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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].

Thrive Impact 2023 

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

Featured

Topics covered will include fuel poverty awareness and basic energy advice, community approaches to tackling fuel poverty and energy efficiency in community buildings. 
This will be offered alongside energy efficiency grants of up to £4,500 so that important shared buildings, including village halls, community centres and church halls, can make improvements such as insulation, draught-proofing, LED lighting or improved heating controls ahead of winter.  
Launched today, applicants will be asked to complete a full energy survey of the shared building using guidance supplied by the charity. 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 21st September 2023.

Now in the seventh round of funding, our Community Benefit Programme has awarded 51 grants to 43 buildings since 2016, totalling over £150,000 nationally and saving 75 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. 
In 2022, this included funding for Easton Community Centre, part of the Eastside Community Trust, which was used to install loft and pipe installation that would help reduce the building’s energy bills and allow its team to continue providing community advice and acting as a base for a number of local charities and grassroot groups. Read more in our <a href="/latest-news/blog/we-like-to-call-it-the-neighbourhood-s-living-room-shining-a-light-on-our-community-benefit-programme-with-easton-community-centre/">case study here</a>.

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20230214ThriveRenewablesEastonCommunityCentre -34

Round seven of the scheme, which provides energy efficiency grants to community buildings close to our sites, is open to applicants!

Fighting fuel poverty: Energy efficiency training for local communities added to Community Benefit Programme

Below we outline just some of the ways we are working towards net zero – from our own 2030 pledge to supporting UK businesses with their decarbonisation goals through on-site renewables.
<h3>1. Funding and building clean energy projects</h3>
Thrive invests in a mix of sustainable energy projects that reflect the changes the UK must make to decarbonise the electricity system. To date we’ve funded a total of 32 clean energy projects including onshore wind, hydro, solar, battery storage, geothermal and renewable heat. In 2022, our projects generated 133,858 MWh of clean electricity, enough to power 38,000 homes, and delivered 58,314 tonnes in carbon emissions reductions [1]. In 2022, we allocated £11.4 million to develop new renewable energy projects that will help lower bills, improve the UK’s energy security and power the transition to a net zero electricity system. 
<h3>2. Joining the race to zero</h3>
As a business we are committed to reaching net zero by 2030. In 2022, we made significant progress, publishing our <a href="/our-impact/business-ethics/net-zero/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">net zero strategy</a> with the SME Climate Hub, a global initiative that empowers small to medium sized companies to take climate action and build resilient businesses for the future. We are pleased to report our Scope 1 and 2 emissions are now at zero &#8211; this refers to our direct emissions, such as electricity consumption at our renewable generation sites and in our office. Moving forward, we are focusing on how we measure and reduce our Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions, including emissions from our supply chain and employee commuting). 
<h3>3. Engaging communities in renewables</h3>
We’re big believers in the role that communities have to play in the energy transition. Not only do local, community-owned projects ensure the benefits of clean energy are open to all, but they also help inform and drive the wider behavioural change. Thrive is proud to support communities with building their own clean energy projects through our multi award-winning funding offer. To date, we’ve invested £16 million in community-owned onshore wind and solar projects, including funding the construction of England’s largest onshore wind turbine.
Through our voluntary community benefit programme – which offers annual energy efficiency grants of up to £30,000 to community buildings close to our sites – we’re helping to ensure the benefits of clean energy are being felt by those who need it most. Additionally, we hold annual community open days and school visits, which give local people the chance to learn more about how renewables work.
<h3>4. Supporting businesses in their journey to net zero</h3>
Businesses have a huge role to play in supporting the UK’s net zero target. As well as working to reduce our own emissions, we work closely with businesses to help fund and build ‘direct wire’ projects. Thrive enables businesses to decarbonise by providing the funding and skills to install and operate renewable energy projects on their commercial premises. For example, we’re proud to have worked with Greenvale AP, one of the UK’s largest potato suppliers, to install a single wind turbine next to their factory – supplying up to 75% of their total electricity.
<h3>5. Incentivising green initiatives for staff</h3>
We take our carbon footprint incredibly seriously in all areas of our business. Our head office is a certified BREEAM Green Building (one of the greenest in Bristol) and has solar panels located on the roof. Any printed documents, including our Annual Report, are zero carbon. We also look for ways to support our staff in making more environmentally-conscious decisions, this includes offering a bike to work scheme alongside signing up to <a href="https://www.wearepossible.org/climate-perks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Possible’s Climate Perks</a> initiative, which allows team members to take two paid ‘travel days’ per year when they choose to travel sustainably rather than by plane.
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[1] Average residents per household 2.4 (<a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/families/bulletins/familiesandhouseholds/2020">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/families/bulletins/familiesandhouseholds/2020</a>)
RenewableUK uses BEIS’s “all non-renewable fuels” emissions statistic of 432 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2022) Table 5.14 (“Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity supplied”). Carbon reduction 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.

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march 2

It’s UK Net Zero Week! We share some of the ways we’re helping to reduce carbon emissions and support the country’s transition to a cleaner, fairer energy system.

Building a net zero future - What's our role in the UK's energy transition?

