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The new initiative, Community Energy Catalyst, will support local communities to build their own clean energy infrastructure or secure stakes in larger regional renewable energy schemes. Fair Play Clean Energy, Thrive’s existing joint venture with Top Cashback Sustainability Ltd, will provide £20 million of the investment, with Better Society Capital providing matched funding.
Community Energy Catalyst will make investments ranging between £0.5 million to £30 million in individual projects which are at least 1MW in size and employ proven technologies such as onshore and offshore wind, solar PV and hydro-electric. The joint venture will target late-stage development projects that have already secured planning consent, enabling them to advance through to construction, commissioning and operation while aligning with local objectives.
As well as funding, Thrive brings 30 years of experience financing, building and operating clean energy projects in the UK, and will provide support to community energy groups during key milestones such as procurement and grid connection.
When we created our award-winning community funding bridge in 2017, it was the first of its kind. Eight years later we’ve invested over £21 million into seven community energy projects, including £4 million to build England’s largest onshore wind turbine, which is 100% owned by the community in our home city of Bristol.

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Funding partnership with Better Society Capital will help more communities to own their own projects or take a stake in a larger project in their local area.

We’re partnering with the UK’s leading social impact investor to mobilise £40 million for community-owned energy projects

Featured

While the nature of our business means that we’re environmentally conscious, we know that there’s always more we can do to continue reducing our impact. We began the B Corp certification process in 2020, joining the 600+ global B Corps worldwide prioritising environmental and social justice. In fact, we went one step further and were awarded ‘Best in the World’ status last year, meaning that we score within the top 5% of all global B Corps for our commitment to the environment.
To celebrate B Corp Month, we’re inviting you #BehindtheB – giving you a glimpse into why we do what we do and how B Corps such as Thrive are bringing benefits to all.
Here’s what some of our people have to say about working for a B Corp and what it means to them.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-6605 size-large" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Matthew-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Matthew-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Matthew-B-Corp-TW-300x169.png 300w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Matthew-B-Corp-TW-768x432.png 768w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Matthew-B-Corp-TW.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-6604 size-large" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Louise-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Louise-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Louise-B-Corp-TW-300x169.png 300w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Louise-B-Corp-TW-768x432.png 768w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Louise-B-Corp-TW.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-6601 size-large" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Monika-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Monika-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Monika-B-Corp-TW-300x169.png 300w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Monika-B-Corp-TW-768x432.png 768w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Monika-B-Corp-TW.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-6603 size-large" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jack-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jack-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jack-B-Corp-TW-300x169.png 300w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jack-B-Corp-TW-768x432.png 768w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jack-B-Corp-TW.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-6602 size-large" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Alex-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Alex-B-Corp-TW-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Alex-B-Corp-TW-300x169.png 300w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Alex-B-Corp-TW-768x432.png 768w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Alex-B-Corp-TW.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
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Want to find out more about B Corp or join the movement? Find out more here: <a href="https://bcorporation.uk/">https://bcorporation.uk/</a>

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To celebrate B Corp month, we’re inviting you behind the scenes at Thrive to find out why we’re choosing to put people and the planet first. 

