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kessingland

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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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The ban, first introduced by former PM David Cameron in 2015, meant an objection from just one person could stop a new onshore wind turbine from being built in England. It also meant that any new development had to be constructed in an area identified as suitable for onshore wind as part of the council’s local plan (footnote 54 in the National Planning Policy Framework) – a requirement which is not applied to any other infrastructure project.  
But with many UK households feeling the effects of the ongoing energy and cost of living crises, the government has faced increasing pressure to ease these planning restrictions so that the country can start benefitting from cheaper, cleaner power. 
<h3>What exactly has the government said? </h3>
The government confirmed that it is streamlining planning permission for new onshore wind farms with immediate effect, claiming that the changes will allow ‘local areas [to] have a greater say in how onshore wind projects should be considered, ultimately resulting in electricity bill savings and increased national energy security’. 
According to the government website, ‘The measures include broadening the ways that suitable locations can be identified, including by communities, and speeding up the process of allocating sites by giving alternatives to the local plan process. This will ensure the whole community has a say, not just a small number of objectors – paving the way for more onshore wind projects to come online where they have community support.’

One issue with the government’s announcement is the continued lack of clarity around ‘community support’ and how they will be expected to demonstrate this. We have a robust planning process in place for all other infrastructure projects, whether it be housing, roads or other renewable energy technologies, that allow for and take into account community feedback. So why, for onshore wind, are we asking communities to proactively evidence that they’re in support of a project?  
The deviation in requirements suggests that there’s a presumption that the general public are against onshore wind. This is simply not the case – according to the government’s own figures, just 12% oppose a wind farm in their own community. 
<h3>What does it mean moving forward? </h3>
While we await a secondary announcement in the Autumn, it looks like these changes will, at best, make it slightly less difficult to build new onshore windfarms in England. 
We know that onshore wind can generate cleaner, cheaper and homegrown electricity that helps keep household bills down, but the government is failing to treat it like any other infrastructure project. What we really want to see is a level playing field and a removal of footnote 54 from the National Planning Policy Framework.  
The Ambition Community Energy (ACE) turbine in Bristol is proof that onshore wind is not only popular with communities but can have tangible economic and social benefits too. Profits from electricity sales from the 4.2 MW turbine will be reinvested back into the Lawrence Weston community, while the ACE team are also planning to set up an Energy Learning Zone, which will give local residents the opportunity to upskill and learn about green careers. 
As proud funders of the ACE turbine, the only onshore wind farm to be built in England so far this year, we will continue working with people and businesses to make projects happen and promote the benefits of local generation. 
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Wind turbine NO LOGO

After a campaign from backbench MPs, the government announced that it is ‘loosening’ planning restrictions on onshore wind in England.

Has the UK really lifted the de facto ban on onshore wind in England?

After 22 years, you can imagine how productive a life these blades have had – generating over 88 GWh of clean electricity and travelling just over eight million miles in total. That’s the equivalent to making a quarter of a million return journeys from Thrive’s office in Bristol to Sigurd in an electric vehicle!
The blades now need replacing in order to extend the operational life of Sigurd. In some instances, it’s possible to reuse blades when a whole turbine is decommissioned, which is the exercise we undertook when repowering our Caton Moor wind farm in Lancashire. However, when blades are calculated to reach the end of their life, reuse isn’t possible. This raises the question; how can we dispose of the blades in the most sustainable way?
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Although the blades from Sigurd can’t be reused for renewable energy generation, they can be repurposed. With the new rotor now fitted at Sigurd and the old blades taken off, we’re pleased to be working with <a href="https://www.reblade.co.uk/about-us">ReBlade</a> to repurpose as much of the blades as possible. They will be turned into useful items for businesses, councils and communities, which could include sustainable bike shelters, EV charging stations, or even bespoke dining tables.

Made primarily from fiberglass and other composite materials, wind turbine blades are difficult to recycle. ReBlade is the first UK company to decommission turbine blades without the use of landfill, pioneering innovative approaches to blade handling that enable circular end-destinations for blade waste.

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Sigurd 1

The 22-year-old turbine blades that have reached end-of-life will be repurposed into furniture for councils, communities and businesses.