For me personally, photography has played an important role in my appreciation of the natural world and therefore my ambition to protect it. I believe that people will want to look after what they care about and have found that photography can be a powerful tool to engage others. I love experimenting with different photographic techniques, finding new ways to view the incredible wildlife our planet has to offer. Whether it’s capturing birds in flight, snapping a beautiful sunset, or getting up close with a tiny insect, I enjoy the challenge!
Nature is all around us and so it’s exciting that wherever I take my camera out, there will be an opportunity to discover things I’ve not seen before or a chance to capture more familiar species in a different light. Even from my flat in Bristol without a garden, I have spotted foxes, jays, and swifts from my window! Here are just a few of my favourite shots…
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Photo 1: Things you can do to help nature – Why not consider building a pond in your garden? Itdoesn’t need to be big! Healthy garden ponds can support a wide array of species including amphibians and invertebrates.
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<div>Photo 2: Things you can do to help nature – have you heard of #NoMowMay? By delaying mowing your lawn you can help give nature a helping hand. Plants such as dandelions are vital early in the year as sources of food for pollinators including bees, butterflies and moths.</div>
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<div>Photo 3: Things you can do to help nature – why not consider putting up a bird feeder in your garden? RSPB recommends year-round feeding, but it is most beneficial in the winter when food shortages are most likely. Just be careful to regularly clean your feeders to avoid risk of spreading diseases.</div>
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Photo 4: Did you know that red kites, with their characteristic forked tails,were actually extinct in England until relatively recently, due to persecution from humans amongst other factors? Following official reintroduction efforts in the 1980s, the population of red kites has been steadily increasing to the numbers you see today. A good example of a conservation success story!
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Photo 5: Just a nice photo of sunset by the coast – coastal walks are a favourite hobby of mine and I enjoy spending time in Wales and Cornwall. 
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<h3>Renewable energy and protecting nature</h3>
My role at Thrive incorporates my passion for nature and enables me to make a tangible difference in the climate emergency. In 2022, Thrive published our Biodiversity Policy, outlining our approach to nature. As Sustainability Analyst, I manage this strategy, considering biodiversity during the different project stages – whether it be our operational sites, projects in construction or those we’re considering investing in. For example, we’ve recently established a detailed landscape plan for our battery storage site in Bristol that focusses on establishing and maintaining habitats such as species-rich grassland and native trees and hedgerows, which will encourage biodiversity on site. It also includes more places for wildlife to nest and shelter including bird and bat boxes, invertebrate boxes and a hedgehog house.
I enjoy making regular visits to the battery site to check in on the progress of delivering this plan, and of course couldn’t miss the opportunity to capture some pictures of our new wildlife boxes during a recent visit…
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It’s clear that climate change and biodiversity must be addressed together as they are inherently related. I’m passionate about the role that businesses have to play in this. It’s been inspiring connecting with other B Corps and sustainability professionals, who like us are working towards net zero and reducing their environmental impacts. It’s incredibly motivating to know that my job is making a tangible difference.
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To see more of David’s photos you can visit his website at <a href="https://www.davidmatheson.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Matheson &#8211; Wildlife Photographer.</a>
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In support of Great Big Green Week, find out what motivates David, our sustainability analyst, to protect our planet and the key role that wildlife photography plays for him.

“Photography has played an important role in my appreciation of the natural world"

Taking place from 10-23 June, Community Energy Fortnight – organised by Community Energy England (CEE) – aims to raise the profile of community-led and owned energy, connect determined and dynamic practitioners in the sector, and inspire new people, businesses, and other organisations to get involved in creating a people-powered, sustainable, and resilient energy system. The Fortnight will feature a series of activities, workshops and initiatives designed to engage and connect the sector, share skills and successes across the country, and educate local people and stakeholders about the importance of community energy. To find out more, you can visit CEE’s website <a href="https://communityenergyengland.org/pages/community-energy-fortnight">here</a>.
<h3>Download our new resource for communities</h3>
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As a renewable energy investment company, one way in which we can support community energy groups is by providing the funding and expertise needed to get projects off the ground and delivering sustainable energy. In fact, since we first created our community energy funding bridge in 2016, we’ve invested over £16 million into local wind and solar projects in the UK.
With the theme of this year&#8217;s CEF focused around &#8216;skills sharing&#8217;, we’ve collated our decades-long experience working within the renewables sector into a new guide for community energy groups. It includes information on Thrive’s multi award-winning community funding model, local case studies and considerations for those looking to start their journey.
<a href="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Power-for-the-people-How-to-get-your-clean-energy-project-funded_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download it here</a>
<h3>Funding England&#8217;s largest onshore wind turbine with Ambition Community Energy</h3>
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Last year, we used our award-winning community energy funding bridge to help a group of Bristol residents in building England’s largest onshore wind turbine. We provided a £4 million loan to <a href="https://www.ambitioncommunityenergy.org/">Ambition Community Energy</a> so that it could move this brilliant community initiative into construction after years of planning issues. It was added to loans from Bristol and Bath Regional Capital (BBRC) City Funds and members of the Society of Merchant Venturers, as well as a grant from the West of England Combined Authority Low Carbon Challenge Fund (part of the European Regional Development Fund).
The newly constructed turbine is capable of generating enough power for close to 3,000 homes – the equivalent to Lawrence Weston’s domestic use – and will save almost 48,345 tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime. Profits from electricity sales will be reinvested back into local good causes, while the group also plan to build an Energy Learning Zone to inspire and upskill residents for zero carbon careers.
Hear more from the people who worked tirelessly to make this project happen in our video below.

