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As well as being our largest project to date, the deal marks another major step in our ambitious growth plans to double generation capacity within the next five years. It is the second project to be funded by Fair Play Clean Energy Ltd, Thrive’s Joint Venture with TopCashback Sustainability, which brings together a combined £80 million in capital to fund new clean energy projects in the UK.
Construction of the proposed 14-turbine site is expected to start in 2025, with commissioning planned by the end of 2026. Once operational, it will be capable of generating up to 149,400 MWh of clean electricity per year, the equivalent of powering 46,100 average UK homes<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a>, and delivering 65,300 tonnes of emissions reductions<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a>.
The Whitelaw Brae wind project was originally owned by developer, BayWa r.e., with Thrive acquiring the project in December 2024 following the successful completion of a competitive tender in October 2024.
Thrive has a record of delivering community and shared ownership, both at our own sites and by providing funding for community-owned energy projects. Now, we’ve acquired Whitelaw Brae, we aim to facilitate shared ownership at this site with Ripple Energy&#8217;s latest coop.

The wind farm site is located 15 km north of Moffat and 3 km south of Tweedsmuir. It is also near the River Tweed which, as part of the £25 million Destination Tweed initiative, will see the creation of a 113-mile source to sea River Tweed Trail connecting communities and attractions along the length of the river from Moffat to Berwick-upon-Tweed. The project aims to improve the landscape and river habitat and offer a unique experience to locals and visitors alike, expected to be completed across five years.  
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[1] Based on an annual generation of 149GWh and calculated using the most recent statistics from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) showing that UK average domestic household consumption is 3,239kWh per annum <a id="menur1gr" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://www.renewableuk.com/energypulse/ukwed/" href="https://www.renewableuk.com/energypulse/ukwed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link https://www.renewableuk.com/energypulse/ukwed/">https://www.renewableuk.com/energypulse/ukwed/</a>
[1] Calculated using DESNZ’s “all non-renewable fuels” emissions statistic of 437 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2024) <a id="menur1gt" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://www.renewableuk.com/energypulse/ukwed/" href="https://www.renewableuk.com/energypulse/ukwed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link https://www.renewableuk.com/energypulse/ukwed/">https://www.renewableuk.com/energypulse/ukwed/</a>

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Thrive Renewables

From funding some of the UK’s first onshore wind farms in the early 1990s to a new 14-turbine site, we’re harnessing the country’s abundant wind resource to deliver clean power to homes and businesses.

We’ve acquired the development rights for our biggest project to date – a 57MW onshore wind farm in Scotland

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Thrive will be running a minibus shuttle service to the wind farm from the Victoria Institute. Before catching the bus, you can tuck into some tasty refreshments while getting to know the history of the site. Plus, you’ll be helping us celebrate 30 years of both Caton Moor wind farm and Thrive Renewables who own and operate it!  
Entry is by ticket only and places are limited; please visit the Eventbrite page to book your spot: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caton-moor-wind-farm-free-community-open-day-tickets-1006715562347?aff=oddtdtcreator">Caton Moor wind farm free community open day Tickets, Sat, Sep 21, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite</a>

Since 2015, Thrive’s voluntary Community Benefit Programme has awarded five energy efficiency grants to community centres in the area helping them cut bills plus increase warmth and comfort for people who use the spaces. The Victoria Institute is one of its grantees, using grants awarded in 2016 and 2018 to improve insulation and upgrade its boilers. Other grantees nearby include the Halton Community Centre, who used the funding to install energy efficient lighting and taps, as well as upgrading their solar PV and solar thermal system.

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Thrive renewables open day in Avonmouth. September 2022.

Enjoy a fun-packed day of activities for all the family at our Caton Moor wind farm near Lancaster – including the chance to get up close to an operational wind turbine! 

Discover how a wind farm works - free family open day

The joint venture will allow us to build new wind, solar and other renewable assets that clean up the UK energy system, reduce carbon emissions and help tackle the climate crisis. It will also support our ambitious growth plans to double our generation capacity over the next five years.

The partnership will also allow TopCashback Sustainability to continue building its impact investment portfolio. This includes the likes of Highlands Rewilding &#8211; a project aimed at re-wilding and re-peopling the Scottish Highlands by increasing biodiversity, green jobs and more &#8211; and funds deposited with Tribe Impact Capital, a wealth manager which helps TopCashback make impact investments.

