Vegan energy

How are animals used by the energy industry?

In 2017, SSE was accused of providing energy from a power plant burning dead salmon from Scottish fish farms. In 2022, an investigation by energy company Ecotricity, published by ITV News, found that dead cows, hunt dogs, partridges and foxes were being used to generate energy.

In fact, using animal products for producing energy is not uncommon in the UK. In most cases, the animal products used are manure or slurry.

There are two key processes for generating electricity that are connected to animal exploitation: biomass generation and anaerobic digestion. These processes can use everything from dead animals and slaughterhouse waste to manure and slurry from animal farms.

Energy company Ecotricity says, “Animals are exploited to produce about 1% of the UK’s energy, which goes to around 60% of homes.”

We’re not quite sure where they got that figure from. Looking at the statistics that the government has published on the topic, 1% of electricity (as opposed to energy, which would include gas) seems about right.

According to the UK government's figures, animal biomass accounts for around 0.5% of UK energy supply. Anaerobic digestion accounts for about 2.5%, including animals and plant matter.

Why are animals and animal products used in our energy supply?

Animals and their products – even their poo – store significant amounts of energy. In many countries, animal dung has long been dried and burned in homes directly as a fuel source.

When animal parts or waste like manure are used for the production of energy, they’re likely to be ‘by-products’ of the farming industry. In other words, they are animal parts or animal waste that would otherwise not be used.

Using animal products to generate energy can therefore be considered low carbon. For this reason some argue that it’s a useful step in our energy transition.

When we burn animal biomass, such as manure, or biogas produced from animal waste during anaerobic digestion, we release greenhouse gases – as with the burning of fossil fuels. However, unlike fossil fuels, animal waste will also release emissions if left to just decompose on its own. For example, slurry (liquid animal manure) releases large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that is around 30 times more potent than CO2.

It is therefore more efficient from a climate perspective to capture and use these animal wastes than allow them to vent to the atmosphere: you prevent the release of methane and make the most of the energy they can provide.

What is vegan energy?

Vegan energy is essentially ‘animal free’. It excludes all sources of energy that have used animals.

Luckily, there are lots of alternative sources of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, where use of animals isn’t a problem.

Biogas can also be produced using only organic plant matter (although this has potential environmental problems of its own).

Is most energy vegan?

Animal products are used for around 1% of the electricity produced in the UK. For comparison, solar accounts for around 4% of electricity generated, and plant-based biomass accounts for over 10%.

That doesn’t mean, though, that 99% of electricity used in our homes is vegan. Because electricity from all sorts of sources are mixed together in our ‘energy grid’, your light or kettle might be using some wind, some nuclear and some animal energy all at once.

Which energy companies are not vegan?

Energy company Ecotricity checked the energy supply for some of the other major UK companies, using government data. It found:

(Source: Ecotricity website, "This is based on Ofgem data - REGOs redeemed for supply period Apr-20 to Mar-21")

Which energy companies are vegan?

There is only one energy company which is certified vegan in the UK. You may have guessed which it is from the fact that it’s done a lot of research into this topic!

Ecotricity is certified vegan by the Vegan Society and Viva!.

What can consumers do?

If you decide that overall you don’t think it is worth it to use animal products in energy and want to take action on it, here are a few actions you could take:

1. Write to your current energy supplier

Usually, our number one action would be to consider switching energy suppliers to a vegan option. However, with the energy market in crisis, switching could be an expensive move right now.

Writing to your supplier can be a good alternative action to take. Companies take the views of their customers seriously. If enough customers express concerns about links between their energy supply and animal exploitation, they may pay attention.

2. Get ready to switch

While you may not want to switch right now, there’s nothing to stop you getting ready to change suppliers once prices are more stable. Use this article and our energy suppliers guide to work out who you want to move to.

You should also check what kind of energy contract type you are on. Some contracts may be ‘fixed term’, for example for one year, and have an exit fee if you leave early. By looking at this, you can work out when it might be a good time to move in the future, and set a reminder on your phone or in your diary.

3. Consider home generation

Home generation can be a great way to make sure your energy supply really is vegan, as well as to significantly cut your carbon footprint. Getting a heat pump is one of the single best actions you can take when it comes to reducing your climate impacts. Installing solar panels is also a great move.

Unfortunately, these options will only be open to those with a fair bit of savings in the bank, and not all housing types.