#BehindtheB: Stories from a renewable energy company

The scheme works by providing clean energy generators with a stable, pre-agreed price for 15 years, ultimately providing the revenue certainty needed to kickstart renewable development. Wind, solar or other renewable projects can bid in the auction and the winners are those who offer to supply at the lowest price – the ‘strike price’. As well as supporting the renewables industry, these price mechanisms protect bill payers from price shocks and ensure they get the best value for money as the cost of renewables continues to decrease. In instances where prices are higher than the ‘strike price’, the generators pay back, with wind and solar farms paying £157 million to households in the final quarter of 2021 as prices spiked due to the ongoing global gas crisis.
Announcing the move, the UK’s Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said “We are hitting the accelerator on domestic electricity production to boost energy security, attract private investment and create jobs in our industrial heartlands. The more clean, cheap and secure power we generate at home, the less exposed we will be to expensive gas prices set by international markets.”
Confirmation that CfD auctions will take place annually is especially important given the volatile state of the global energy market, with the transition to renewables helping to end the UK’s reliance on harmful and expensive fossil fuels. It provides renewable developers with price certainty, but are yearly auctions enough to build the new capacity required to reach net zero?
<h3>What else is needed?</h3>
Moving to annual CfD auctions is a major step forward, and there is huge appetite to build more projects, accelerate the transition to net zero and protect ourselves from future price shocks. But there are still obstacles to getting projects built, for example the planning policies surrounding certain clean technologies in England.
To stay in reach of the current targets, industry body RenewableUK suggests that we need to <a href="https://www.renewableuk.com/news/583055/Industry-urges-Government-to-set-new-target-to-double-UK-onshore-wind-capacity-by-2030.htm">double the current onshore wind capacity to 30 GW by 2030.</a> This would save around 6 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year, the equivalent of removing 1.1 million cars from the road annually. But to achieve this, we need to see the government overhaul the planning process so that developers can better work with local authorities and communities.
Currently, new onshore wind applications in England must demonstrate that the project is sited within an area designated for wind development and is stated so in the local plan. <a href="https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/reports/onshore-wind-its-delivery-being-hampered-lack-identified-areas-local-plans">Analysis by Friends of the Earth</a> in 2019 found that – of the 20 sample plans – 12 did not identify suitable areas for wind development, stating either that they are not identifying such areas or will leave it for prospective Neighbourhood Plans to identify local areas or sites. The consequence of this is that there has been little deployment of new onshore wind since the changes were introduced in 2015.
As part of the government’s CfD announcement in November, onshore wind and solar were included within a modest allocation of £10 million, despite strong public support for the technology. In fact, new polling conducted by Survation and published by RenewableUK revealed that 72% want the Government to set a long-term target for onshore wind. To overcome the planning obstacles and small CfD allocation, developers could focus instead on the repowering of existing wind farms. There is also a conversation to be had about whether the industry should be able to run without the need for CfDs at all, especially as they are only viable for larger projects. We believe that small to medium scale, localised clean energy projects are just as important. In fact, a third of onshore renewables are below 20MW<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a>, so how can we ensure these still get built?
We are working with other business models alongside the CfDs, such as corporate power purchase agreements or ‘direct wire’ arrangements where solar and wind projects are installed on site at an industrial host. Routes like ‘direct wire’ not only present businesses with a solution to managing energy costs in a volatile marketplace, but offer environmental incentives too, as they benefit from the renewable energy generated on site. Developers could also take a hybrid approach, which would require them to bid for part of their generation into the CfD and part exposure to the market, creating a ‘price hedge’ at a portfolio or project level. Establishing additional options for routes to market will ultimately accelerate the much-needed deployment of new renewable electricity generation projects.
While annual auctions will absolutely help with providing certainty around new renewable development, more must and can be done to ensure enough capacity is built for net zero, especially as the UKs electricity demand is projected to increase by almost 40% by 2035. Investing in clean technologies is the fastest, cheapest way to end our reliance on fossil fuels.
<a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Renewable energy planning database March 2020.  <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract</a>

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The government recently announced that it will move to annual CfD auctions from 2023.

Annual clean energy auctions provide certainty needed to roll out renewables

The site has the capacity to deliver 1.5 hours or 30 MWh of electricity to the national and local grid, connecting enough capacity to power <a href="https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained" target="_blank" rel="noopener">14,771 typical UK homes</a>.
The project brings together a number of Bristol-based businesses including developer, Aura Power, as well as renewables consultancy, Everoze, which is acting as a technical advisor.
G2 Energy has been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, while Trina Storage will be supplying the physical battery system.

With gas prices soaring, storage projects like Feeder Road have a huge role to play in the future energy system, ensuring the electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar, which is significantly cheaper than gas, is available at peak times when it is most needed.
Battery projects work by storing electricity when it’s at its cheapest and most abundant – for example, when the wind is blowing or sun is shining – and releasing it when consumer demand peaks. Once operational, Feeder Road will take part in half-hourly capacity market auctions, providing frequency response and balancing services to the National Grid and local distribution network. This need has historically been met by gas and diesel fuelled power stations.
Feeder Road is the second battery project in Thrive’s portfolio, with our 5MW site – Wicken – commissioned in December and already delivering 1.49 hours or 7.45MWh of electricity to the national and local electricity grid. Our portfolio now spans the clean technology mix, featuring onshore wind, hydro, solar, geothermal and renewable heat in addition to Wicken and Feeder Road.