Constructing England's largest onshore wind turbine

Power to the people

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Thrive renewables open day in Avonmouth. September 2022.

As well as being the main sponsor for this year’s event, we’ve developed a new resource for community energy groups looking to build their own local energy project.

This year's Community Energy Fortnight is all about skills sharing - And we're sharing our decades long experience in funding and building projects

As well as exhibiting at the show, Thrive took part in several panels and presentations. My colleagues Otis (Investment Manager) and Chris (Development Manager) presented at the Community and Local Energy Show Floor Theatre, discussing Thrive’s funding offer for local energy projects – including the benefits to shared ownership and our role in the funding of England’s largest onshore wind turbine.  
I also shared my thoughts on community ownership of offshore wind, following <a href="https://www.regen.co.uk/publications/delivering-local-benefit-from-offshore-renewables-working-towards-a-new-model-for-community-benefit-and-local-ownership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a great paper from Regen on the same topic,</a> and moderated a panel on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) &#8211; an agreement which is used to sell electricity generated by clean energy projects like wind farms or solar arrays. Joined by Kristina Rabecaite, CEO of PPAYA Limited, Tom Abbott, Head of PPA at EDF (UK), Leigh Brown, Senior Business Development Manager at SmartestEnergy and Rhys Thomson, Commercial Director at Community Windpower Limited, it was great to hear their thoughts on the latest and future trends in PPA routes and how they can support renewable developers and generators in selling their power. A big thank you to the speakers who joined me and the fabulous audience for a very engaged session.  
Alongside Thrive’s sessions, it was great to hear from others working within the industry and get their insights on how the market is developing. Below I share my key observations from across the two days. 
<h3>1. Communities are ready to scale up and share ownership </h3>
It’s great to see an increasing number of people engaging with community energy initiatives and an appetite to take on larger size projects. Shared ownership models are mutually beneficial – allowing communities to access working capital, experience, and exposure, while developers can benefit from shared infrastructure, local support and collaboration.   
At Thrive, our flexible approach to finance could help facilitate shared ownership. Our 20MW battery in Bristol is proof of this – we’re giving Bristol Energy Cooperative an opportunity to own a share in the project so that local good causes can benefit from some of the revenues.   
<h3>2. Finance is changing </h3>
Until a longer-term picture emerges in terms of interest rates and inflation, many developers have shared that they are now looking for short term finance solutions, as well as one funding partner that they can work with across a portfolio of projects.   
When it comes to finding a route to market, the conference confirmed that Power Purchase Agreements are also getting more complex and will increasingly involve multiple parties as they purchase different parts of a project’s offtake. We’ve also seen shorter term PPA structures emerge, while corporate PPAs are becoming increasingly attractive as they give projects more security around electricity prices.  
<h3>3. Direct wire is becoming more popular </h3>
Many UK businesses are looking to on-site renewables as a solution to manage energy costs in a volatile market and to improve their environmental credentials as they work towards net zero. Many don’t necessarily have the capital – or skill set – to install those renewables themselves and therefore need support with funding and expertise. It was positive to see many businesses, developers and EPC contractors using the conference as a way to meet and take project opportunities forward.   
<h3>4. Community crowdfunding for offshore wind </h3>
At Thrive, we’re big believers in community ownership and the importance of keeping the economic, social and environmental benefits of clean energy projects local. This is a topic I’m really excited about and would certainly deliver a multitude of benefits for the local community, as well as helping to facilitate a just transition in the offshore wind industry. It will be interesting to see how community ownership models for offshore wind evolve in the years to come. 
<h3>5. Renewable heat is taking off!</h3>
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), heating is the world’s largest energy end use, accounting for almost half of global final energy consumption. As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing energy crisis, the IEA also predicts that modern renewable heat consumption will increase by almost one-third between 2022-2027.  
It was interesting to hear more about the future of renewable heat at the conference and the technologies, policies and track record showcased by other countries. While there are still some challenges to overcome – including the need for a clearer revenue model – it’s been suggested that some kind of grant programme will need to be developed in order to accelerate this technology at the scale required.  
<h3>6. Growing green careers </h3>
Finally, it was a huge pleasure to see so many students who are looking at this industry as a future career path. We had discussions with students whose interests ranged from sustainable concrete to impact financing and digitalisation. It’s really positive to see fresh young talent entering the sector and the passion they have for making the world a better place. At Thrive, we aim to support students as much as we can and currently offer a summer internship to university undergraduates looking to understand more about the clean energy sector, whether it be in engineering, financial modelling or community benefit.
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all energy 2023 - chris speaking

Bringing together 250+ exhibitors from 15 countries, Thrive’s investment director, Monika Paplaczyk, shares her key observations from the event as well as the technologies and projects she thinks will dominate over the next 12 months.

Our key takeaways from the All Energy conference in Glasgow

The project aims to connect up to 4,000 homes with the sustainable heat from the granite rocks almost 5,300 metres below the United Downs industrial site. The heat used to power electricity turbines generating clean energy for the grid will also keep the local community warm once the Langarth Network is operational.
The latest funding is part of the government’s £288 million Green Heat Network Fund that is intended to help new and existing heat networks move to low and zero carbon technologies. The new funding will support the Langarth Heat Network in building crucial infrastructure to connect heat from United Downs to local housing, hospital, schools and college.  
Thrive provided the first commercial funding for United Downs, and in 2023, invested a further £3 million to fund completion of the project by 2024. We look forward to seeing how new government funding will help maximise the benefits of this pioneering project, with excess heat from the site being used to provide cleaner, cheaper heating in the local area.

