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| What is green energy? |
Green energy is a generic term for renewable energy, energy from renewable sources like sun and wind. By generating energy from these sources instead of generating energy from oil, coals or natural gas no harmful consequences for the environment occur. By now 4 procent of the total electricity consumption is from renewable energy sources. No less than 1.4 million households are now supplied with green energy (January, 2003). Furthermore companies and governmental institutions feel the importance of green energy and are supplied with green energy by now. For an overview, go to the GreenPrices Top 25 Large Users.
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| How is green energy generated? |
For generating green energy natural phenomenons are used. For example, green energy can be generated from wind, sun, hydropower and biomass.
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| What is the importance of using green energy? |
By generating energy from conventional sources, like coal, gas, oil, nuclear power and uranium harmful chemicals, carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur (SO2) and nitrogen (NOx), are released. These chemicals cause for instance the greenhouse effect and acid rain. Furthermore the sources of conventional energy are not, in comparison to green energy, inexhaustible. So keep on using conventional energy is a serious threat for the environment and our future!
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| Where is green energy purchased? |
Almost every energy company supplies green electricity. Since the liberalisation of the green energy market in the Netherlands on the 1st of July last year it is possible to choose your own supplier! On the website of GreenPrices you can find all adresses and remaining data of the Dutch energy companies.
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| Is it necessary to change my connection before purchasing green energy? |
No, the choice for green energy does not mean a change in the grid or the electricity meter. To build a separate electricity grid only to transport green energy is ofcourse much too expensive. By choosing green energy the production of renewable energy is being stimulated. With your money, which is paid for by the green electricity consumers, the energy company should actually guarantee renewable energy is being traded. So they have to prove their money is really spent on buying green energy or investments in new wind turbines, solar panels or biomass plants. To supervise the trade of green energy, the government has developed a special system.
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| What are the costs of green energy? |
Producing green energy is more expensive than producing conventional energy. However the government wants to stimulate the consumption of green energy and therefor the energy tax (ecotax) of 6,39 eurocents per kWh (excl. VAT) for green energy is been halved. For green energy the ecotax is 3,49 eurocents/kWh and therefore green energy is offered at the same prices or even below the price for conventional electricity.
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| How can I switch over to a new supplier of green energy? |
You can choose your own supplier! On GreenPrices it is possible to compare all Dutch suppliers on prices and sources of green energy. On this overview you can also press the ‘switch now’ button to switch to a new energy company. After a few days, you receive your new contract. As soon as the new supplier receives your signed contract, he even cancels your current subscription. There will be no change in your connection, you will not be disconnected from electricity. The new energy company takes care of your former contract and your former energy company will send you a final invoice.
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| What causes the price differences of the several suppliers? |
The prices for green energy are often equal to the price per kWh for conventional energy. Most suppliers relate their green energy prices to the tariffs for conventional energy. With most traditional suppliers green energy is more expensive than conventional energy. On the other hand increasingly suppliers, especially the newcomers, offer their green energy at a very low price. The fact that they do not sell conventional energy besides green energy, so they do not face competition between two of their products, enables the new suppliers to charge these low prices. Furthermore several foreign suppliers offer the Dutch suppliers large amounts of green energy.
However especially transportcosts are the main cause of the significant differences in green energy prices. The regional gridmanager, who transports the electricity, charges different transportscosts by region. These costs are directly passed on to the energybills of the customers, which causes the large price differences. Maintaining regional transportcosts makes a price comparison even more difficult. The price comparison of GreenPrices however represents all costs. This price comparison is complete and precise.
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| What are the used contract terms of my current or new supplier? |
Most green energy contracts are automatically renewed. Most energy companies conclude new annual contracts, some companies however are already concluding contracts for an undetermined period of time. Although your contract is automatically renewed, you are still able to switch over to a new supplier. These switches does not cost you any money nor extra efforts, your new supplier still cancels your contract and arranges the switch over. However you have to take into account the term of notice of your current supplier. Also the terms of notice vary, some contracts can be cancelled immediately, while other energy companies use a term of notice of 2 to 3 months. Your supplier knows which term of notice is applicable to your contract.
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| What if I have changed to a new supplier and he will go bankrupt? |
In that case your former energy company will take care of your energy supply, unfortunately not automatically green energy, but conventional energy. In this case you are not disconnected from the electricity grid as well.
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| In what way is the trade of green energy controlled? |
To supervise the trade in green energy, the government developed a special system, called greencertificates. For every generated unit of renewable energy the energy producers receive in exchange a so-called green certificate, which proves the ‘greenness’ of the traded energy. A green certificate therefore guarantees the stimulation and production of renewable energy!
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| What is the difference between green electricity, natural electricity and eco electricity? |
Actually there are no differences between these terms. All terms define energy from renewable sources, only used by energy companies to market their green energy. However some suppliers offer more energy from wind, whereas other energy companies offer more biomass energy. A comparison of energy sources is represented in the suppliers overview.
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| Is it possible to generate my own green electricity? |
Yes, there are several possibilities to generate green electricity. A wind turbine in your backyard is not yet possible, but the sun offers a few useful possibilities. For example by purchasing a solar water heater or by placing solar panels on your roof. For further information visit BeldeZon.
 Energywizard
Energy sources
Adresses energy companies in your region
BeldeZon (Call the Sun)
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