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Half year operating profits including investments were £7.4 million on a turnover of £14.6 million, with shareholders receiving a final dividend of 12p per share for 2023, which was paid in July this year. Please note, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
The increase in turnover is the result of raised electricity prices and the addition of the Feeder Road battery to our portfolio, which has now been operational since December 2023.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-7434 size-large" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-13-683x1024.png" alt="" width="683" height="1024" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-13-683x1024.png 683w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-13-200x300.png 200w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-13-768x1152.png 768w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-13-1024x1536.png 1024w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-13-1366x2048.png 1366w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" />
Funding our growth ambitions
We were pleased to announce a new joint venture with TopCashback Sustainability Ltd that will unlock up to £40 million in additional capital. Deployed collaboratively alongside Thrive’s own capital over four years, this partnership will help us contribute to the next phase of the UK’s transition and supports our own ambitious growth strategy. We are  finalising debt arrangements which will inject a further £17 million of funding into the business and, to help us with our goal of doubling our generation capacity within the next five years, we’re also looking to raise capital in early 2025.
The Thrive PLC bond was repaid in March as planned after the conclusion of its seven-year term. The bond offer, which was the first to be available as an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA), helped fund new projects including a milestone community wind project in Cumbria in 2017.
New diverse projects
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-7435 size-large" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-14-683x1024.png" alt="" width="683" height="1024" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-14-683x1024.png 683w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-14-200x300.png 200w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-14-768x1152.png 768w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-14-1024x1536.png 1024w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Updated_ThriveHalfYear_Infographics_2024-14-1366x2048.png 1366w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" />
We continue to deploy capital into projects that are consistent with our long-term growth strategy, focusing on further diversifying the pipeline so that we can grow our impact and resilience.
So far this year, we have secured a 25-year life extension of our 1MW Beochlich hydro project in the Scottish Highlands and had planning consent granted for an extension of our Drumduff wind farm, which we co-own with local partner GreenPower. The extension will add three turbines with an expected generation capacity of 12-15MW, bringing the overall Drumduff wind farm to six turbines and potentially tripling the combined onsite generation capacity.
We made a £1 million investment in two community owned wind turbines in Gloucestershire and are providing Eden Sustainable with up to £75 million in funding to accelerate the roll out of private wire solar PPA projects for schools, businesses, and other organisations across the UK.
Good progress has been made with construction of the ATTIX CIC wind turbine in Kilbirnie, as well as two ground mount solar projects as part of our partnership with Ethical Power. With generation expected to start in early 2025, significant progress has also been made at the UK’s first deep geothermal production plant in Cornwall, with the turbine that will convert geothermal heat into renewable electricity now successfully installed.
Supporting communities 
The final projects from round seven of our voluntary Community Benefit Programme, which provides energy efficiency grants to important shared buildings close to our sites, have now been completed. Nominations for round eight have just closed, with £30,000 in grants to be allocated for local energy saving initiatives across the UK.
We’ve also supported a number of community focused initiatives, including the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)’s Green Match Fund, which aims to provide more communities with the tools and resources they need to create sustainable, resilient places to live – from improving the energy efficiency of houses and community buildings to preserving natural spaces and setting up social enterprises for community energy. Thrive pledged £5,000 match funding to the appeal, with the final total standing at over £16,000.
It has been great to meet more of our communities in the first half of the year, recently arranging for a local nursery school to visit our Feeder Road battery project in Bristol. The event gave them an opportunity to learn about renewable energy, as well as take part in some themed arts and crafts and nature spotting.
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-7162 size-large" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/4-1024x694.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="694" />

New funding secured and good progress on wind, solar and hydro assets

Half year results 2024: 10% increase in generation and strong operating profits

Featured

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

dun-sunset-credit-scott-maclean

dun sunset - credit scott maclean

We ask influential climate campaigners for their thoughts on one of the industry’s most pressing issues.     

What three changes do we need to make to achieve a just energy transition by 2030?

Many of these community spaces act as warm refuges for local people to connect and access support services but they are often cold and expensive to heat. Thrive’s funding will help keep these spaces warm, whilst reducing their carbon footprint and energy bills.

As part of the application process, applicants were asked to complete a full energy survey of the shared building using guidance provided by CSE to identify potential improvements and calculate carbon and cost savings.  
Nine community centres across the UK have been awarded funding: 
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Trinity Arts Centre near Avonmouth wind farm, Bristol </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">58th Fife (Glenrothes) Scout Group near Dunfermline wind project, Fife </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Grange Methodist Church near Caton Moor wind farm, Lancashire </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">St Werburghs City Farm near Avonmouth wind farm, Bristol </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Dunfermline St Columba&#8217;s Church of Scotland near Dunfermline wind project, Fife  </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Tivetshall Village Hall near Eye wind turbine, Norfolk </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">Seething and Mundham Village Hall near Ness Point wind turbine, Norfolk </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">Satterwaite Parish Room near Haverigg wind turbine, Cumbria </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1">Radio City Association near Kilbirnie wind turbine, Ayrshire </li>
</ul>
The grants will enable these community organisations to make crucial energy efficiency improvements to their buildings ahead of winter, such as roof, window and wall insulation, double glazing and LED lighting.  
Since we first started the programme in 2016, we have awarded 70 grants to 58 buildings, totalling over £225,000 nationally. As of 2024, the energy efficiency improvements funded by Thrive are saving an estimated 94 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

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6352HaltonCentre

In round eight of our Community Benefit Programme, we’re helping nine community centres stay warm this winter.  