The site operator – Geothermal Engineering Limited (GEL)– predicts United Downs will deliver 2MWe of baseload electricity once operational, and up to 10MWth of zero carbon heat to benefit thousands of local residents and businesses.  
GEL have also found a high concentration of lithium in the geothermal fluids at United Downs. Research is currently being conducted into how this could be used for local, low-carbon lithium production which could then be used to support the rollout of electric cars in the UK.  
Geothermal plays a crucial role in the UK’s transition to net zero and it’s encouraging to see Cornwall’s significant geothermal resources harnessed, with plans for two new sites already in place.

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£22 million awarded to UK’s first deep geothermal heat network at United Downs.

First steps for United Downs to heat local homes thanks to new government funding

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In what was a record-breaking year for wind power in the UK, we saw strong operational performance across our portfolio – generating 133,858 MWh of clean electricity, enough to power 38,000 homes, the equivalent to a town the size of Halifax.[3] Our clean energy projects also delivered 58,314 tonnes in carbon emissions reductions. [5]
Shareholders received a dividend of 7 pence per share in 2022*. Reflecting positive financial results, a 12 pence per share annual dividend is recommended to be paid in July 2023.
2022 showed us once again that we need to accelerate the UK’s transition to a renewables-based energy system, not only to tackle the climate emergency but to reduce soaring energy bills and end the UK’s reliance on expensive fossil fuels. In total, Thrive installed 6MW of new clean energy capacity during the year with a further 25MW in construction.
Over the past 12 months, we’re proud to have succeeded in our mission to connect more people with clean energy, welcoming over 900 new shareholders to the Thrive community as part of a successful crowdfund with Triodos Bank. A total of £6.8 million was raised which, alongside the additional profits generated from our existing portfolio, is being used to fund new clean energy projects.
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In terms of delivering our mission, another one of our 2022 highlights was funding the construction of England’s largest onshore wind turbine, a community-owned project in our home city of Bristol. The turbine will generate a new revenue stream for the local community in Lawrence Weston, with all profits from electricity sales reinvested locally, acting as a driver for regeneration in a deprived area.
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In 2023, we expect to see new ‘direct wire’ on-site commercial solar rooftop arrays installed, construction of the ground-breaking United Downs geothermal electricity generating project in Cornwall and our second battery storage site – a 20MW project in Bristol will be fully operational. There are also a number of new investments which are currently in the pipeline.

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As a certified B Corporation, we were recognised as a ‘Best for the World’ B Corp for the second year running, scoring in the top 5% globally for our positive impact on the environment. Thrive’s commitment to building a cleaner, more sustainable world also saw us publish our net zero strategy in 2022, committing to achieving net zero emissions by 2030, as well as our biodiversity policy which outlines our plans to protect and enhance nature close to our clean energy sites.
We are also pleased that our voluntary Community Benefit Programme, which provides grants for energy efficiency improvements in community centres and village halls close to our sites, helped provide warm spaces for vulnerable people last winter. Working with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, we provided over £30,000 worth of funding to ten community buildings in 2022.  This included awarding £4,000 to Eastside Community Trust, who run the Easton Community Centre in Bristol, so that it could install essential pipe and loft insulation. Addressing heat loss in the building as well as high energy bills, the improvements have helped the team reduce their operational costs and create a warmer, cosier and more inviting space for residents to enjoy.
Fuel poverty is a massive issue so we were also pleased to be given the opportunity to support the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s Warm Homes campaign, which will help them continue providing essential advice and support for those who are struggling.
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* 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 Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showing that UK average domestic household consumption is 3,509 kWh per annum <a href="https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained</a>
[3] 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 Halifax is 91,338 (<a href="https://www.thegeographist.com/uk-cities-population-1000/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.thegeographist.com/uk-cities-population-1000/</a>)
[4] The average electricity consumption of an electric vehicle is 270Wh/mile (<a href="https://ev-database.org/uk/cheatsheet/energy-consumption-electric-car" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://ev-database.uk/cheatsheet/energy-consumption-electric-car</a>) and vehicle licensing statistics: 2021 &#8211; (<a class="js-scroll-done" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021#licensed-electric-vehicles" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-anchor="#licensed-electric-vehicles">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021#licensed-electric-vehicles</a>), average annual car mileage is 5,300 miles (<a class="js-scroll-done" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts09-vehicle-mileage-and-occupancy#car-mileage" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-anchor="#car-mileage">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts09-vehicle-mileage-and-occupancy#car-mileage</a>), reported UK electric car fleet as of May 2022 is 421,230 (<a class="js-scroll-done" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021#licensed-electric-vehicles" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-anchor="#licensed-electric-vehicles">https://www.</a><a class="js-scroll-done" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021#licensed-electric-vehicles" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-anchor="#licensed-electric-vehicles">gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021/vehicle-licensing-statistics-2021#licensed-electric-vehicles</a>), and average annual mileage of 93,562 Electric Vehicles, (22.2% of the UK’s Electric Car Fleet)
[5] RenewableUK uses BEIS’s “all non-renewable fuels” emissions statistic of 432 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2022) Table 5.14 (“Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity supplied”). Carbon reduction 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.
[6] We are not able to source a nationally recognised means of calculating the water saving generated by generating electricity using wind and solar. The power sector consumes over 40% of Europe’s water, mainly for cooling purposes. Nuclear consumes approximately 2.7m3/MWh, gas plants 0.7m3/MWh and coal plants 1.9m3/MWh (<a href="https://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/files/library/publications/reports/Saving_water_with_wind_energy.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/files/library/publications/ reports/Saving_water_with_wind_energy.pdf</a>). Our crude, but intentionally conservative analysis, using the UKs 2021 generation mix (<a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1064800/Energy_Trends_March_2022.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1064800/Energy_Trends_March_2022.pdf</a>), provides a conservative average water consumption per MWh figure which attributes no water consumption to other thermal sources such as oil and bioenergy, or hydro. We have multiplied Thrive’s generation by this factor, assuming that if our renewable projects had not generated this electricity, the UK grid mix would have.
[7] Includes Community Benefit Programme donations, CSE winter campaign donation, a number of individual site related donations and our community open day hosted at Avonmouth wind farm.
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From funding England’s largest, community-owned onshore wind turbine to a £6.8 million crowdfund – connecting more people to clean energy.