Turbines to tabletops - We're working with Reblade to reduce waste at our Sigurd wind farm

In <a href="https://www.positive.news/society/how-uk-businesses-can-ramp-up-progress-on-the-sdgs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our latest article with Positive News UK,</a> you can find out how the UK is progressing in building a fair and sustainable future, and how businesses can make a tangible difference to people and planet. You can also find out more about how Thrive’s work supports the UN SDGs via our <a href="https://www.thriverenewables.co.uk/thriverenewablesimpactreport.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Impact Report here</a>.
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Rooftop solar TR Olympus Power

For Global Goals Week, we discuss the role of businesses in protecting the planet and tackling poverty in support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Positive News UK: How can UK businesses supercharge progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

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Half year operating profits were £5.9 million on a turnover of £12.3 million, with shareholders receiving a final dividend of 12p per share for 2022, which was paid in July.
With many people still feeling the consequences of the UK’s reliance on dirty, expensive fossil fuels, we’re continuing to fund and build new clean energy projects that not only contribute to the country’s decarbonisation goals but deliver cleaner, cheaper power for people today.
<h3>Strong performance across the portfolio</h3>
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We were pleased to report the successful construction of England’s largest onshore wind turbine during the first half of the year, which we helped fund with a £4 million investment. The 4.2 MW turbine in Bristol is the only onshore wind turbine to be built this year in England and is now generating clean electricity, with profits being reinvested back into the local community.
In addition, we’re proud to say that we’re the first commercial battery owner in the UK to offer a local community group an opportunity for shared ownership of a standalone battery storage project. Bristol Energy Cooperative (BEC) will be able to make a co-investment of up to 20% in our 20 MW battery project on Feeder Road in Bristol. The addition of this project alongside the ACE turbine and our existing 8.2 MW Avonmouth wind farm means that we’ve now funded more than a third of Bristol’s total renewable electricity generation and storage capacity (37%).
<h3>Growing pipeline of clean energy projects </h3>
Entering the second half of the year in a strong position, we have a range of new projects in the pipeline to continue growing our portfolio of wind, solar, geothermal, hydro and battery projects. This includes our biggest single investment to date, which has seen us provide a £20 million loan to Ethical Power to help fund 192 MW of new solar PV and battery storage projects across the UK.
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[1] Refers to Thrive’s impact portfolio – total electricity generation of the portfolio adjusted for Thrive’s proportion of ownership, 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 (1,755 kWh for a half year) <a href="https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained. </a>

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THRIVE OxfordVisit-24

Significant progress with diversification strategy, including our biggest single investment to date.

Strong performance from the portfolio with an increase in operating profits - half year results 2023

This includes plans to build two 25 MW battery storage sites and four solar projects (142 MW in total) across the UK over the next three to five years. The completion of these projects will see the portfolio of assets that we’ve funded and/or built more than double in size – from 145 MW to 337 MW.
Through various partnerships, Ethical Power owns solar and battery energy storage projects at different stages of development and construction, including two extensive solar and BESS projects. Ethical Power is the principal EPC contractor on these projects, which enables optimal design, streamlined delivery and the most effective use of the resources from development to operation.

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Ethical Power project

In our biggest single investment to date, we’ve provided a £20 million loan to Ethical Power to fund their share of a pipeline of projects.

New deal with Ethical Power will help double Thrive's impact as developer constructs 192MW of new solar and battery storage projects

The contract awarded to Exergy will include the design and engineering of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system for converting heat to electricity. As innovators in the global ORC industry, Exergy will use their Radical Outflow Turbine, a highly efficient technology which will produce electricity from the heat of the geothermal fluid. The use of a closed loop cycle will ensure the environmental and visual impact of the system is minimal.  
The site is due to start producing renewable electricity by late 2024 as well as zero carbon heat which could be used to power a nearby housing development at Langarth Garden Village. Once operational, GEL estimates this project will save more than 6,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year compared to fossil fuel power generation.

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UD 10

The United Downs site is due to start producing up to 3MWe of renewable energy by late 2024.

