Can Your Business Actually Prove Its Energy Is Green?

What does it actually mean to "prove" your energy is green?

The UK electricity grid is a shared network. Renewable and non-renewable power is mixed together and distributed across the country, which means the electricity reaching your premises isn't traceable back to a specific wind farm or solar panel.

What is traceable is the claim that renewable electricity was generated on your behalf and added to the grid. That's what a green tariff represents. And the mechanism used to verify it is a certificate called a Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin, or REGO.

Ofgem issues one REGO for every megawatt hour of eligible renewable electricity generated. When a supplier sells you a green tariff, they're using REGOs to match your consumption to renewable generation. So when an auditor, client, or certification body asks for evidence of your green energy use, what they're really asking for is documentation that ties your consumption to verified renewable generation through those certificates.

What documentation should your supplier be able to give you?

This varies by supplier, so ask directly before you commit to a tariff. As a minimum, a supplier on a genuinely green tariff should be able to provide three things.

• A Fuel Mix Disclosure statement. The primary use of REGOs is for Fuel Mix Disclosure, which requires licensed electricity suppliers to disclose to customers the mix of fuels used to generate the electricity they supply. This tells you what percentage came from renewables, nuclear, coal, gas, and so on. It's the starting point for understanding what your tariff is actually backed by.

• Confirmation of REGO backing. A good supplier will confirm that your specific tariff is REGO-backed and explain whether they hold direct agreements with renewable generators or purchase certificates separately. Both approaches are used in the market. Neither is automatically better, but transparency about which applies to your tariff is a reasonable thing to expect.

• An evidence letter or certificate for your records. Many suppliers will provide a letter confirming the renewable status of your tariff on request. Some include this automatically. This is typically what you'd use in sustainability reporting, procurement questionnaires, or accreditation processes.

If a supplier can't clearly explain how they back their green claims or what documentation they'll provide, that's worth knowing before you sign.

How does a green tariff affect your carbon reporting?

The carbon associated with purchased electricity is measured under what the GHG Protocol calls Scope 2 emissions. It's a standard part of any carbon footprint assessment, and it's where your energy tariff becomes directly relevant.

The GHG Protocol's Scope 2 guidance means most reporting companies now have to report their Scope 2 emissions in two ways. Here's how they differ:

If you're on a genuine green tariff backed by REGOs, you can report a lower market-based Scope 2 figure than you'd report using the grid average. That's a meaningful number in sustainability reports, ESG disclosures, and net zero commitments. It doesn't change how electricity is physically delivered to you. What it changes is what your business can legitimately claim about its energy use.

Which frameworks and accreditations accept green energy evidence?

Green energy documentation is relevant across a growing number of reporting requirements. Here's where it tends to come up.

If you're unsure whether your current setup supports any of these, it's worth asking your supplier and speaking to whoever manages your compliance or sustainability reporting.

Are there any schemes to support businesses with renewable energy?

There are government schemes that support businesses exploring renewable energy, particularly around on-site generation and efficiency improvements. Eligibility varies by business size, sector, and location, and schemes change regularly.

For up-to-date information on renewable energy grants for businesses, check the UK Government's guidance on business energy support directly. If your focus is on green tariffs rather than on-site generation, comparing options across multiple suppliers is a more direct route. You can see what's available without going to just one provider.

How do you check whether your current tariff holds up?

If you're already on a green tariff but haven't thought about evidence before, here's where to start.

Ask your supplier for their Fuel Mix Disclosure and confirmation of how your tariff is backed. Check whether they can issue a certificate or letter confirming the renewable status of your supply. Ask specifically whether REGOs are used and whether they're matched to your consumption period.

Your renewal window is actually a good moment to reassess. If sustainability reporting has become more important to your business since you last signed, the deals available now might be worth a proper look.

Ready to compare green business energy tariffs?

Understanding what sits behind a green tariff puts you in a much stronger position, whether you're renewing, switching, or just making sure your current setup still works.

Love Energy Savings helps you compare renewable business energy tariffs across multiple suppliers, so you can weigh up your options without going direct to just one.