Make a difference. 100% matched renewable electricity
All the electricity you use on a Green Future tariff will be matched with renewable sources from generators across the UK.
Supporting UK renewable generation
From solar farms in East Anglia to wind farms in the Scottish Highlands, for every unit of electricity you use on your Green Future tariff, we’ll buy a unit from renewable generators in the UK through agreements called Power Purchase Agreements, helping more of the UK’s energy come from renewable sources. 1
Where does my electricity come from?
We buy electricity from UK renewable generators through agreements called Power Purchase Agreements
UK Wind Power
Wind power is electricity generated by turbines – either on land or at sea. As the blades turn, they spin a shaft connected to a generator, which creates an electric current. As one of windiest countries in Europe, the UK is particularly well suited to generating wind power.
UK Solar
Solar panels harness the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity, which can then be fed into the national grid. It may seem like sunny days are in short supply, but solar panels can still create electricity on cloudy days, and in 2019, solar power accounted for 11% of UK renewable electricity generation.
UK Bioenergy
Electricity can also be generated from organic matter, such as farm or household waste. Heat released from burning the waste can be used to turn water into steam, driving turbines that generate electricity. Although the process releases CO2, organic matter is renewable and absorbed the same amount of CO2 whilst it grew.
Inspiring change. Sign up to a greener future
British Gas is one of only three energy suppliers that have achieved the Uswitch Green Tariff Gold Standard. That means when you choose our Green Futures option, you can be sure it’s one of the most environment-friendly tariffs available anywhere.
In fact, you’ll protect five trees per fuel for every year of your tariff. So if you want to support sustainability and do your bit for the planet, Green Futures is the perfect choice of tariff.
Frequently asked questions
What is renewable electricity?
Renewable electricity, also known as green or clean electricity, is made from renewable sources, such as the sun, wind, or biomass. Unlike electricity produced from fossil fuels, renewable electricity is a cleaner, more sustainable alternative, and helps reduce your carbon footprint.
Why is renewable electricity better for the environment?
Renewable electricity technologies have a much lower environmental impact than electricity generated with fossil fuels and can play a role in slowing global warming by cutting the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Because renewable electricity is produced from sustainable sources, it won’t run out any time soon. And eventually it could replace fossil fuels altogether.
How is renewable electricity generated?
Renewable electricity can be created from sources such as the sun, wind, tidal and biomass, with different technologies and processes used for each one. You can find out more about some of the different types of renewable energy here.
How does renewable electricity get to my home?
We match 100% of the electricity you use on a Green Future tariff with electricity from renewable sources. This means that for 100% of the electricity you use, the same amount of electricity from renewable sources will be fed into the national grid.
It isn’t possible to trace the electricity from a particular source right through to your home because it all gets mixed up in the grid. But we can show that 100% of the electricity you use on your Green Future tariff has been matched with renewable sources and fed into the grid. We do this by buying certificates called Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) each time we buy electricity from renewable generators through agreements called Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Ofgem issues one REGO certificate per megawatt-hour of renewable electricity to eligible generators in the UK.
Additional information
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Green Future is a green tariff for household customers meaning 100% of the electricity you use will be matched with renewable sources. More information about our fuel mix disclosure can be found on our tariffs with environmental benefits page.