Thrive announces £6.7 million operating profit for 2022 – Plus £11.4 million cash allocated to build new clean energy projects

We were pleased to be shortlisted for the Green Finance award, based on our innovative approach to finance which last year saw us fund new clean energy projects including onshore wind, solar and battery storage, as well as community-based assets like England’s largest onshore wind turbine.
The team had a great time attending the ceremony at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square and were thrilled to be called up on stage to collect the award on the night!

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A fantastic evening spent with lots of inspirational businesses making a genuine impact.

Green finance award win! Celebrating the businesses making a difference at the Better Society Awards

The theme for this year’s Earth Day is “Invest in our Planet” – a continuation from 2022. The decision to continue last year’s theme points to both its timeliness and significance. Highlighting the importance of dedicating our time, resources and energy to solving climate change, the theme also speaks more widely to how tackling environmental issues not only leads to a greener world, but to a fairer and wealthier world. This was the message from the IPCC’s most recent climate change report, which called for urgent and ambitious action, emphasising the wider social and economic benefits that will come with this – green jobs and access to more affordable energy to name just a couple of examples.

As an ethical business that prioritises its social impact just as much as its environmental one, this year’s Earth Day theme is relevant on a number of levels. Our mission is to power the transition to a sustainable energy future by helping people meaningfully connect with clean energy projects. We do this by investing in new renewable energy projects, diversifying our portfolio which now includes wind, solar, hydro and battery storage. Building new clean energy sites across the UK is essential for reducing our reliance on harmful, expensive fossil fuels, but also for facilitating a fairer energy system and providing direct benefits to local communities – a focus on local, homegrown renewables is fundamental to our investment approach and underpins our wider mission.  
<h3>Powering communities </h3>
For us, an essential part of “investing in our planet” is investing in local and direct wire renewables. Not only do local renewables reduce the pressure on the grid, but they also benefit communities directly by providing access to cleaner, cheaper energy and in many instances, providing green jobs in the local area.  
We’re proud to have funded the construction of England’s largest wind turbine that’s 100% community owned. Revenues generated from the 4.2MW turbine will be reinvested back into the local area in Lawrence Weston, Bristol, helping to drive regeneration. Also in our home city of Bristol, we’ve offered a local community group shared ownership of our 20MW battery storage project. We’re the first commercial owners in the UK to offer shared ownership of our standalone battery project like this and we’re excited to see money raised from the generation being put towards local causes.  
Via our Community Benefit Programme, we offer energy efficiency grants to community centres close to our sites so they can reduce their carbon footprint while reducing running costs. In the latest round of the programme, we offered over £30,000 worth of funding to 10 community centres, including Easton Community Centre in East Bristol. Our £4,000 grant was put towards installing pipe and loft insulation, helping the to create a warmer and more welcoming space so that the centre could continue running its vital community services.  
<h3>Creating a sustainable workplace </h3>
“Everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable” – Earth Day calls on all of us to play our part in addressing the climate emergency, emphasising the key role that businesses have in this. As an Impact driven business we continually review our governance and processes to ensure we’re maximising our environmental impact while also providing a positive workplace for our team. We’re a proud B Corp and have for the second-year running been awarded ‘Best for the World’, ranking us among the top 5% of all B Corps in the environment category. As part of B Corp’s Climate Collective we’ve pledged to meet Net Zero by 2030. To date, the clean energy projects we have built have saved over 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, however we’re continuing to focus on further reducing our emissions, measuring our performance against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.  
We offer sustainable travel incentives for our team, including a bike to work scheme and Climate Perks which grants employees extra paid holiday when choosing sustainable travel. Our office building itself is BREEAM Excellent Certified and all our power is sustainably sourced.   
<h3>Protecting and enhancing biodiversity </h3>
Biodiversity loss goes hand in hand with climate change and is an essential aspect to address when discussing what it means to “invest in our planet”. Whenever we invest in a new clean energy project, we commit to conserving and enhancing the site’s biodiversity as set out in our biodiversity policy. For example, at our battery storage site in Feeder Road, we’ve installed a number of bird, bat and invertebrate boxes, as well as planting trees, hedgerows, species rich grassland, shade scrub and native ferns that will strengthen local habitat corridors and provide wildlife with food, nectar and pollen. We pledge to achieve 10% Biodiversity Net Gain from all projects developed after 2022 with the aim of exceeding this target where possible. 
While we’re always looking at how we can maximise our environmental impact, global celebration of the climate action movement, like Earth Day, are important for inspiring the mass action that needs to be taken in the climate emergency. There are plenty of ways to get involved in Earth Day. To find events in your area and access a range of online talks and articles, make sure to visit the <a href="https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">official Earth Day website.</a>