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The £80 million joint venture will fund new renewable projects across the UK including onshore wind and solar.

Thrive joins forces with TopCashback Sustainability to help fund the next phase of the UK energy transition

Below we summarise some of the key energy policies announced following the election and what they could mean for the future of the UK energy system.
<h3>Unlocking onshore wind</h3>
Within days of the election, the Chancellor announced plans for radical planning reform, including fulfilling the promise to lift the de facto ban on new onshore wind farms in England. As one of the cheapest and cleanest ways to produce electricity, it means onshore wind will no longer face unique planning restrictions and instead be treated the same as any other infrastructure projects – something we have been calling for since 2015. In order to scale up onshore wind in line with targets, the government has also announced the creation of an Onshore Wind Industry Taskforce, which will see it work collaboratively with the industry, regulatory and other relevant bodies to help overcome the barrier developers are currently facing.
It’s worth noting that the removal of the ban doesn’t mean new onshore wind farms will be popping up everywhere. New developments will need to undergo the usual planning process and delays with grid connection are still a major challenge. It is, however, a huge stride forward and we see great potential for the repowering of existing sites – replacing turbines that have come to the end of their life with more modern and efficient machines – which could go a long way in meeting the government’s 2030 targets, without increasing the total number of turbines.
<h3>Planning reform</h3>
After announcing plans for radical planning reform that would make building energy infrastructure easier, the government launched a new consultation: &#8216;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system#scope-of-consultation">Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system&#8217;</a>.
Suggested amendments to the existing National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) include instructing planning officers and local authorities to consider the benefits of renewable projects, as well as an expectation that they will proactively identify potential project sites when developing plans. The aim is that these changes will help establish a much stronger presumption in favour of approving new renewables projects, supporting the UK&#8217;s ambitious net zero goals.
As well as removing the ban on onshore wind, Labour has challenged the previous government&#8217;s decision to add a separate footnote to the NPPF giving more consideration to the availability of agricultural land when making planning decisions on new solar farms.
<h3>Great British Energy </h3>
A key part of Labour’s election manifesto was its plans for Great British Energy (GBE), a publicly owned energy company designed to drive clean energy deployment. GBE will work with and alongside the private sector to develop, own and operate clean energy assets with ambitions to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by 2030.
While we wait to see how exactly GBE will interact with the industry, we’re hopeful that this renewed focus on working together – alongside communities – is what is needed to decarbonise our energy system.
<h3>Local power plan</h3>
Recognising that local power generation is an essential part of the energy mix, GBE will also help the government to deliver on its Local Power Plan, enabling local authorities and communities to become owners and stakeholders in local clean energy projects.
In GBE’s Founding Statement, it states that ‘through partnering with and providing funding and support to Local and Combined Authorities and Community Energy Groups, the Local Power Plan will roll out small and medium scale renewable energy projects, using established technologies to develop up to 8G W of cheaper, cleaner power. This will include shared ownership projects in partnership with private developers.’
As big supporters of community energy, it’s positive to see legislation that prioritises local people, ensuring they will ‘benefit directly’ from any increase in generation. Thrive will continue working with community energy groups, helping them build and own projects – giving local people a chance to benefit socially and financially from renewables.
<h3>Rooftop solar revolution</h3>
As part of its ambition to triple solar power by 2030, the Government has outlined plans for a rooftop solar “revolution”, introducing measures that will help more homes to be fitted with solar panels to bring down domestic energy bills and tackle the climate crisis.
We recognise the importance of rooftop solar when it comes to decarbonising the UK’s energy system and have already invested just over £3 million in rooftop solar arrays for businesses across the country. Not only does this help them to lower the carbon intensity of their operations but means they can directly benefit from cheaper clean power generated on site. We see this as a key technology as we continue our diversification strategy, investing in a range of renewable assets that will work together.
<h3>Contracts for Difference</h3>
A significant jump in the budget for the next Contracts for Difference (CfD) allocation round has also been announced, increasing from £1 billion to over £1.5 billion.
CfD auctions incentivise investment in energy generation projects which have a high upfront cost, by guaranteeing stable prices over a long period. It’s positive to see the uplift in funding, with £185 million of the total budget allocated to established technologies such as onshore wind and solar, up from £65 million in round five.
We believe that smaller (sub 5MW), localised clean energy projects are also important, which means developers will need to continue seeking additional routes to market. At Thrive, we also work with other business models, such as corporate power purchase agreements or ‘direct wire’ arrangements where solar and wind projects are installed on site, providing the industrial host with a direct supply of clean electricity.
Building on a series of positive announcements from government, we have and will always prioritise action – doing what’s necessary to get new projects built. We’ll also continue working with industry bodies such as RenewableUK to help inform and steer policy so that it ensures people are at the heart of a cleaner, fairer energy system in the UK.

