You've probably heard that you can buy "green electricity" or "climate-friendly electricity": But the electricity that comes out of the socket is the same type of electricity, regardless of who you buy it from.
Shouldn't you buy electricity with green leaves on it if you want to be a green electricity consumer? Unfortunately, the answer is not entirely simple. We try to give you an overview so that you can buy the electricity product that makes the most sense for you.

Our overall advice to you: 

1. Save on electricity: You cannot produce electricity and send it out to customers without it somehow negatively affecting the climate or the environment. Therefore, saving electricity is always a good idea if you want to contribute to the green transition. You can read more about that here.

2. Move your power consumption: The climate and environmental impact of your electricity consumption can be reduced if you actively contribute to using electricity when it comes from renewable energy. It's not easy, but there are more and more solutions that can help. For example, keep an eye on electricitymap. 

3. Familiarize yourself with the facts before you buy a 'green' electrical product: 
   Be critical of green marketing. The two-leaf green label is unfortunately interpreted a bit too creatively in the industry, and some products make more sense than others. It is therefore important that you are critical when buying 'green' electricity. A safe alternative is to buy the cheapest electricity product and provide financial support for the green transition yourself. You can read more about this here..

The current in your socket is always the same
It is important to be aware that the current in your socket is the same, regardless of where you buy your electricity. This is because all electricity production is “mixed together” on the electrical network at every moment, and the electricity that you as a consumer draw is a mixture of everything. You cannot therefore decide that your electricity should come from renewable energy sources, for example. On the other hand, there are electricity products where you can help promote the green transition through your electricity supplier.

Electricity companies use various systems that can help create environmental and climate initiatives, and it is the effect of these that has allowed the use of words such as "green electricity" and "climate-friendly electricity".

Electricity traders who sell “green electricity” do not make the electricity itself greener, but they provide financial support for the green transition. Some ways of supporting make good sense, while others are problematic. Therefore, it is unfortunately necessary to familiarize yourself with what the electricity trader actually does if you do not want to be cheated by greenwashingAlternatively, you can drop the so-called green electricity and instead contribute or “compensate” for your CO₂emissions. This can be done, among other things, through schemes such as weatherworks, Atmosfair or Climaids, while one should always be aware that so-called climate compensation must never become an excuse for not ensuring reductions in one's own greenhouse gas emissions.

Labeling scheme does not provide a guarantee
The Consumer Ombudsman has made guidelines for when electricity can be marketed as green or climate-friendly. In this context, a labelling scheme has been created with one or two green leaves, which is intended to make it easier for consumers to see whether electrical products are green.

At the Green Transition Denmark, we do not believe that the labeling scheme in its current form provides customers with assurance that electrical products with green labels actually have an effect.