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Hear our thoughts on this year’s theme as we consider Thrive’s role in tackling the climate emergency and the wider impact of building a sustainable future.

Earth Day 2023: What does it mean to "invest in our planet?"

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The aim of the Green Energy Awards is to celebrate the best projects, leading organisations and inspiring people that make up the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector, so were pleased to be shortlisted for two awards this year – net zero energy developer and net zero energy pioneer for our investment director, Monika.
We were thrilled to come home with one of those awards, winning net zero energy developer of the year against some stiff competition! The judges were complimentary not just about what we’ve achieved in terms of capacity, but our mix of technologies, innovative approach to finance and our collaborations with both business and communities.
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We had a brilliant time celebrating all the individuals and businesses working hard to deliver a cleaner, better future in the UK.

Winning Net Zero Energy Developer of the Year at the 2023 Green Energy Awards

In what some dubbed ‘energy security day’ and others called ‘green day’, the government formally responded last week, publishing a myriad of policy documents (more than 2,800 pages!) including its updated energy security, net zero and green finance strategies. The results were largely underwhelming – with a focus on technologies that are unproven and have poor, or no track record when it comes to deployment. Below we explore some of the key announcements made and what it means for our transition to a renewables-based energy system.
<h3>We shouldn&#8217;t be ignoring technologies that are cheap and easy to deploy</h3>
We were happy to see some positive announcements around offshore wind, solar and green hydrogen, along with some important consultations which will provide more clarity for these technologies in the years to come. However, it’s fair to say that the focus for new funding and policy was very much directed at nuclear and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
When delivering the Spring Budget, Jeremy Hunt launched a consultation to classify nuclear power as ‘environmentally sustainable’. It was therefore no surprise to see the government confirming that it would be scaling up the UK’s nuclear programme through its new ‘Great British Nuclear’ scheme, with the ambition to ramp up nuclear capacity to 24GW by 2050. As well as nuclear, the government used its ‘energy security day’ to reiterate its support for CCS, confirming up to £20 billion in funding.
As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated recently, when it comes to net zero, there’s no time to waste – this really is our last chance to get it right. The issue is that small nuclear and CCS are still unproven and will take years to deliver. Renewables such as onshore wind and solar are some of the quickest to deploy and are already delivering cheaper, cleaner power to industry and local communities in the UK. The huge potential for renewable generation was also highlighted in Chris Skidmore’s recent <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-net-zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mission Zero report</a> – an independent review of the government’s net zero strategy which resulted in 129 recommendations that would allow the UK to better reap the economic, environmental and social benefits of net zero. According to<a href="https://www.businessgreen.com/analysis/4090316/vague-ugly-government-responded-chris-skidmores-net-zero-review"> BusinessGreen</a>, less than half of those recommendations will be taken forward.
While we await further clarification on the consultation into its National Planning Policy Framework, which would make building new onshore wind turbines easier in England, we welcome the government’s decision to make planning easier for solar, committing to developing a ‘solar roadmap’ that will set out the pathway to reaching 70 GW of solar generation capacity by 2035. It also announced a pledge to establish a joint taskforce to drive further growth.
<h3>A local route to net zero</h3>
Another of the measures identified in the Mission Zero report was the need for a Local Electricity Bill. Recognising the role communities have to play in the clean energy transition, Chris Skidmore suggested that alongside the Bill, the government should publish ‘a Community Energy Strategy that addresses the regulatory, legislative, funding and capacity barriers in the sector’, as well as the support available for innovative projects.
We’re big believers that, by introducing a Local Electricity Bill, the country could unlock the huge potential for small-scale, local energy systems which remove some of the technical challenges we currently face when it comes to transmitting energy. Not only do community energy projects help to bring cleaner, cheaper power to more homes and businesses across the UK, but they also create new jobs and acts as a driver for regeneration. Our recent work with Ambition Community Energy is an example of this in action – the group will be able to use the revenues from England’s largest onshore wind turbine to plug back into local good causes, including building an Energy Learning Zone which will help to upskill residents in Lawrence Weston, Bristol, for green careers. Unfortunately, it cannot currently supply electricity directly to local homes – which is something the Local Electricity Bill would help to address.
Dismissing the need for a community energy strategy, the government confirmed that it will continue to work with the sector through the Community Energy Contact Group on some of the key policy and delivery issues which impact the sector, as well as providing support to local authorities and community energy groups through its ‘local net zero hubs’.
As well as prioritising large-scale, early development projects, we think smaller, community-based projects have a huge role to play as part of a bottom-up transition that would allow us to decarbonise at the scale required for net zero. None of these changes will prevent us providing continued funding to community groups looking to build their own clean energy projects, building on the £16 million we have already invested in community-based wind and solar projects across the UK.
<h3>‘Everything, everywhere, all at once’</h3>
In March, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) delivered its “final warning” on the climate emergency, confirming the urgency of taking more ambitious action and adding that, if we act now, we can still secure a more sustainable future. On releasing the report, the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said that “Our world needs climate action on all fronts: everything, everywhere, all at once.”
Coming just a couple of weeks later, it feels like the government has missed an opportunity when it comes to low-cost, homegrown renewables, focusing more heavily on technologies and policies that will take a long time to start delivering and are more expensive than proven renewable technologies.
We now need quick and decisive action to ensure the UK not only stays on track to meet its decarbonisation goals but also incentivises further green investment moving forwards. While the government continues its consultations, for us it’s all about getting things done. We’ll continue funding and building new clean energy projects that contribute to the UK’s net zero goals and deliver cleaner, cheaper power for people today.