We summarise some of the key energy policies announced following the election and what they could mean for the future of the UK energy system.

Winds of change: What does the Labour government mean for energy?

It is powered by fluid heated by geothermal brine several miles below the Earth’s surface. This rotates the turbine which is connected to a generator that converts kinetic energy into electricity.

Site operator – Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL) – predicts United Downs will deliver 2MWe of baseload electricity once operational, plus additional zero carbon heat for local housing, hospitals and schools. The site also has the potential to fulfil a significant portion of the UK’s lithium demand. Tests at United Downs have shown that geothermal fluid within the wells has one of the highest concentrations of lithium in Europe at 340 parts per million (ppm). This sustainably produced lithium could be used to support the growing EV industry as we transition to net zero.
GEL run monthly family open days to give local people the opportunity to learn about the project and see its progress. The next one is taking place on 20 August and tickets can be booked through <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/united-downs-deep-geothermal-power-project-family-open-day-tickets-880822552967#search">Eventbrite</a>.

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Landmark project in Cornwall on track to start generating renewable electricity in early 2025. 

United Downs will soon deliver UK’s first geothermal electricity as generation turbine is installed

The nacelle and blades at the top of the tower will be refurbished and upgraded, with works due to start in late August 2024. This will allow the turbine to run reliably into the future, generating clean power for UK homes and businesses.

Works are expected to be completed by the end of October. As part of the refurbishment, Thrive Renewables has applied for planning permission to update the logos displayed at the top of the tower. The refurbishment will go ahead whether or not the new logos are permitted. The Ness Point wind turbine has a 2.75MW capacity, enough to power over 2,200 average UK homes per year.  
Thrive Renewables runs a voluntary Community Benefit Programme with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, providing grants of up to £4,500 for energy efficiency improvements in community centres, village halls and other shared spaces, making them warmer and cheaper to run. Since the scheme started, three community buildings in the area have benefitted – Wrentham Village Hall, Community Action Suffolk’s Kirkley Centre and North East Suffolk CAB. 
Round eight of the scheme is now open to applications and community buildings in Lowestoft and the surrounding area are encouraged to apply. More information can be found <a href="/news/2024/07/helping-communities-cut-carbon-and-costs-thrive-launches-round-eight-of-community-benefit-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here. </a>

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Work is due to start late summer to refurbish and upgrade the nacelle and turbine blades. 

Thrive Renewables announces major overhaul at Ness Point wind turbine

Local residents have been offered a stake in the project through shared ownership with Bristol Energy Cooperative. Thrive is the first commercial owner in the UK to offer shared ownership in a standalone battery project.
The visit kicked off with a short explanation of how battery storage projects work to support our everyday electricity needs – storing electricity when generation is abundant and exporting it back to the grid at times of peak usage.
Next, it was straight onto the treasure trail, where the children were given a range of items to find in the nature area on site, like bird boxes, insect boxes and flowers. It was great to see the children spotting a whole range of other different plants and insects too, from caterpillars and birds to bees and butterflies.
Thrive has introduced a number of biodiversity measures to protect and enhance nature on site. This includes installing bird, bat and invertebrate boxes, as well as planting trees, hedgerows, species rich grassland, shade scrub and native ferns to strengthen local habitat corridors and provide wildlife with food, nectar and pollen.
Alongside the treasure hunt, there was a nature themed craft activity where the pupils worked together to decorate a large cardboard butterfly with colourful tissue paper. The butterfly canvas was repurposed from an old Thrive exhibition stand.

Thank you to St Philip’s Marsh Nursery School for a brilliant visit &#8211; we hope you all enjoyed your time on site.

Pupils from St Philip’s Marsh Nursery School explored the nature area on site and got creative with a butterfly craft activity.  

