Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device by websites that you visit. If you click accept, we will use cookies that track your activity across other websites, help improve your browsing experience and serve you personalised content.
If you click decline, we will only use essential cookies that are required for our website to work properly. For more information or to change your preferences, please read our Cookie policy <a href="/cookie-policy/">cookie policy</a>.

Find out more

Link

Investors

Dev Links

Buy and sell shares

Shareholders

Bonds

Overview

2025 half year report

2024 annual report

Projects

Quick Links

From South Cornwall to Orkney, from onshore wind and solar to geothermal, our diverse portfolio of clean energy projects spans the whole of the UK.

Operational

Under construction

Legacy

Impact

As one of the UK’s highest scoring B Corps, we are committed to using our business as a force for good.

Our approach

Community support

30 years Thriving

Project funding

Thrive brings together flexible funding models, proven technologies, and problem-solving people to turn your clean energy project into a reality.

Funding for

Case studies

About

Thrive exists to tackle the climate emergency, working with investors, developers, businesses and communities to fund, build and operate clean energy projects since 1994.

About us

Governance

View all

News

Find out more about our new projects, events and industry insight. 

News 

Useful Documents

News and insight

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. <a href="/risk-summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Take 2 mins to learn more</a>.

Sign up to our newsletter to be one of the first to hear about new projects, events and industry insight. Your data will be processed in line with Thrive’s privacy policy, available <a href="/privacy-policy/">here</a>.

Newsletter - thank you

Be part of the clean energy movement

Sign up to our newsletter to be one of the first to hear about new projects, events and industry insight. Your data will be processed in line with Thrive’s privacy policy, available <a href="/privacy-policy/">here</a>.

kessingland-2

kessingland

Latest news

The capital raised will help fund two new wind farms in Scotland and Wales, and provide funding to enable communities to build and own their own local projects.
<a href="https://www.triodoscrowdfunding.co.uk/invest/thrive-renewables-plc-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find out more and invest</a>
You will need to register for Triodos Bank’s crowdfunding platform to access the offer document.
Thrive is one of the UK’s top crowdfunded companies, raising £63 million so far which we have used to fund 45 wind, solar and hydro projects across the UK. Backed by a community of over 6,000 shareholders, we enable individual and impact-driven institutional investors to put their money to work to make a difference and generate a fair return. This new bond offer will allow investors looking for both a financial and social return to back new renewable energy projects that help tackle the climate emergency and support local communities.
The five year bond has a minimum investment of £25, paying 5.5% gross interest per year, and is eligible to be held in the Triodos Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA), that allows interest to be received tax-free. Interest payments and repayment of capital are not guaranteed. Like all ISAs, the Innovative Finance ISA is subject to eligibility criteria and tax treatment depends on individual circumstances. ISA eligibility does not guarantee returns or protect consumers from losing their money.
In 2023 we announced our ambition to double generation capacity within five years, and we are already developing the projects we need to achieve this. Funds raised from the bond will help construct our largest project yet – a 14 turbine, 57MW onshore wind farm in the Scottish Borders. Once operational, the project will be capable of generating up to 149,400 MWh of clean electricity per year, the equivalent of powering around 45,000 average UK homes, and delivering 65,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions reductions annually.
The bond will also help to fund the development of Abergorki wind farm in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The three-turbine project is expected to begin operating in 2027 and will be capable of generating up to 40,000 MWh of clean electricity per year, the equivalent of powering over 12,400 average Welsh homes.

In 2016 Thrive raised £13 million through two bond offers – one of which was the UK’s first bond offer to be made available through an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA). Projects funded by the offers are still generating clean electricity today, with both bonds repaid as planned in 2021 and 2024.
Now open, our first bond offer since 2016 will help us build new wind farms that will help sustainably power the equivalent of over 57,000 more homes.

<ul>
<li>Target amount: £5 million as part of a wider £10 million raise</li>
<li>Term: Five years with 5.5% gross interest, paid annually in arrears. Payment of interest and repayment of capital are not guaranteed.</li>
<li>Minimum investment: £25</li>
<li>Closing date: 16 April 2026, unless fully subscribed earlier or the offer is extended</li>
<li>Offer document: <a href="https://www.triodoscrowdfunding.co.uk/invest/thrive-renewables-plc-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">triodoscrowdfunding.co.uk</a> (applications only via platform)</li>
<li>Eligible to held in a Triodos Innovative Finance ISA, which means that interest would be paid gross. Like all ISAs, the Innovative Finance ISA is subject to eligibility criteria and tax treatment depends on individual circumstances. ISA eligibility does not guarantee returns or protect consumers from losing their money.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.triodoscrowdfunding.co.uk/invest/thrive-renewables-plc-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find out more and invest</a>

Key terms of the bond

You should read the offer document in full—including the risks section—before deciding whether to invest. Investing in the bond is not the same as depositing money in a bank account as your capital is at risk and you may not get back the full amount that you invested. An investment in the bond is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. If you are unsure as to the suitability of the investment, you should contact an independent financial advisor. 
If you have any questions or need further information, please send a secure message through the Triodos Bank crowdfunding platform once you’ve registered or ring Triodos Bank on 0330 355 0355.
This financial promotion was approved on 10 February 2026 by Triodos Bank UK Limited, registered in England and Wales with no. 11379025. Registered Office: Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AS, United Kingdom. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 817008.

chris-watt-photography_324

Chris Watt Photography_324

We’re raising funds to build new clean energy projects and finance more community energy.  

