Greenpeace slams Big 3 “dirty” energy retailers

Environmental group Greenpeace has slammed the “Big 3” energy retailers in Australia, accusing them of “greenwash” and doing little to promote the adoption of green energy.

Among the worst greenwash offenders it says are AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy – the biggest retailers in the country with more than three quarters of the national market.

“The ‘Dirty Three’ go to great efforts to advertise their ‘clean and green’ credentials but invest relatively little in renewables,” Greenpeace says in its new Green Electricity Guide.

“The ‘Dirty Three’ are also using their political muscle to try to dismantle the Renewable Energy Target.

rsz_blog_2014_08_14-1“This means locking out solar and wind, and locking in higher household bills and climate change driving coal and gas power for decades to come.”

As RenewEconomy noted in its report, Who is the Greenest Retailer in Australia”, all of the major retailers have argued for the renewable energy target to be diluted, and support for rooftop solar removed.

The retailers have also admitted that the removal of the carbon price is good for the long term prospects of their coal-fired generators. If the RET is also diluted, this will also likely boost their revenues by more than $5 billion.

Greenpeace’s new analysis, The Dirty Three, is particularly critical on their stance on the RET.

“When it was introduced, the Renewable Energy Target was supported by the big three energy companies,” it writes.

“The policy requires them to source an increasing amount of the electricity they sell to customers from renewable energy, such as solar and wind. By 2020, the amount of electricity generated from renewables in Australia should be equivalent to at least 20 per cent of the total supply.

“In recent years Origin Energy and EnergyAustralia have made it clear that they do not support the Renewable Energy Target, and want to see it wound back substantially.

“AGL has traditionally been much more supportive of both the Renewable Energy Target and renewables. Yet AGL recently stated that the 2020 target cannot be met, a position which undermines political support for the target.

“Disappointingly, at this critical time in the development of clean energy in Australia, the big three energy retailers which dominate our electricity market have become ‘The Dirty Three’: expanding investments in coal and gas, attacking  or undermining the Renewable Energy Target, and thus threatening the future of renewable energy in Australia.”

Greenpeace says its Green Electricity Guide looks at whether retailers – large or small – have invested in renewable energy, if they support or undermine the RET, whether they are active in coal seam gas, and analyses the pollution intensity of their generation assets.

“The Green Electricity Guide draws a line in the sand between companies which are working towards a renewable energy future and those which are desperately clinging to Australia’s old, coal-powered legacy,” Greenpeace writes.

“Let’s show ‘The Dirty Three’ that we won’t be complacent about their attempt to weaken Australia’s Renewable Energy Target by making the switch to a greener

Comments

13 responses to “Greenpeace slams Big 3 “dirty” energy retailers”

  1. Warwick Avatar
    Warwick

    I think this has been too ambitious a task for Greenpeace to take on as the advice and rankings are often incorrect and many are very subjective. I fear that they can potentially give consumers a favourable view to a company that is using a bit of greenwashing. They need to consider the following:

    – They claim for Origin that “Less than 1% of power station capacity is from renewable sources”…this is untrue with 100’s of MW’s contracted to wind farms.
    – Paying a higher price for solar exports does not mean that a retailer is more green…they may simply charge higher tariffs elsewhere.
    – Momentum “Offers 100% GreenPower but does not support it and instead directs customers to its own unaccredited SmilePower product”…does not relate to a single additional MWh of green energy.
    – Aurora does not own any generation.
    – Red Energy which is owned by Snowy also runs gas generation.
    – Alinta Energy is only proposing Port Augusta solar with government subsidy yet opposes the RET subsidy.
    – The big three have actually invested the most in renewable energy of the companies listed.

    It’s good to highlight the pro’s and con’s of each retailer but let’s not pretend that the ranking of these companies in “greenness” is anything but subjective.

    1. suthnsun Avatar
      suthnsun

      Who should we change to then Warwick? (To drive the dirtiest generators out of business quickest)

      1. Warwick Avatar
        Warwick

        Suthnsun, it’s not that simple as it depends upon your circumstance. Probably best to find the best total price including additional purchases of greenpower. Supporting large scale generation through REC purchases by your retailer on your behalf is the most cost effective way to support renewable energy at the moment.

  2. Rob G Avatar
    Rob G

    Following on Getups campaign. Today, I made the switch to momentum. I’ve told all my workmates and family to at least consider the cleaner (and cheaper) option. I’m hoping the rest of Australia will join in the fight.

    1. TechinBris Avatar
      TechinBris

      Why do we have to fight “The 3”, which is just a legal construct of our legal system we have built and can modify on an whim.

  3. Beat Odermatt Avatar
    Beat Odermatt

    Just selling hydro power does not make
    you “green”, after all the Snowy Mountain Project was done yonks
    ago. We should judge companies according to their performance during
    the past 10 years for example. How much more renewable energy is a
    company generating today say compared to 10 years ago? Has the
    percentage of renewable energy increased, remained the same or decreased? If you decide to “hate” a company then it is easy to
    massage information to get the desired result. The same applies if
    you “like” a company. If a company has done nothing to increase
    the volume or percentage of renewable energy during the last 10
    years, then it does not make it a “green” company even if all
    the power sold is renewable.

    1. Chris Fraser Avatar
      Chris Fraser

      Hydro purchased from old assets is equal to equivalent energy from new gas plants being avoided.

      1. Beat Odermatt Avatar
        Beat Odermatt

        Old Hydro is NOT providing additional renewable energy. If a company with “old hydro” does not add additional renewable energy, then its environmental performance may be even less than a fossil based company which is closing fossil based generation and moves towards renewable energy. We want MORE renewable energy and not rewarding companies sitting on their laurels.

        1. Chris Fraser Avatar
          Chris Fraser

          Yes, laurel resting may not be as good as fossil companies that are determined to replace old coal with renewable … though we don’t really know many of those … ;-)I hear Hydro Tas is taking keen interest in King Island, maybe as capital investor.

          1. Beat Odermatt Avatar
            Beat Odermatt

            I agree. What we need is information to show us by how much each company has improved its renewable energy packet over the last 10 years. We don’t know, there may be one of the so-called dirty 3 which may have outperformed Hydro Tas etc. We need a low carbon economy and this can be achieved if ALL energy companies replace fossil fuel with renewable energy or install additional “green” capacity.

          2. TechinBris Avatar
            TechinBris

            LOL

  4. Michael hadenough Avatar
    Michael hadenough

    Based on the greenpeace ranking Diamond energy is the green retailer of choice across the country with their own renewable generators and purchase agreements.

    What is the story with Powershop – they don’t own renewable energy plants in Aus or have contracts with renewable energy generators in Aus?? They are just a small vic black power retailer that is spending a bucket load of money on billboard and internet advertising.

  5. Jon Avatar
    Jon

    There’s no such thing as a green retailer….just a green generator. They all buy the same power out of the market! If you really want to get your energy “Green” then tick the 100% Green Energy box with whatever retailer gives you the best service. This is the only way to increase the amount of renewables in the market.
    Ranking retailers on their “greenness” is a crock!

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