Batteries and butterflies – local nursery school visit Feeder Road battery project

Olivia Eijking and Robin Redfern both bring to the team extensive experience of leading and innovating developments in the energy industry. Their expertise will help grow our impact as we aim to double generation capacity in the next five years.
Olivia has nearly 30 years of experience in the energy markets, working across trading, investment management, private equity and project development. She has held a number of leadership positions, including partner &amp; COO for Global Advisors, one of the first energy &amp; metals focused hedge funds, CFO for Massena Capital Partners Private Equity during its substantial expansion, and co-founder &amp; co-managing director of Ferrostaal Capital, the renewable energy venture of the German industrial services group.
As an entrepreneur, Olivia launched Kreen &amp; WeBridge, the wind, solar and storage focused renewable energy consultancy and green tech platform that advises manufacturers, project developers and sponsors in the financing and development of renewables projects. Over the course of her career, Olivia has been directly involved in 5.5 GW’s worth of renewable energy projects as well as the oversight of over EUR 1.2 b in energy asset investments in Europe.

Robin is a mechanical engineer and has worked across a wide range of renewable energy technologies since 2009. Alongside his role at Thrive, Robin is a partner in Everoze, a leading technical consultancy in onshore and offshore wind, solar PV, battery storage and wider energy flexibility. Robin is also currently representing Everoze on the board of Skyray, a company set up to provide engineering services to solar PV and storage. Throughout his career, Robin has always sought to span the gap between practical engineering realities and desk-based theory and market forces, regularly visiting and inspecting projects whilst also providing due diligence and other advice to investors and lenders at a bigger picture level.

Robin and Olivia’s leadership and passion will complement the existing Board of three Executive Directors and five Non-Executive Directors. Colin Morgan has stepped down as Non-Executive Director, having made an invaluable contribution to Thrive over the past decade since joining the Board in 2013.

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Their impressive experience and insights in finance and renewables will help to support our ambitious growth plans. 

Thrive appoints Olivia Eijking and Robin Redfern as Non-Executive Directors

Community spaces provide a friendly meeting place for local people but are often cold, draughty and expensive to heat. It’s important to help the volunteers who manage these social hubs take practical measures to improve energy efficiency, so that they can reduce costs and keep them warm throughout the winter.  
Community buildings located within a 20 mile radius of one of Thrive’s clean energy projects can apply for grants of up to £4,500 to make energy efficiency improvements. Applicants will be asked to complete a full energy survey of the shared building using guidance supplied by CSE. This will help to identify potential improvements, including zero-cost measures, and calculate carbon and cost savings for different options. Applications will remain open until 24th September 2024. <a href="https://www.cse.org.uk/my-community/community-projects/thrive-renewables-community-benefit-programme/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full details on how to apply</a> can be found on CSE’s website.

Now in the eighth round of funding, the programme has awarded 61 grants to 53 community buildings, totalling over £190,000. These improvements save over 85 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.  
In 2023, grants were awarded to ten community buildings across the UK, including Debenham Shed located near Eye Wind Farm in Suffolk. Debenham Shed aims to improve mental health for retired men and women who may otherwise struggle with loneliness or isolation, by providing workshop facilities with tools and materials for people to connect, converse and create. They used the grant to improve heating and insulation to continue running their workshop comfortably throughout the winter.
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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7109" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Debenham-shed-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Debenham-shed-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Debenham-shed.jpg 650w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

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Community buildings neighbouring our clean energy projects can apply for grants of up to £4,500 to make energy efficiency improvements. 

Helping communities cut carbon and costs – Thrive launches round eight of Community Benefit Programme

All resolutions were passed with a significant majority, and it was inspiring to have <a href="https://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/profile/nick-robins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Professor Nick Robins</a> from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment join us for a fireside chat on navigating a just energy transition.

After the meeting, we invited shareholders to visit the community owned ACE wind project. We are extremely proud to have invested £4 million to fund the construction of this turbine &#8211; England&#8217;s largest. It was particularly special to visit the site just ahead of <a href="https://www.communityenergyengland.org/pages/community-energy-fortnight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Community Energy Fortnight</a> which celebrates the importance of community-led energy projects just like this. Thrive are proud to be sponsoring the two week campaign run by Community Energy England for the fourth year running.
On site, Mark Pepper, Development Manager at Ambition Lawrence Weston, the charity that formed ACE, shared the inspiring story behind the project, which is owned by the local community. Profits generated from the turbine will be reinvested back into the local area at Lawrence Weston, Bristol, acting as a driver for regeneration. ACE also plan to build an Energy Learning Zone to inspire young people and provide training to upskill residents for zero carbon careers.