Thrive awards £33,000 in energy efficiency grants to community hubs across the UK

According to the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, a “just transition seeks to centre the interests of those that are most affected by the low-carbon transition, including workers, vulnerable communities, suppliers of goods and services, specifically small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and consumers.”  
We truly believe in the need for climate action to be fair and inclusive and have been balancing the needs of people with those of the planet for 30 years. Here are just some of the ways Thrive is working to ensure we achieve a just energy transition in the UK. 
Helping ordinary people to take a stake in the transition 
We believe in the power of together. A world where everyone can be part of the clean energy generation. Putting money to work building new sustainable energy projects, we empower people to take action to address the climate emergency. To help us directly fund and build new clean energy projects, we raise the majority of our capital through crowdfunding – making the UK energy transition more accessible by allowing large numbers of people to be part of the solution.  
Facilitating community ownership 
Recognising the appetite of local communities to build and own their own renewable projects, we created our award-winning community energy funding bridge in 2017 to provide funding certainty and expertise. The first project we facilitated was at Mean Moor in Cumbria, enabling the local community group to purchase the 6.9 MW wind farm, which was repaid in 2019. It meant that Mean Moor became the first commercial scale wind farm in the country to transfer to 100% community ownership.  
Since then, we’ve invested over £21 million into six community-led wind and solar projects including England’s largest onshore wind project based in our home city of Bristol. The Ambition Community Energy turbine provides a deprived community with a source of revenue, while preparing local people to take their place in the changing green economy through community-based advice, support and upskilling. 
Supporting businesses to decarbonise  
We help businesses to decarbonise by funding direct wire renewable projects e.g. installing a wind turbine or solar array on their commercial premises. Providing them with a direct supply of clean power, we empower businesses to take their place in the UK’s energy transition, while cutting costs and reducing the carbon consumption of their operations.  
We first invested in direct wire back in 2010, building projects including a 5MW wind farm on the Airfield Industrial Estate in Mid-Suffolk, which to this day provides clean electricity to a big local employer. As well as helping the company to better manage its energy costs, the project also makes an annual contribution to Mid-Suffolk District Council which is then distributed to worthwhile community initiatives. Fast forward 14 years and we’ve invested in three direct wire wind projects, as well as a portfolio of solar rooftops for schools and businesses across the UK. 
Working collaboratively as a force for good 
We believe in looking beyond profit, putting as much emphasis on environmental and social impact as we do on financial. We are a multi award-winning certified B Corp and member of Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership, Better Business Act and the SME Climate Hub, collaborating to improve business ethics and accountability.  
We recognise that as human beings we will not always get it right, but we are transparent about the challenges we face, actions we take and how decisions are made. We will continue learning, improving and working together with like-minded businesses and organisations to serve our communities and bring about positive change.

Newsletter CTA

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Chris Watt Photography_427

As we celebrate 30 years generating clean energy, we share how we’re helping to accelerate a just transition so that no one is left behind in the move to a green economy.   

Vision for the future: Facilitating a just transition

Prioritising people and planet, we’ve invested in wind, solar and hydro, plus breakthrough projects like the UK’s first geothermal power plant and commercial scale tidal generation. We’ve empowered communities to take control of their energy and helped fund England’s largest onshore wind turbine that’s 100% community owned. Plus, helped businesses across the UK to decarbonise through on-site wind and solar. In total, the portfolio has generated over 2 million MWh of clean electricity and avoided the emission of more than 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Having been founded as one of the UK’s first mission driven businesses in 1994, 30 years later we’re proud to be in the top 3% of all UK B Corps for our ongoing commitment to environmental and social justice.
Thank you to everyone who’s worked with us to tackle the climate emergency together. We look forward to the next 30 years, collaborating with partners, friends and individuals to create a cleaner, fairer world for future generations.

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IMG_0153

Since building some of the UK’s first wind turbines in the 90s, we’ve helped get a range of wind, solar and hydro projects off the ground, working together to build a cleaner, fairer world for generations to come. 

It’s our birthday! 30 years Thriving

Before heading to site, local people could meet the Thrive team and get to know the 30-year history of the project at the nearby Victoria Institute, where there were lots of family activities including face painting, crafts and more.
The day before, we visited local schools in Caton to deliver an interactive learning session all about renewable energy, before heading onto site for the children to see the wind turbines in person &#8211; bringing what they had just learnt to life.

We’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who came to our open day and all the local organisations involved in making the day a success, with special thanks to the Victoria Institute and Caton WI for their involvement. Below are just some of the brilliant moments captured from the event.

Member of Thrive team showing visitors round the Caton Moor site

Local residents at The Victoria Institute

Member of Thrive team engaging local child in wind-themed arts and crafts

Two visitors with Caton Moor wind turbines in the background

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Chris Watt Photography_318

We invited local school children and residents to see up close how a wind farm helps power our everyday lives. 

Bringing wind power to life at Caton Moor open day

Abergorki was one of 21 onshore wind projects to secure a Contract for Difference in Auction Round 6 (AR6) of the UK Government’s main mechanism for providing price stability to low carbon electricity generation.  
The site lies on Mynydd Maerdy, above the Rhondda Valleys, and is located within an area of significant wind farm development with both operational and consented wind farms in close proximity.

The Abergorki wind project was originally owned by developer, REG Power Management (RPM), and was granted planning permission by the local council in July 2015.

*Based on an annual generation of 40GWh 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 href="https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained">https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained</a>

thrive-team-member-close-to-proposed-abergorki-wind-farm-site-in-south-wales

Thrive team member close to proposed Abergorki wind farm site in South Wales

Thrive has acquired the rights to build Abergorki wind farm in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales.  

We’re coming back to Wales! Thrive has acquired the development rights to CfD-backed Abergorki wind farm

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

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

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Thrive renewables open day in Avonmouth. September 2022.

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

Discover how a wind farm works - free family open day

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

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

thrive-renewables

Thrive Renewables

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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UD piece LI, TW, FB

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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