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Contracts have now been signed for the construction and delivery of the battery and associated works, with construction expected to start in the Spring.

Thrive completes 20MW battery deal – our largest to date

However, new analysis from Carbon Brief has found that energy bills are nearly £2.5 billion higher than they would have been if certain climate policies had been pushed through – such as allowing new onshore wind to be built in England and keeping the zero-carbon homes standard.
But why are gas prices having such a huge impact on the UK energy market and how can investing in clean technologies help lower prices?
<h3>How the energy market works </h3>
Energy suppliers in the UK buy the electricity they sell in bulk from the wholesale market. The reason that gas has such an impact on electricity bills is because we still use it to generate a third of our electricity. Suppliers and generators trade electricity in half-hourly auctions, with the National Grid responsible for matching supply and demand by accepting bids or offers depending on whether they need to increase or reduce electricity generation. Bids are stacked in order of the least expensive generators to provide the power until the demand is met.
As gas is one of the more expensive ways to generate power, and is quite flexible in the amount it generates, gas plant tends to the be the last plant in the auction and therefore set the price.
Since last year, we’ve seen a worldwide shortage of gas supplies, which in turn has caused wholesale gas prices to rise to unprecedented levels. Alongside a shortage in supply, there’s been a perfect storm of issues – a combination of extreme weather, demand growth unexpectedly high post Covid and a lack of storage capacity, particularly in the UK.
Now we’re seeing soaring wholesale gas prices have a ripple effect on electricity prices, with suppliers having to increase consumer bills. The UK energy regulator – Ofgem – has increased the energy price cap, with more changes expected in the coming month.
<h3>What are the solutions to curb increasing prices?</h3>
While there have been calls to cut green levies, new data is showing the positive impact these programmes are having. In fact, the government’s Contract for Difference (CfD) scheme – which aims to support renewable growth by providing generators with a stable, pre-agreed price for 15 years – recorded positive returns at the end of last year. Wholesale electricity prices were so high in July to September 2021 that they surpassed CfD strike prices, and the payments reversed direction for the first time, returning £39.2 million in funds.
While this proves that renewables helps curb energy price rises, in the longer term it can be argued that the market should be able to run without the need for CfDs, especially as they are unlikely to cater for smaller, sub 5 MW projects.
There are other business models which support the renewable growth needed to end our reliance on gas in the UK. This includes corporate power purchase agreements, which allow businesses to purchase electricity directly from an energy generator at a fixed price, and direct wire arrangements. A direct wire arrangement is when a clean energy project – for example, a wind turbine or rooftop solar PV array &#8211; is built within the commercial premises, with the host business directly consuming the clean energy it generates.
Alongside alternative business models, we also need to see substantial growth in the UK’s storage capacity, which will help balance out the variability of natural resources such as sun and wind. In December, we commissioned our first battery project near Milton Keynes, a 5MW site that is delivering 1.49 hours of electricity to the national and local electricity grid, while we also have a 20MW site in Bristol that will be commissioned later this year.  Electricity storage, be it battery, pumped storage or dammed hydro provide sustainable solutions to balance demand and supply, further reducing our reliance on gas.
The UKs electricity demand is projected to increase by almost 40% by 2035<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a> as heating and transport transitions from fossil fuels to electricity. This creates an opportunity to deliver 60 to 80GW of renewable electricity generation capacity.
The benefits of investing in clean technologies are vast, not least because renewables are much faster to deploy than the alternatives. For example, in the two years (2016 and 2017) spent moving soil and laying the foundations at Hinkley Point C, enough new renewable capacity was commissioned to deliver power equivalent to the nuclear site’s total planned generation (22GWh annually) which is due to commence generation in 2026.
Ultimately, the way to avoid energy price shocks in future is to keep supporting the roll-out of clean technologies and implement stronger policies on energy efficiency, reducing the amount of energy we need. In doing so, we not only reduce consumer bills but build a solid path towards net zero.
<a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/05/the-uk-2035-net-zero-electricity-target-how-could-it-be-achieved

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TIDE &amp; ISE 2018

Renewables are faster to deploy than fossil fuels and technologies such as battery storage help balance the variability of wind and solar.