It was also great to have Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, join us for the visit.

Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, speaking to shareholders at ACE wind turbine 

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Following our Annual General Meeting (AGM), shareholders visited the Ambition Community Energy (ACE) wind turbine in the countdown to Community Energy Fortnight. 

‘Just transition’ brought to life at AGM with a visit to England’s largest community owned onshore wind turbine

Last year Thrive provided community energy group, ATTIX CIC, with a loan of £4 million to enable them to press on with construction. We recently headed up to Scotland to spend time on site with Allan and Scott Wilson from Radio City Association, who founded Attix CIC as part of their mission to develop community owned renewable energy assets and other community initiatives in the Garnock Valley.
The community have already overcome multiple challenges, so it was rewarding to see their efforts coming to fruition as construction progresses. During our visit, we got to see some of the project infrastructure already in place, including the completed access track – ready for the turbine to be installed in the Autumn.

Once operational, the turbine will have the capacity to generate 7,839 MWh of clean electricity per year, the equivalent of powering 2,234 average UK homes, and will also deliver 3,324 tonnes of carbon emissions reductions annually. Profits from electricity sales will be reinvested back into the local area, which could include local sports and recreational facilities, as well as supporting the refurbishment of the Knox Institute building – a one-time important community hub. One of their recent initiatives which we were also able to see was a cycle path to connect the area better with the rail station. In the future the profits from the wind turbine will be able to fund similar initiatives.
Thrive’s funding is complemented by a £1.6 million investment from responsible finance provider, Social Investment Scotland, as part of a blended finance package, while Local Energy Scotland supported the project through planning and design with funding via the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES).
This project is a great example for other community groups in Scotland and we were proud to see it featured in presentations and discussions at this year’s All Energy conference, one of the UK’s largest annual gatherings of professionals in the renewables space.
Construction of the project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-6881 size-large" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kil-32-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="1024" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kil-32-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kil-32-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kil-32-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kil-32-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kil-32-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />

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Kil 24

Construction of the 2.5MW project near North Ayrshire is well underway and expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Behind the scenes at Scotland’s first subsidy free, 100% community-owned onshore wind turbine

Last year our wind, solar and hydro projects generated 136,316 MWh of renewable electricity [1]. That’s enough to power over 42,000 average UK homes, equivalent to a town the size of Preston [2]. Our portfolio of clean energy projects also delivered emissions reductions equivalent to 58,620 tCO2e[3].

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Thrive Impact 2023 

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We were pleased to be able to invest in more community energy projects in 2023. This includes investing £4 million in a community-owned wind project in Kilbirnie, Scotland, bringing the total we have committed to community energy projects to date to £20 million. Thrive also became the first commercial battery owner to offer shared ownership to a local community group at the Feeder Road project in Bristol, which entered operation in December 2023.
The social, environmental and financial impact Thrive delivers is recognised in our B Corp status. Early in 2024 we recertified, achieving a new impact score of 131.1 – placing us in the top 3% of all UK B Corps.
As we approach our thirtieth year of building and funding clean energy projects, we are committed to doubling the amount of new generation we invest in over the next five years. Last year we made our single largest investment to date &#8211; providing a £20 million loan to Ethical Power to fund part of its solar and battery storage pipeline, with 178 MW currently in development.
As well as building new clean energy capacity, we are continuing to connect more people to renewables, welcoming over 480 new investors via our crowdfund which launched in October 2023 and completed in January 2024. It is thanks to our investors old and new that we are able to help build an energy system fit for future generations.

Another key highlight from 2023 was awarding a record £37,000 in energy efficiency grants to community buildings across the UK through our Community Benefit Programme. The annual programme, run in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE,) helps community hubs near our projects reduce their carbon footprints and manage energy costs. For the first time since starting the programme in 2016, we also provided ‘energy essentials’ training to applicants, delivered by CSE, on topics such as fuel poverty awareness.