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Following on from last week’s ‘Energy Security Day’, we unpack some of the government’s latest policy updates.

Government 'green' announcements - Some positives but lacks urgency and misses the opportunities renewables can deliver

We’re committed to helping these centres continue to thrive by providing energy efficiency grants for community buildings via <a href="/our-impact/community-benefit-programme/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our Community Benefit Programme</a>. Working with the <a href="https://www.cse.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centre for Sustainable Energy</a>, we provided over £30,000 worth of funding to ten community buildings located close to our clean energy sites in 2022.  
Included in the list of grantees was the <a href="https://eastsidecommunitytrust.org.uk/our-places/easton-community-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Easton Community Centre</a>, which is located near to our 20MW battery storage project at Feeder Road in East Bristol. Eastside Community Trust which runs the centre, as well as the Felix Road Adventure Playground, identified heat loss and rising energy costs as a significant problem. We’re thrilled to have been able to support the centre in addressing these issues by providing a £4,000 grant that has helped them to install essential loft and pipe insulation.  
These energy efficiency improvements have helped the team to reduce their operational costs at a time when it’s really needed, ensuring they can continue providing a warm and comfortable space for the local community to enjoy.  
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The upgrades we have supported the centre with also mean that they can continue offering vital services to residents, which ranges from community advice on energy efficiency and retrofitting to providing a base for Bristol’s Somali Youth Voice – a grassroots organisation that advocates for and empowers disadvantaged young people living in the city. As well as this, the centre is home to Somali Kitchen – a women-led CIC offering advice and volunteering opportunities to Somali women, the BCfm community radio station, HIV &amp; Aids charity Brigstow, the Raised In Bristol nursery and Houria CIC, an anti-racist café and catering business supporting migrant women and those escaping modern slavery.  
It’s a place where the community can seek advice and share ideas, or simply have a warm, safe haven to rely on.
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As well as the Easton Community Centre, the other buildings we have supported over the past year include Knowle West Media Centre in Bristol, Birsay Community Hall in Orkney, Colne Village Hall in Cambridgeshire, Helmdon Reading Room near Milton Keynes and Strichen Playgroup in Aberdeenshire.

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During round six of our Community Benefit Programme, we provided £4k in funding to Eastside Community Trust so it could continue providing a warm & welcoming space to the local community.

“We like to call it the neighbourhood's living room": Shining a light on our Community Benefit Programme with Easton Community Centre

In total our wind, solar and hydro projects delivered emissions reductions equivalent to 58,620 tCO2e, a 1% increase in impact on 2022 [3]. 
Despite overall wind speeds in the UK being slightly lower last year than the long-term average, we managed to generate more power than in 2022.  
As part of our long-term growth strategy we aim to double our renewable generation capacity over the next five years. Last year we made <a href="/latest-news/news/new-deal-with-ethical-power-will-help-double-thrive-s-impact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our largest single investment to date</a> and continued to support community-owned projects, including committing £4 million to <a href="/latest-news/news/4-million-investment-into-community-group-attix-cic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scotland’s first subsidy free, 100% community-owned onshore wind turbine</a>.  
We also extended the life of our 22 year old Sigurd wind turbine on Orkney after the original blades reached end of life having generated 88GWh of clean electricity in one of the windiest spots in the UK. Refurbished blades have been fitted so that Sigurd can continue generating clean electricity while the old blades are being <a href="/latest-news/news/reducing-waste-at-our-sigurd-wind-farm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repurposed into useful items like bike shelters and EV charging stations</a>.

[1] Impact Portfolio describing Thrive’s share of projects owned plus the projects Thrive is funding.
[2] 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.

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Consistent performance across the portfolio in 2023, despite a slight drop in wind.

Records and repowering: We generated enough clean electricity to power 42,000 homes

Now in its seventh year, the 2023 programme awarded a record £37,692 to ten community groups. The estimated carbon savings from this round alone amount to 7.5 tonnes CO2 equivalent every year. We also provided free online training on the topics of energy advice, community approaches to tackling fuel poverty, and community building energy efficiency. 50% of the people who came to these training sessions had not previously engaged with the programme but were eager to do so afterwards, with two-thirds saying they had been inspired to conduct a survey of their building. Plus, everyone who attended expressed motivation to support their communities in tackling fuel poverty, with all groups also keen to initiate their energy projects.  
Hear from some of the grantees in <a href="https://www.cse.org.uk/news/community-buildings-are-thrive-ing-across-the-uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CSE’s article</a>.