Energy prices explained: How clean technologies can help reduce bills

As some of the biggest emitters in the UK, this is certainly the case for businesses. In fact, according to a report from Sky and WWF, companies are responsible for two-thirds of the UK’s domestic land-based emissions every year, with large businesses accounting for the largest proportion of these. It suggests that, unless all large businesses in the UK draw up and implement plans to decarbonise in line with the 1.5C trajectory within the next two years, we risk missing our long-term net zero targets.
Of course, some businesses will have more work to do than others but it’s important to remember that being environmentally and socially conscious is a continuous journey and, importantly, one that your customers, shareholders and employees will thank you for embarking on. Below we explore some of our green new year’s resolutions for companies looking to prioritise sustainability in 2022.
<h3>1. Develop a net zero strategy</h3>
For all of us, the race to zero is now unavoidable. In fact, in the words of Mark Carney: “Firms that adjust their business models to the transition to net zero will be rewarded handsomely. Those that fail to adapt will cease to exist.”
When making any net zero commitments, businesses must first evaluate the different kinds of carbon emissions they create as part of their own operations, as well as the wider supply chain. Without collecting adequate data, you will be unable to set realistic targets or track your progress in meeting them.
For example, we calculated that – in 2020 – our direct carbon emissions (scopes 1 and 2) was 2.6 tonnes, compared to the average UK citizen which has a carbon footprint of 10.4 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. While this is already low, we are now working to calculate our indirect emissions (scope 3) coming from the construction and operation of our renewable energy projects. Once this is calculated, we will be reviewing our overall figures again to ensure we are taking the reduction and offset measures required to be net zero by 2030.
For many businesses, making changes under scope 1 and 2 is the easiest way to start reducing emissions and there are many resources available to support you with this, including the <a href="https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign">United Nations&#8217; Race to Zero campaign.</a>
<h3>2. Join the B Corp community</h3>
B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and corporate accountability to balance profit and purpose. Alongside establishing yourself as a true leader in your market, there are multiple benefits to certification: committed and motivated employees, increased customer loyalty and higher levels of innovation.
As one of the UK’s first mission driven businesses, Thrive was founded 26 years ago to help power the UK’s transition to clean energy, with the ultimate aim of reducing carbon dioxide pollution to avoid dangerous climate change. We’re proud to say that we certified as a B Corp at the start of 2021 and haven’t looked back since. You can find out more information about the movement and how to start the certification process <a href="https://bcorporation.uk/">here</a>.
<h3>3. Switch to 100% renewable energy or host an on-site renewable project </h3>
Switching to 100% renewable energy can go a long way in helping you reach your net zero targets, as well as provide significant bottom line and reputational benefits.
While there are many renewable energy suppliers in the UK you could engage with, it’s worth noting that you could also benefit from renewable power generated directly on-site. Hosting your own renewable project – for example, a wind turbine or rooftop solar array – can help you manage your energy costs in an increasingly volatile marketplace.
As seen recently, fossil fuels are often subject to extreme changes in supply and demand. Using renewable sources of electricity is therefore a way to provide the stability needed, giving you the opportunity to secure long-term, consistent energy prices which are typically cheaper than connecting to the grid.
<h3>4. Improve your energy efficiency</h3>
Using energy wisely is another way to cut your carbon footprint. There are plenty of things you can introduce in the workplace to ensure you consume energy more smartly. For example, switching your lights to LEDs and ensuring you turn your technology off at the end of the day. Although they sound small, these changes are all important steps in reducing your total emissions.
<h3>5. Offer staff green incentives</h3>
When it comes to ensuring your green initiatives are followed, it’s critical that you engage your workforce as early in the process as possible. They need to understand what is expected of them and why it’s important – not only in the context of the business but as part of a wider sustainable society.
You can further motivate your employees by incentivising green alternatives. For example, we offer a bike to work scheme and are also signed up to Climate Perks – a scheme that enables us to offer paid &#8216;journey days&#8217; to empower staff to choose low-carbon holiday travel.
Businesses are now facing increasing pressure from consumers, investors and employees to look beyond profit and recognise the power of purpose. And, while it’s really positive to see the number of UK companies making sustainability a priority, there’s always more that can be done. True sustainability is a journey, not a destination.