Contract signed for construction of UK's first deep geothermal power plant

According to the report, UK greenhouse gas emissions have fallen 46 per cent from 1990 levels, but we still have a long way to go – especially after former prime minister Boris Johnson’s COP26 commitment to reduce emissions by 68 per cent by 2030. The CCC has stated that, to hit that target, the current rate of annual emissions reductions (outside of the electricity supply sector) would need to quadruple.  
<h3>What else did the report say? </h3>
The CCC includes various recommendations for how the government could get back on track with net zero. In addition to taking the necessary action to regain its green leadership, it included the need to make important changes to planning policy. It says: “Planning policy needs radical reform to support Net Zero. The planning system must have an overarching requirement that all planning decisions must be taken giving full regard to the imperative of Net Zero.” 
To us, this should include significant planning reform for proven technologies that are cheap, clean and we know will deliver – like onshore wind. <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSimEvans/status/1675853160999448578" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recent analysis from Carbon Brief</a> found that the UK’s net gas imports would have been 8% lower in Q1 2023 if onshore wind farms had been built at previous rates, instead of grinding to a halt.
<h3>What&#8217;s going on with onshore wind?  </h3>
In 2015, the government made significant changes to onshore wind planning policy in England, making it almost impossible to build new wind farms and resulting in just a small handful of projects being commissioned in the years that followed. For example, the Ambition Community Energy turbine in Bristol (which Thrive funded the construction of) is the only onshore wind project built so far in England in 2023. In fact, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/28/ukraine-built-more-onshore-wind-turbines-last-year-than-england" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ukraine has built more onshore wind turbine</a><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/28/ukraine-built-more-onshore-wind-turbines-last-year-than-england" target="_blank" rel="noopener">s</a> in the past year than England has.  
With energy prices skyrocketing over the past 18 months, the issues surrounding onshore wind planning policy have been brought to the forefront, with MPs and the industry recognising the role it could have in reducing bills and accelerating the transition. Following various campaigns, the government launched a technical consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2022, closing in March 2023. While we were hoping for clarification as part of the government’s “green day” announcements, it instead announced that it would be consulting on how to improve community engagement in relation to building new onshore wind sites.  
We have now formally responded to the consultation and expressed our concerns that changing policy pertaining to community engagement will have minimal impact without a change to the current planning rules in England. We have therefore urged the government in both consultations to remove footnote 54 of the National Planning Policy Framework so onshore wind is treated the same as other infrastructure projects in planning decisions. 
The consultation was based on the premise that developers should have to proactively demonstrate local support – but according to the government’s own figures, only 12% oppose a wind farm in their community. Defining in policy what local support is will be challenging, expensive, subjective and, based on polling, unnecessary. What we need to see is a level playing field in planning policy where onshore wind is treated exactly the same as other local developments like retail, housing or industrial premises.  
<h3>How are we moving forwards? </h3>
We already have the technology we need to decarbonise electricity generation – it’s just about making the most of it. <a href="https://www.businessgreen.com/news-analysis/4119769/national-grid-eso-action-uk-track-net-zero-2046" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to National Grid ESO’s recent Future Energy Scenarios assessment</a>, the UK could achieve net zero by 2050, or even 2046, if fresh policy measures are adopted to accelerate the roll out of these technologies.  
Although a wakeup call for the government, the CCC’s report also makes it clear that the UK can regain its climate leadership if the right action is taken. This includes continued investment into clean technologies, which is currently reaching record levels. A <a href="https://about.bnef.com/blog/global-low-carbon-energy-technology-investment-surges-past-1-trillion-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report from BloombergNEF</a> found that global investment in the energy transition totalled $1.1 trillion in 2022 – a huge increase on the year before – and renewables received a new record of $495 billion in investment, up 17% on 2021. 
We’re proud to have funded the construction of England’s only new onshore wind turbine in 2023 so far, and we’re investing in other critical technologies like solar, battery storage and renewable heat. This will not only support the UK’s transition to net zero but ensure people can enjoy the benefits of clean energy – including cheaper bills – in the years to come.

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Following a recent report from the Climate Change Committee, we give our thoughts on the state of the energy transition in the UK, including the government’s consultation into ‘community engagement’ around onshore wind.

The UK has lost its net zero leadership - So why are we still stalling on proven technologies like onshore wind?

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Now aptly named the ‘UK Green Business Awards’, several new categories have been introduced to celebrate the changing face of British business. Hosted in the Leonardo Royal Hotel in St Paul’s, London, opening speeches from BusinessGreen editor-in-chief, James Murray, and Shadow Climate Change and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband, were followed by announcement of the winners and highly commended businesses… 
And we’re extremely proud to confirm that we won – and against some very tough competition! Also shortlisted in our category were Coutts, EQ Investors, Foresight Group, Gresham House BSIF strategy, Tribe Impact Capital, Triodos Investment Management, WHEB Asset Management and Church Commissioners for England. Big congratulations to these brilliant businesses for all their work building a fairer and more sustainable future for the generations to come, and to BusinessGreen for an inspirational evening!
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For more information on the awards and the lucky winners on the night, read <a href="https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4119130/uk-green-business-awards-winners-announced">BusinessGreen’s article here.</a>  
 
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MP Green Business Awards

We joined over 400 people in London to celebrate progress within the green economy.

Taking home the gold at the inaugural UK Green Business Awards

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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THRIVE FRportraits-77

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

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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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.

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