Good Energy tops independent clean power rankings for second year running 

Good Energy has been ranked the UK’s leading domestic supplier of hourly-matched renewable electricity for the second year running in the latest independent Matched Clean Power Index. 

The annual index uses publicly available market data to compares domestic energy suppliers, showing how much renewable electricity they provide, matched to hourly customer usage. The rankings help consumers to understand the differences behind renewable tariff claims. 

While many suppliers market their tariffs as “renewable”, this year’s results show matching hourly scores ranging from 87% to just 2%. Good Energy topped the rankings for the second consecutive year with a score of 87%, almost 20 percentage points higher than the next-ranked domestic supplier.  

The Growing Issues of REGOs 

The rankings highlight a growing issue with how renewable electricity is labelled today. Under the current Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) scheme, suppliers can support renewable electricity claims using annual certificates. These REGOs show that renewable energy was generated somewhere on the grid over the course of a year. 

The problem is that REGO certificates can be sold completely separately from the power, (known as “unbundled”) and there is a secondary market for this. Suppliers are free to source all their energy from fossil fuel sources, then buy REGOs to market it as green.  

This means suppliers can make ‘100% renewable’ claims despite generating very different amounts of renewable electricity, making it challenging for consumers to understand the real environmental impact of each tariff.  

Providing Transparency to Customers 

The Clean Power Index brings greater transparency by showing how much renewable electricity is being generated each hour, matched with customer usage – instead of relying on annual certificate purchases.  

This is becoming increasingly important as the UK transitions towards a power system dominated by renewable sources such as wind and solar.  As the electricity system continues to decarbonise, many energy experts believe more transparency is critical.   

Hourly matching measures whether renewable electricity is generated as it is consumed, and many believe this will be the next evolution of renewable certification. By showing how much demand is matched with clean power hour by hour, it provides consumers with a more accurate picture of the environmental impact of their tariff and creates stronger incentives for suppliers to support a flexible, renewables-led energy system. 

Good Energy has consistently led the market in this area because it buys electricity directly from a large network of 3,300 independent renewable generators across the UK and actively matches customer demand with renewable supply throughout the year.  

Unlike suppliers that rely primarily on annual certificate purchases to support renewable claims, Good Energy’s approach focuses on sourcing renewable electricity. This enables significantly higher levels of time-matched renewable supply and gives customers increased visibility of the true environmental impact of their tariff. 

Good Energy has long campaigned for greater transparency in renewable electricity markets, so that consumers can make informed choices about where their electricity comes from. The company believes consumers should be able to understand the difference between suppliers that simply purchase renewable certificates and those that actively match customer demand with renewable generation. 

Fran Woodward, Managing Director for Supply at Good Energy, said: 

“We’re proud to top the Matched Clean Power Index for the second year running. The results show that not all renewable tariffs are equal. Consumers are often told a tariff is ‘100% renewable’, but the reality behind those claims can vary dramatically. In fact, our score was almost 20 percentage points higher than the next-best domestic supplier, highlighting just how big the gap can be between renewable claims and real-world performance. 

“The Matched Index helps expose the difference between marketing claims and real-world impact, tackling greenwashing, building trust and rewarding suppliers that genuinely support a cleaner, more resilient energy system. 

“At Good Energy, we’ve long believed that consumers deserve greater transparency about where their electricity comes from and how renewable claims are being made. That’s why we believe hourly matching is the future. It shows how much clean power is being delivered when customers actually need it.” 

Notes to editors 

What is a REGO? 

Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) are certificates issued for renewable electricity generation. Suppliers can purchase REGOs to demonstrate that an equivalent amount of renewable electricity has been generated somewhere within the energy system. 

REGOs provide evidence that renewable electricity was generated, but they do not show when it was generated or when customers consumed electricity. This means two suppliers can make the same renewable claim while delivering very different levels of renewable electricity during the hours their customers actually use power. 

What is hourly matching? 

Hourly matching measures how much renewable electricity is generated at the same time customers are consuming power, providing a clearer picture of whether renewable electricity is available when it is needed, rewards suppliers investing in real-time renewable procurement and helps support a more flexible, lower-carbon electricity system.