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Looking to become more sustainable in 2022? Here’s some of our top tips to help further reduce your business’ impact in the next 12 months and beyond.

New year, same planet: Our green resolutions for conscious businesses

It was great to see first-hand the impressive work that goes into constructing a rooftop solar array, with small-scale decentralised energy generation such as this forming a key part of the UK’s net zero journey.
There is a strong business case for on-site renewables – not only does it help get more renewable capacity built in the UK, but the host company will benefit directly from the clean electricity it produces.
At this particular site, the rooftop solar PV panels will be used to generate around one third of the company’s total electricity needs with any surplus exported to the local electricity grid, reducing losses.

While this particular project takes its power from the sun, other businesses could also look at technologies such as onshore wind and battery storage or co-locating a mix of different technologies. As we’ve seen with the recent gas crisis in Europe, fossil fuel prices can be extremely volatile. Developing an on-site wind turbine, for example, can help businesses to better manage their energy costs at the same time as improving their environmental footprint.
What makes a premises suitable? As you’ll see from the images, a large rooftop for solar PV is advantageous but all you really need is access to good levels of natural resource. For example, a location with abundant wind.

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We joined the team from Olympus Power as they completed construction of an on-site solar PV project for a manufacturing company in Birmingham. 

On top of a 1MW solar PV project

Space heating currently represents around one third of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with 45% of the UK’s energy consumption a result of making our buildings warmer<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a>.
Following the successful repayment of the 2019 bond, we have now invested a further £350,000 into Renewable Heat Holdings Limited (RHHL) so that the company can continue to reduce natural gas usage in care homes and additionally install ground source heat pumps in new build domestic properties.
Ground source heat pumps significantly reduce our reliance on burning fossil fuels by using underground pipes to extract natural heat from the ground to heat radiators, underfloor or air systems and water. The Government’s recently announced Heat and Buildings strategy sets out an ambition for 600,000 devices to be installed each year by 2028 in replace of gas boilers.

Established in 2018, RHHL owns and operates over 70 projects with a combined capacity of 11.55MW, generating more than 17,000MWh of renewable heat per year for new-build retirement homes.
Thrive’s investment forms part of a new £3 million seven-year bond, promoted by Triodos Bank UK Ltd, which will provide the working capital to grow the design and installation business of Rendesco Limited, a sister company, by expanding its team and infrastructure. The company’s growth efforts follow the announcement of the Future Homes Standard – planned to come into effect in 2025 to ensure that new homes in England are built with low-carbon heating systems and high levels of efficiency.
In addition to contributing to the UK’s net zero goals, it could also provide a number of green jobs across the UK. Rendesco Limited expects to generate over 50 new jobs to deliver the planned growth.

<a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Uncomfortable Home Truths: why Britain urgently needs a low carbon heat strategy, Policy Connect

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We’ve committed to a new stage of investment in Rendesco, a company which designs, installs and maintains ground source heat pumps.

