Optimist Energy: a new home for green good news

Introducing Optimist Energy: a new space showcasing green good news, where you can find out more about some of the steps people are beginning to take towards a greener world.

Customer conversations: Chatting to climate artist Geoff Francis

Sometimes, talking to your energy supplier can be fun — we promise! Our energy specialist Grace, a long-time vegan and climate activist, meets Octopus customer Geoff Francis – climate artist, vegan restaurant pioneer and environmentalist...

Co-op Community Energy: harnessing people power

We're launching Co-op Community Energy, a new joint venture with the Midcounties Co-operative, to bring about a new era for local renewable energy generation.

Octopus Renewables: Europe’s biggest solar generators

Octopus Renewables, pump almost four terawatt hours of green energy into the grid every year. We wanted to showcase some of the great work they’ve been doing to make energy greener for all.

“Alexa, how green is energy right now?”

You can track how green the UK’s energy is, moment-to-moment, through our new ‘carbon intensity’ feature.

Spreading climate change solutions with the Institution of Environmental Sciences

Discussing climate change with our partners, Institution of Environmental Sciences.

An update on outgoingOctopus now that the Feed-in Tariff has ended

An update on outgoingOctopus, our smart export tariff – including an insight into the process of getting customers set up on the cutting edge of export. 

Climate change and land: Understanding the IPCC's latest report

The ability of the planet to sustain human life is now seriously endangered. Climate change caused by fossil fuels and food production as the planet warms inexorably means we must take action and change our behaviour. The warmest ten years since records began in 1884 have all occurred since 2002. 

Donating to WWF after Earth Hour

“The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic.

The Earth was absolutely round.

I believe I never knew what the word round meant until I saw Earth from space.”

Follow us as we plant trees around the UK

Read on for a tree-by-tree account (a 'log', if you will) of our mission to plant 10,000 native saplings across the UK.

Parliament has declared a climate emergency

Energy specialist and long-time climate activist Grace Newton writes about her experiences fighting for action on climate change here in the UK, in the wake of Parliament's vote to declare a climate emergency.

Good things come in trees

Why we’re pairing up with customer-nominated schools, charities, and community organisations around the UK to plant over 10,000 native trees where they’ll matter most to our customers.

Carbon offsetting: what it is and how we do it

What's carbon offsetting and how do we do it? Read all about our carbon offsetting partner Renewable World!

What difference does 1,000 trees make?

On World Environment Day last year, we made a promise to plant 1,000 trees across the U.K. to help improve air quality, absorb CO2, and increase biodiversity. The tree planting season's wrapped up now, and we've planted over 1,600 trees. Read about our tree team's experiences planting all around the UK!

Cut the crap: the vegan case for anaerobic digestion

Some debate has been circulating in the past few months about the impact of energy production on animals, and the use of animal products in the generation of some types of energy – specifically, anaerobic digestion.

We asked Grace, energy specialist and London office vegan extraordinare, to set the record straight.

How we guarantee your electricity is 100% green

There are a few different ways of being green. It’s not quite as simple as just buying energy from renewable generators and sending it straight down the wires to our customers’ homes. Meet the solar farms we buy energy directly from, as well as some of the other ways a supplier can can fulfil their 100% renewable promise.

Our commitment to 100% green electricity

We take a look at how renewable energy is certified & reported

Forester by day, DigiOp by night – Steph sees the woods for the tree

Watch DigiOp and forester Steph on Countryfile's Autumn Special talking about her work at the forefront of innovation in tree mapping, using the latest in drone technology to conduct aerial surveys.

How renewable investment is shaping the future of energy

The energy industry is at an inflection point. Simon Pickett explains how smart, networked, renewable technology that keeps the lights on without costing the earth, will change the sector for good.

Renewable energy – what's it all about?

From technology to price and reliability, we give you the lowdown on renewable energy. 

Why we're planting 1,000 trees this Autumn

We're proud to be partnering with the United Nations to improve air quality around the UK.

World Environment Day: What difference has your energy supply made?

June 5 is United Nations' World Environment Day, so let's take a look at what we've achieved over the last 12 months.

How renewable sources can power your home, even when the sun isn't shining

When we say our Green tariffs offer 100% renewable electricity, we mean it. The sun might not always be shining, but no matter what the weather or time of day, we guarantee green.

The growth of solar power

Clean Energy Analyst Charlie Cook examines whether the rapid rise of solar power matches that predicted by Moore's Law.

Anaerobic digestion: How we get energy from waste

Turning waste into electricity is just one of the ways we're beating fossil fuels – but how does it work?

5 renewable energy myths debunked

We set the record straight by debunking and demystifying 5 common renewable myths.

The price of progress: how we became addicted to fossil fuels

We release 25% more carbon dioxide today (404 ppm), than the highest recorded output over the last 400,000 years (300 ppm) – and there are few signs of slowing.

How green technology is the smart choice for investors and the planet

Matt Setchell, Head of Renewables at Octopus Investments, writes about securing a healthy planet for generations to come.

Learn Solar #3: How to store sunlight (and other renewables)

In the third and final part of our Learn Solar series, we investigate both existing and emerging solutions to storing solar energy. 

Learn Solar #2: Solar panels – how we capture sunlight

We explore different solar panels, their efficiency, where to put them, and how many you'd need to power your home.

Learn Solar #1: How much solar power do we receive?

The sun is an explosive and fiery ball of starpower – but just how much of that power reaches the earth?

Our green credentials

We've recently published a breakdown of our green credentials, including our fuel mix figures and carbon footprint compared to the national average. 

Meet Energy Local, a new UK energy venture keeping small-scale green generation within the community

We’re partnering up with Energy Local to help small green energy generators to directly power homes in the neighbourhood at far cheaper rates. Here’s how we’re helping small generators go off-the-grid (kind of) to build the roots of a truly decentralised community energy network.

When will fossil fuels run out?

Fossil fuels won’t last forever, so when will they run out?