The fully audited Annual Report and Financial Statements can be downloaded <a href="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Thrive_Annual-report_2023_Final-web-version.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
*  Please remember that past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future returns.  
[1] Impact Portfolio describing Thrive’s share of projects owned plus the projects Thrive is funding. 
[2] Calculated using the most recent statistics from the DESNZ showing that UK average domestic household consumption is 3,239 kWh per annum (<a href="https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained</a>) 
Average residents per household  2.4 (<a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/families/bulletins/familiesandhouseholds/2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/families/bulletins/familiesandhouseholds/2020</a>), Population of Preston is 99,198 (<a href="https://www.thegeographist.com/uk-cities-population-1000/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thegeographist.com/uk-cities-population-1000/</a>). 
[3] RenewableUK uses DESNZ’s “all non-renewable fuels” emissions statistic of 424 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2023) Table 5.14 (“Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity supplied”. Carbon reduction is calculated by multiplying the total amount of renewable electricity generated by Thrive’s impact portfolio per year by the number of tonnes of carbon which fossil fuels would have produced to generate the same amount of electricity.

136,316 MWh of renewable electricity generated over the course of the year. 

Thrive announces £13.6 million operating profit for 2023 with £12.3 million of capital allocated to build new clean energy projects

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.

twitter-linkedin-facebook-launch-post

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

<a href="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Thrive-Climate-Report-2023-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thrive’s latest climate report</a> for 2023 highlights key updates on our path to net zero by the end of the decade:
<ul>
<li>Maintained scope 1 and 2 emissions at zero (down from a baseline of 2.9 tCO2e in 2019). *</li>
<li>For the second year running, we reported comprehensive emissions estimates across our seven relevant scope 3 categories, which include all areas relating to the construction and operation of our clean energy projects.</li>
<li>Reduced carbon intensity of business travel by 17% in 2023 compared to 2022.</li>
<li>Calculated avoided emissions (sometimes referred to as scope 4) to illustrate the wider carbon impact of the business.</li>
</ul>

Emission reductions are the emissions ‘avoided’ from the operation of our portfolio of clean energy projects. These serve as a key metric to illustrate the wider positive carbon impact of the business.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8005" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NZ-report-24-graph.png" alt="" width="903" height="405" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NZ-report-24-graph.png 903w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NZ-report-24-graph-300x135.png 300w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NZ-report-24-graph-768x344.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 903px) 100vw, 903px" />
It is important to note that 2022 was a very successful year for project construction and that our reported emissions include the full construction footprint of three new projects. By comparison in 2023, our reported emissions only include the construction of one small rooftop project. Despite this yearly variation in our highest emissions area, it is useful to see how much greater our avoided emissions are in both years.
Our eyes are now fixed on the 2024 reporting year as we continue rolling out more clean energy projects and helping businesses to decarbonise. We are committed to continually reporting our emissions and reviewing our strategy on an annual basis.
*Thrive’s emissions are reported using The Greenhouse Gas protocol framework that splits emissions into three categories:
Scope 1 – Direct emissions from sources that a company owns or controls directly e.g. the gas used for our heating.
Scope 2 – Indirect emissions coming from the energy it purchases and uses e.g. the electricity powering our office.
Scope 3 – Indirect emissions resulting from sources that are not controlled or owned by the company. For example, the resulting emissions from our supply chain or employee commuting and business travel.

avonmouth-yellow-flowers

Avonmouth yellow flowers

Our positive contribution to reducing UK emissions far outweighs our carbon footprint. But we take responsibility for the emissions we make in the course of our operations.

2023 Net Zero Report – Scopes 1 & 2 remain at zero and carbon intensity of business travel reduced by 17%

The record low is followed by the symbolic closure of the UK’s last coal fired power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in September – ending over a century of burning coal to generate electricity.
At the beginning of the 20th century, coal accounted for more than 95% of the UK’s electricity generation. Now it is 0%.
The UK is the first G7 nation to completely phase out the use of coal to generate power. A few weeks ago, the government also confirmed it will introduce legislation to ban new coal mining licences.
Whilst renewables have played a crucial role in helping the UK phase out coal, we’ve still got a lot of work to do. In its recent report the National Energy Systems Operator stressed that net zero by 2030 is ambitious but achievable, if we expand renewables capacity swiftly and significantly – tripling solar and doubling onshore wind.
As the UK shifts towards a new era of green energy jobs, it’s crucial that no one is left behind and we’re working hard to play our part in a fair and inclusive energy transition. Thrive is proud to help fund community-led projects like the Ambition Community Energy wind turbine in Bristol which is providing a deprived community with a source of revenue. The charity behind the project, Ambition Lawrence Weston, is also preparing local people to take their place in the changing green economy through community-based advice, support and upskilling.

ace_june_2024-6

ACE_June_2024-6

Record low for fossil fuels on the grid as renewables soar.