New renewable heat investment for warm and cosy homes

Arriving for the three-day exhibition at the NEC, it was brilliant to feel the buzz of live events again and see so many like-minded businesses together in the same room, sharing their insights and celebrating some of the technologies at the forefront of the clean energy transition.
Alongside the exhibition stands, Solar &amp; Storage Live had a full agenda of talks in one of its three on-site theatres. We were pleased to host a discussion on ESG &amp; responsible finance in the Commercial and Industrial theatre, with our MD Matthew Clayton as the moderator and joined by Thrive’s Investment Director, Monika Paplaczyk, as well as Chloe Hood, Project Developer and Community Liaison Manager at Aura Power, and Simon Nicholls, Managing Director of Olympus Power.
We discussed the different funding models available to developers when building new solar and storage projects in the UK, and how we have worked with both Aura and Olympus to add new capacity to the grid over the last 18 months.
Thanks to everyone that came and saw us at our stand or attended our panel session on responsible finance. We hope to see you again next year!

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Stand 1

We joined the 150+ exhibitors from across the solar, storage & EV industries to showcase how we’re helping to power a clean energy system.

Celebrating clean energy at Solar & Storage Live

The battery will provide important flexibility to the UK energy system, as the country looks at how it can scale up renewable deployment in the wake of COP26. Helping to balance the variability that comes from natural sources such as wind and solar, the battery is charged when clean energy is abundant and exports it back to the grid during peak times.
Battery projects such as Wicken will play a supporting role in the UK’s efforts to decarbonise the electricity system by 2035, while we are also invested in a 20MW project at Feeder Road in Bristol – which is expected to commence operations in 2022.

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Wicken

Wicken is now fully operational and providing much needed flexibility to the grid as we work towards a zero-carbon future.

First battery storage project commissioned

With the support of Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), we have now awarded over £29,000 in grants to local communities, helping them to make shared buildings more accessible through energy efficiency and sustainability improvements.
As part of the process, applicants completed a full energy survey of the building using guidance from CSE, which helped to identify potential improvements, including zero-cost measures, and calculate carbon and cost savings. From insulation and draught proofing to improved heating measures and LED lighting, we have awarded up to £4k in grants each to:
<ul>
<li>Alfriston War Memorial Hall, Alfriston – East Sussex</li>
<li>Pill Village Hall &amp; Community Centre, Pill – Bristol</li>
<li>St Mary’s Centre, Whicam – Newcastle upon Tyne</li>
<li>Bedfield &amp; Monk Soham Community Club, Bedfield – Suffolk</li>
<li>Impact Initiatives, Brighton</li>
<li>Halton Community Association, Halton – Lancaster</li>
<li>St Peter&#8217;s Church, March – Cambridgeshire</li>
<li>Shutlanger Village Hall Charity, Shutlanger – Northamptonshire</li>
<li>Strichen Community Park, Strichen – Fraserburgh</li>
<li>Holy Trinity Nailsea Church, Nailsea – Bristol</li>
</ul>

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, last year we repurposed our Community Benefit Programme and added savings made on business travel to meet the urgent needs of the communities who host our projects – donating £39,050 to organisations fighting poverty, loneliness and supporting education. This included foodbanks, a care home to provide iPads to residents enabling them to speak to their loved ones, a baby bank providing essentials to new families experiencing poverty, and a local school to support home learning.
With round five included, we’ve awarded 41 grants to 33 buildings, totalling close to £120,000. These improvements save 68 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

caton-moor

Caton Moor

We’re awarding over £29,000 in grants to make community buildings warm & cosy this Christmas and beyond. 

Thrive’s Community Benefit Programme reports record number of entries

The #FacesoftheEnergyTransition campaign is being supported by the COP26 and Race to Zero digital channels, with Monika discussing the huge influence her first All-Energy conference had on her career, as well as her hopes for a clean energy future.
Watch Monika’s video in full below, with special thanks to Regen and the other companies supporting the campaign including Energy UK, The Association for Decentralised Energy, Energy Networks Association, Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), REA, RenewableUK, Solar Energy UK, Community Energy England and Electricity Storage Network.

Monika Paplaczyk, Investment Director, Thrive Renewables

monika-paplaczyk-thrive-renewables

Monika Paplaczyk Thrive Renewables

Faces of the Energy Transition

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Thrive renewables open day in Avonmouth. September 2022.

Hear from our investment director, Monika Paplacyzk, about her journey within the renewables sector as part of a new campaign showcasing some of the inspiring women behind the energy transition.