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It’s been a record year for our Community Benefit Programme– over £37,000 awarded in energy efficiency grants.

Community buildings thriving across the UK

Figures by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and analysed by think tank New Economics Foundation, revealed that only seven applications were submitted last year – but all of those <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/15/zero-plans-for-public-onshore-windfarms-submitted-last-year-in-england" target="_blank" rel="noopener">related to the replacement of existing turbines or were for private sites, where the energy produced is destined for a particular consumer, such as a business</a>. 
The number was lower than the 10 applications submitted in 2022, when the de facto ban was still in place, despite the adjustments made to the National Planning Policy Framework in September 2023 which the government claimed would “make it easier and quicker for onshore wind projects to come forward, where there is local support”.  
<h3>Is it only England that&#8217;s falling behind? </h3>
In contrast to the lack of new applications in England, <a href="https://www.endsreport.com/article/1861845/no-new-plans-onshore-wind-england-despite-relaxed-rules%22%20/l%20%22:~:text=There%20were%20no%20new%20planning,onshore%20wind%2C%20new%20data%20shows." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scotland saw 46 applications made for grid- connected onshore wind farms last year</a> and has openly embraced the technology as part of its future energy mix. Through the <a href="https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/scotland-signs-deal-with-sector-to-ensure-it-can-reach-20gw-of-onshore-wind-by-2030-25-09-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal</a>, which was signed by the government and major industry players in September 2023, it has <a href="https://www.renewableuk.com/news/652133/Scottish-Onshore-Wind-Sector-Deal-can-provide-blueprint-for-all-of-UK.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outlined a number of measures</a> to help ensure Scotland delivers on its promises of 20GW of onshore wind by 2030 &#8211; more than double its current operational capacity of 9.38GW.  
This includes: 
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">a commitment that it will take no longer than a year for Scottish onshore wind farms to go through the planning system, </li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">engagement with local communities at the earliest opportunity to agree a package of community benefits, and </li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">greater recycling of turbine components to make the supply chain even more sustainable.  </li>
</ul>
And if Scotland can do it, why can’t the rest of the UK follow suit? Especially when we know that people are not only in favour of onshore wind, but that the technology is instrumental in delivering cheaper, cleaner power to households still feeling the effects of the recent energy and cost of living crises. In fact, <a href="https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4112821/staggering-englands-onshore-wind-ban-costing-british-billpayers-gbp-1bn-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research by Carbon Brief</a> found that the de facto ban in England had cost billpayers a &#8220;staggering&#8221; £5.1 billion in 2022.  
“Onshore wind remains the cheapest source of clean energy in the UK and has already contributed to billions in savings for UK households. But England continues to miss out on tapping this valuable resource, while Scotland and the rest of Europe add large amounts of wind capacity every year.” –  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/15/zero-plans-for-public-onshore-windfarms-submitted-last-year-in-england" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chaitanya Kumar, head of environment and green transition, New Economics Foundation thinktank</a> 
While the government’s micro-adjustments in policy have evidently had little effect, we were still waiting for the results of the government’s consultation into community benefit, launched in May 2023 as part of what was – at the time – dubbed “green day”. Now published, it sought “views on improvements that could be made to the existing system of community engagement and community benefits for onshore wind in England”, with 76 responses from a variety of stakeholders, including Thrive.  
<h3>What are the results of the government&#8217;s consultation? </h3>
Following the consultation, the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/developing-local-partnerships-for-onshore-wind-in-england" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government has confirmed that it intends to</a>:  
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Formally embed best practice principles of community engagement into official planning guidance. </li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Work with the onshore wind industry and other stakeholders to update the Community Benefits Protocol for Onshore Wind in England. </li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Take ownership of the Community Benefits Protocol and publish it as official guidance on GOV.UK, providing the whole of the onshore wind industry with clear expectations on community benefits and giving greater certainty to communities. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Provide supporting information and case studies on community benefits to help upskill local communities and streamline the community benefits process, including setting out the instances in which developers could provide additional support to communities. </li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Develop a mechanism for the onshore wind industry to formally sign-up and endorse the updated Protocol, which will provide greater trust and transparency for communities. </li>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Consider establishing a public community benefits register that can capture details of community benefit packages, to allow communities to compare offers and drive best practice. </li>
</ul>
We absolutely agree that onshore wind projects should benefit local communities and will continue to work with community energy groups looking to make their projects a reality. However, the government needs to understand that communities will not get to reap any benefits at all if projects never make it into existence. The fact that there were no planning applications in 2023 is proof that developers are still struggling to justify the high cost of navigating the planning process, without clarity on the likelihood of success. We believe that significant reform is still needed if we are to harness wind power to its full potential. 
What we have, and will continue calling for, is for onshore wind to be treated in the same way as other infrastructure projects, as well as the removal of footnote 54 (which sets out the conditions that have to be met for development to be considered &#8216;acceptable) from the National Planning Policy Framework.

While onshore wind delivered almost a third of the UK’s electricity supply last year, England is still failing to harness its true power – despite government ‘reform’.

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