Earlier in the year, Thrive Renewables sold two operational wind farms, releasing £11 million to invest in building new renewable energy infrastructure projects. When it is built, Chapelton wind farm, which will have a capacity of around 2.7MW, will operate without government support in the form of subsidy.
Matthew Clayton, Managing Director at Thrive Renewables, said:
“Earlier this year, when we sold two wind farms, we made a commitment that we would invest in new renewables projects which can operate successfully without the need for government support. Chapelton is the first of these projects to be announced, putting us at the forefront of developing the new generation of subsidy-free onshore renewables.”
The company plans for electricity generated at the site to be supplied both directly to a local business and the electricity grid. Thrive Renewables has a track record of innovation in renewable energy project development, including ‘private wire’ projects, designed to enable local businesses to use power directly from a wind farm. This provides long-term, stable energy prices for the business and price certainty for the wind farm operator, protecting both parties from the volatility of the energy market.
Matthew Clayton continues:
“We believe the ‘private wire’ model, where electricity generated from small and medium sized wind farms like Chapelton is supplied directly to local businesses, is one of the ways that we can ensure investment in renewable infrastructure continues now government support has been removed. We look forward to proving this new business model when the site is built and contributing to the UK’s net zero carbon emissions targets.”
When Chapelton wind farm is built, the local community will be able to apply for Thrive Renewables Community Benefit Programme, which offers grants to improve energy efficiency in community buildings like village halls, making them warmer, more comfortable and cheaper to run.
