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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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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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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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Thrive renewables open day in Avonmouth. September 2022.

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

That’s why we’re thrilled to be teaming up with community energy group, Bristol Energy Cooperative, to give local residents the opportunity to own a share in our 20 MW battery located on Feeder Road in Bristol. This is the first time in the UK that an owner has offered the local community an opportunity for shared ownership of a standalone commercial battery project.  
The battery is currently being commissioned and when it’s live will have the capacity to store and deliver 1.5 hours or 30MWh of electricity to the national and local grid. Not only will the project provide crucial flexibility and balancing services, but the agreement with BEC means that local causes will be able to benefit from a share of any revenues generated.

We’ve invested a total of £29 million in clean energy projects across Bristol, funding more than a third of the city’s renewable electricity generation and storage capacity (37%)*. This includes our 8.2MW wind farm in Avonmouth and the £4 million loan we provided to Ambition Community Energy (ACE) to fund the construction of England’s largest community-owned onshore wind turbine.  
The local community have been heavily involved since the start of the project. In 2020, the site was originally signposted for a diesel-fuelled STOR plant however, thanks to a successful planning appeal from a group of residents in St Phillip’s Marsh, the project was shelved. <a href="https://rade-bristol.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Residents Against Dirty Energy’ (RADE)</a> is now helping to support groups facing similar issues elsewhere. 
With construction now complete, our team has also developed a landscape plan for Feeder Road that will help to protect and enhance the biodiversity of the site. We’ve focused on providing the resident wildlife with more places to nest and shelter. This includes installing 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. The biodiversity improvements at the site will amount to a total investment of £100,000.

*Based on non-combustion renewables including wind, solar and battery storage, excluding anaerobic digesters and energy from waste. 
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract</a>

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Bristol Energy Cooperative will be able to make a co-investment of up to 20%.

Powering our communities: Thrive becomes the first commercial battery owner to offer shared ownership to local community group

The increase was, in part, due to higher levels of wind in 2022, with our 13 onshore wind projects responsible for producing over 90% of total generation for the year.
In fact, National Grid ESO reported that wind farms contributed <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/britain-produced-record-amount-wind-power-2022-national-grid-2023-01-06/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a record 26.8% of the country’s electricity in 2022</a>, with a new milestone for wind generation set on 30 December, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/03/uk-sets-new-record-for-turbine-power-generation-after-period-of-low-wind" target="_blank" rel="noopener">when 20.91 GW were produced by the UK’s fleet of onshore and offshore turbines</a>. The ESO also said a new record was set for the share of electricity on the grid coming from zero-carbon sources, which supplied 87.2% of total power on the same date.
As a result of strong generation from wind and solar, the UK also saw substantial carbon emissions reductions in 2022, with <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-emissions-fall-3-4-in-2022-as-coal-use-drops-to-lowest-level-since-1757/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new analysis from Carbon Brief</a> finding that greenhouse gas emissions fell by 3.4% in total.

According to Regen and National Grid ESO’s study ‘A Day in the Life’, we need 35 GW of onshore wind by 2035 to meet net zero.  The government’s recent consultation, which was seeking viewpoints on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, will determine the future of onshore wind in England, after a 2015 amendment made it almost impossible to build new projects. By removing the amendment and returning to the levels of deployment that were being achieved prior to 2015, the UK would be able to deliver cheaper bills for consumers, improve its energy independence, support new jobs and, ultimately, achieve net zero.
It was positive to see the government addressing repowering as part of the consultation and we look forward to receiving further clarification on this. Replacing England&#8217;s aging wind turbines with more efficient models will help to produce more renewable electricity, which can then be used to complement new wind projects in delivering the capacity required for net zero. It is essential in the context of the global climate emergency and the UK’s decarbonisation efforts that we do not lose any of our existing onshore fleet.
In 2006, we successfully replaced 10 turbines with just 8 more modern and efficient machines at our Caton Moor wind farm in Lancashire. With two fewer turbines, and only a small increase in the height of each, output from the site was increased seven-fold to 47 million kWh of electricity per annum.

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We generated enough renewable electricity to power all the homes in a town the size of Halifax.

Blown away: Generation levels up significantly following record-breaking year for wind power

The new funding will be used to complete construction of the project by 2024. The site operator – Geothermal Engineering Limited – predicts United Downs will deliver 2Mwe of baseload electricity once operational, and up to 10MWth of zero carbon heat, which will be used by a large housing estate at Langarth, developed by Cornwall Council.
£15 million has been raised in total, with an additional £12 million has been investment from Kerogen, a private equity fund manager specialising in international energy.

Thrive made the first commercial investment of £3 million into United Downs in January 2020 to support final testing and preparation of wells at the site, as well as £0.47 million into Geogen in 2021 to fund planning applications for additional potential geothermal sites in the UK. Two of these sites – Penhallow and Manhay – have now received planning permission.

The UK has significant geothermal resources which, if harnessed, can play an important role in both the UK’s energy security and its transition to net zero. Geothermal technology offers a homegrown, low carbon and sustainable form of energy. Crucially, this technology is capable of generating 24/7 baseload power, enabling the UK to diversify its energy market whilst providing large scale and predictable capacity.
It also holds significant potential for local, low-carbon lithium production – with GEL finding a high concentration of lithium in the geothermal fluids at United Downs – which could then be used to support the roll out of electric cars in the UK.

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After providing the first commercial funding for the United Downs Geothermal project in 2020, we’ve made an additional investment to complete construction at the site.

Thrive makes further £3 million investment to get the UK's first deep geothermal plant into operation

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Embrace Equity’, with an aim to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren&#8217;t enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.
To mark the occasion, we caught up with our chair, Jo Butlin, who has had an impressive 25-year career leading and operating energy businesses across the UK, with roles including E.ON UK, SmartestEnergy and Utilyx. In 2017, she also set up her own consulting company, EnergyBridge Limited, to help businesses and investors navigate the evolving energy market.
Empowering other women is something Jo is incredibly passionate about, which is why she co-founded the Women&#8217;s Utilities Network (WUN), a not-for-profit which supports women working in the utilities industries to connect, develop and encourage one another.
Watch the video below to hear Jo’s thoughts on how the energy industry can become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive and her tips for other women looking to break the ‘glass ceiling’ in industries which have been traditionally dominated by men.

International Women's Day 2023

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We hear from Jo about her career in the energy industry, how she thinks it can improve and prioritise diversity and her advice for others looking to progress in traditionally male dominated sectors.

Be brave, be authentic, be prepared to move: Our chair, Jo Butlin, shares her thoughts on leadership for International Women's Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thrive Renewables announces major overhaul at Ness Point wind turbine

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

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

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