Life after coal: what's next for UK energy?

<a href="/news/2024/11/vision-for-the-future-facilitating-a-just-transition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In our last blog,</a> we shared the ways we’re working to facilitate a just transition, from using our business as a force for good to supporting community owned renewable energy projects. As part of our 30th birthday celebrations, we asked influential climate campaigners for their thoughts on what the wider sector needs to do to achieve a just energy transition by the end of the decade. 
James Vaccaro  
Catalyst, strategist and thought leader in sustainability and positive impact finance, CEO of RePattern and former Thrive Executive Director.  
<ol>
<li> Integrating smarter design into energy infrastructure to help deliver multiple positive social and environmental impacts. That can include greater community ownership and social benefits, but also schemes such as agri-solar. </li>
<li> The community-of-interest ownership model, alongside cooperatives and other shared-ownership models, offer a balanced solution to support investment in key assets – including nature restoration sites, transmission and storage infrastructure etc. </li>
<li> It is important for leadership within the industry to integrate adaptation and mitigation solutions (efficiency measures plus generation) to support community resilience– in conjunction with well-designed local development plans that address other areas of vulnerability.</li>
</ol>
Emma Howard Boyd CBE 
Previously Chair of the Environment Agency and an ex-officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Currently Chair of ClientEarth, Chair of the London Climate Resilience Review and former Thrive Non Executive Director.  
We are entering a new era. The world’s warmest year on record was 2023. Europe is warming at around twice the global rate.  
This June to August, in 2024, is currently on course to be the world’s hottest on record, even as El Niño fades. And wherever you are in the world, it’s the most vulnerable – those who’ve contributed the least to this catastrophe – who are forced to shoulder the heaviest burden of its consequences. A recent paper in ‘Nature’ said: “Given how close 2023 was to the ominous 1.5°C warming threshold, it is imperative that we prepare for previously unthinkable and unseasonal heat extremes.”  
With a new national government taking power, now is the time to emphasise that making smarter, more resilient choices to achieve a just energy transition is in the long-term interest. 
<ol>
<li> Simply put, adaptation is non negotiable and ensuring the most vulnerable benefit from adaptation should be a guiding principle. </li>
<li> Action must prioritise those who face the greatest harm and those least able to cope with climate impacts. </li>
<li> Finally, failure to prepare for climate impacts heightens risks and threatens efforts to reach net zero. Without due regard to climate adaptation, risk is “baked-in” to the lifetime of assets, projects become less viable, and the benefits reduce over time. It’s a choice between building in climate resilience or locking in climate vulnerability.</li>
</ol>
Jonathon Porritt CBE  
An eminent writer and campaigner on sustainable development and President of Population Matters.  
<ol>
<li> For wind, solar and storage to accelerate at the speed that is now so desperately needed, we need, first, to kill oil. And then to kill gas. This terminology will offend some people. “Oil Kills” is the latest slogan from Just Stop Oil, and many disagree with JSO’s combative, uncompromising tactics. But the time for cohabitation is long gone. Our continuing addiction to oil (as President George Bush put it back in 2006!) is already literally killing tens of thousands of people now – and will kill tens of millions in the future. </li>
<li> That’s why people need to hear the whole truth about climate science – we don’t have time for mealy-mouthed niceties any longer. It’s already too late to avoid horrendous costs as we pump more and more CO2 into the atmosphere. But it’s not too late to avoid total breakdown. </li>
<li> Even as we bring an end to the big oil and gas companies, we must protect the economic well-being of all those who work for them – apart from their senior executives, who’ve already benefited enough to last them several lifetimes! We must therefore be prepared to invest in re-skilling these key workers to play their part in the new energy economy emerging so dynamically in our midst.</li>
</ol>

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