’t counted your GreenPower purchases towards their mandatory requirements to purchase renewable energy under the Renewable Energy Target (RET). This means GreenPower is additional to the Renewable Energy Target. In other words if you purchase 10% GreenPower it is 10% renewable energy in addition to the amount of renewable energy purchased under the RET.
What is the Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Target (RET)?
What qualifies as eligible renewable energy?
Accredited GreenPower vs non-accredited GreenPower products
When choosing a renewable energy product, it is important to be aware of the basic differences between non-accredited renewable energy products and renewable energy products that are accredited GreenPower. Non-accredited renewable energy products are products that are often promoted as other forms of ‘green’ or ‘zero carbon electricity’ or 100% renewable energy without mentioning GreenPower accreditation.
Generally non-accredited products source their renewable energy from old sources that were established decades ago, such as large hydro-electric projects. Purchasing products sourced from old renewable energy does not contribute to further investment in renewable energy. An older hydro-electricity power station will continue operating whether or not you buy it as GreenPower. Buying older hydro electricity does not result in any new generation that will increase the amount of renewable energy generated to power Australian households and businesses.
No independent audit process or guidelines exist to monitor non-accredited renewable energy products so it cannot be guaranteed that the purchase of these products will contribute to further investment in clean renewable energy in the future.
Find more information about Audits
Accreditation program
The GreenPower accreditation program aims to drive investment in renewable energy in Australia and make Australia's electricity supply sustainable. It does this by raising awareness of GreenPower accredited renewable energy products to increase their uptake and by helping consumers feel more confident when choosing these products.
The objectives of the National GreenPower Accreditation Program are to:
- Facilitate the installation of new renewable energy generators across Australia, beyond mandatory renewable requirements, thereby decreasing greenhouse pollution.
- Encourage growth in consumer demand for renewable energy.
- Provide consumer choice for, and increase confidence in credible renewable energy products.
- Promote the renewable energy industry through the rigorous accreditation of generators.
- Increase consumer awareness of the benefits of renewable energy.
- Increase the sustainability of Australia’s electricity supply.
What the GreenPower Accreditation label mean?
An accredited GreenPower product will always carry the ‘tick’ label. This accreditation label is supported and managed by governments throughout Australia. When you decide to purchase renewable energy make sure you look for the accredited GreenPower ‘tick’ label.
These labels tell you the amount of accredited GreenPower your energy retailer is purchasing on your behalf, as a percentage (10% – 100%) of your household’s electricity consumption. 50% means that your energy supplier purchases renewable energy from accredited GreenPower sources to the amount equal to 50% of your household’s electricity consumption.