Joining the #FacesoftheEnergyTransition campaign

It was great to be able to reconnect with likeminded businesses and celebrate all the work that has gone into shifting the business dial towards better environmental and social performance over the last 12 months. Now in its 11th year, the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards aims to recognise the inspiring businesses and individuals driving the transition towards a sustainable net zero emission economy.
For more information on the awards and the lucky winners on the night, read BusinessGreen’s article <a href="https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4037548/businessgreen-leaders-awards-2021-winner">here</a>.

bgla2021_winner_esginvestoroftheyear

BGLA2021_Winner_ESGInvestoroftheYear

We headed to London to celebrate all the groundbreaking work happening within the sector.

Thrive wins coveted BusinessGreen Leaders Award

Vision: We believe in the power of together. A world where everyone can be part of the clean energy generation.   
Mission: Putting money to work building new sustainable energy projects and empowering people to take action to address the climate emergency.  
Today we unite a community of over 6,000. And together we have grown our impact by building or funding the construction of 39 renewable energy projects.  
We are aiming to double our renewable energy generation capacity over the next five years; bringing together more individuals, developers and communities to build new renewable energy projects, faster.  
As we update our look, we stay true to the values that we have been cultivating since building our first wind turbine. 
<h3>Sustainable at the heart  </h3>
We’re totally committed to a clean energy future that benefits everyone. That’s why we have been investing in sustainable power in the UK for over 30 years. Thrive people are outcome driven, commercially innovative and passionate about making a positive impact in all we do. We only invest in clean energy projects that deliver long term, measurable environmental impacts.  
<h3>Rewarding connection </h3>
Thrive exists to enable people to change the future of energy for the better. We believe that bringing together people, proven technologies and a pioneering approach will accelerate the transformation our world needs. We share knowledge, insights and opportunities generating outcomes that are good for everyone. 
<h3>Together we can be a movement for change. </h3>
We are inspired by being part of a movement that delivers tangible change. A movement that sees the true value of making a positive environmental and social impact. Our eyes are fixed on a better future; let’s make the switch from fossil to sustainable, generating clean energy today, for generations to come.

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twitter, linkedin, facebook launch post

Let’s act together to address the climate emergency. 

New look and feel reaffirms our commitment to a collective movement for change

The extension will add three turbines with an expected generation capacity of 12-15MW, bringing the overall Drumduff Wind Farm to 6 turbines and the combined onsite generation capacity to over 21MW.
Located primarily in a commercial Sitka Spruce forest, the project plan includes substantial ‘forest to bog’ restoration of peatland bringing substantial ecological and biodiversity gains. The project will also be providing £5,000 per MW of installed generation capacity to the local community.

Drumdduff is located next to Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve, an area of peatland, home to a rich and diverse ecosystem that’s crucial for tackling biodiversity loss. We’ve worked with NatureScot to extend the boardwalk at the nature reserve so that local residents can enjoy this area of natural beauty.

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dc01

DC01

The extension will boost the overall capacity of the Scottish wind project to over 21MW.

Planning consent for Drumduff wind farm extension will triple its generation capacity

An on-site or ‘direct wire’ project is when a renewable asset like a rooftop solar array is built on a commercial premises, with the host business benefitting from a direct supply of clean electricity. With no upfront capital investment required, the business will purchase the energy directly from Eden through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Such arrangements help to protect the host business against high energy prices at the same time as supporting the UK’s net zero goals.  
​​The first round of investment will be into 15 schools, including​ ​phase 1 of the ​Oasis Community Learning ​portfolio,​​ ​which ​will save​ an estimated 8,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and £3 million in total.

Commercial buildings are currently responsible for almost a quarter (23%) of built environment carbon emissions in the UK [1], however​,​ rooftop solar projects can help businesses to decarbonise by giving them access to a direct supply of cheaper, cleaner electricity.  
This holds significant potential for supporting the UK’s net zero goals, with a 2023 report by the countryside charity, CPRE, suggesting that installing solar panels on existing rooftops and other land could deliver at least 40-50GW in England alone – going a long way to meet the ​solar industry’s ​target of delivering 70GW of new solar energy by 2035.

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