New bond offer open – help us develop and build two new wind farms

Featured

That’s why we’re supporting national energy charity, the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), and its new Share the Warmth appeal – an initiative which will enable its staff to continue offering critical advice and practical and financial support to those struggling to pay their bills and heat their homes this winter.
<a class="js-scroll-done" href="https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/21947#!/DonationDetails" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-anchor="#!/DonationDetails">Click here to donate</a>
&nbsp;
Every day, CSE’s energy advisors talk to people that are scared and in desperate need of help. They tackle the root causes of fuel poverty – cold homes, low incomes and high energy bills – and support thousands of households each year.
With more and more people calling in, CSE’s telephone advice line is experiencing a four-fold increase in demand. The Share the Warmth appeal will support this vital service and donations will be used where they are needed most to help people in fuel poverty.
<a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/research/fuel-poverty-uk/">Data from the University of York</a> has found that more than three-quarters of households in the UK, or 53 million people, will have been pushed into fuel poverty by January 2023. People living in the poorest and coldest regions of the UK will be the worst affected along with those who are already most likely to be struggling with the cost of living.

Newsletter CTA

As soaring gas prices cause millions to face fuel poverty, we’re helping CSE to provide a much-needed lifeline to homes up and down the UK.

We're back CSE’s share the warmth appeal to help people struggling with energy bills

<div>
<div class="m-grid m-grid--content--tight m-grid--content">
<div class="m-grid__inner">
<div class="m-grid__row m-grid__row-- clearfix">
<div class="m-grid__col clearfix m-grid__col--12--tablet">
<div class="cms rte js-cms-done">
It’s safe to say that this year’s show felt more pertinent than ever, especially given the number of households struggling with their energy bills as a result of the UK’s dependence on dirty and expensive fossil fuels. After three days of insight sharing and relationship building, we’ve come away feeling optimistic about what can be achieved if we pull together and prioritise the deployment of new, cost-effective renewable projects. Below we share our key takeaways from the show.
<h3>1. Businesses should investigate on-site renewables to accelerate net zero</h3>
Data from the British Business Bank found that smaller businesses account for half of UK business-driven emissions, the same proportion as larger businesses. At the same time, they’re also less likely to have the capital and skills required to make the scale of changes needed for net zero. In her panel session, our investment director Monika shared her thoughts on how the industry can better support businesses when it comes to reducing their carbon emissions.
This includes installing their own renewable energy project – for example a wind turbine or rooftop solar array – on their commercial premises. Also known as a ‘direct wire’ arrangement, it means that the business can directly benefit from the clean electricity it generates.
What are the advantages to this? As we’re seeing currently, both consumers and businesses can be exposed to drastic changes in the supply and demand for fossil fuels. On-site renewables therefore offer a solution to managing energy costs in an increasingly volatile marketplace, giving businesses the opportunity to secure long-term, consistent energy prices which are typically cheaper than connecting to the grid. With this in mind, we expect to see a surge in the number of businesses looking to develop their own renewable projects as a way to tackle soaring bills at the same as improve their environmental footprint.
<h3>2. We need to invest in the green workforce of the future</h3>
A feeling amongst many attendees was that the renewables industry is facing an unprecedented skills shortage, especially when it comes to recruiting young talent. From engineers and installers through to designers and IT technicians, we must prioritise education and create opportunities so that the next generation feel empowered to take their place in the evolving green economy.
At Thrive, we hold annual open days and encourage communities to come along and find out more about renewable energy, how it’s helping lower household bills and why it’s fundamental to meeting the UK’s net zero ambitions. In September, we saw 500 people descend on our wind farm in Bristol and it was great to speak to some budding engineers of the future about how the turbines work and their role in tackling the climate crisis. We also run an internship programme which aims to give university students useful insight into the renewables industry so that they can go on to thrive in   green careers.
<h3>3. Build and resilient and sustainable supply chains</h3>
There was also a lot of discussion about supply chains and the need for sustainable procurement, including a very insightful panel session led by Chris Hewett from Solar Energy UK. Chris talked about the company’s Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) which it has recently launched with SolarPower Europe. The initiative is being designed to further develop supply chain transparency and strengthen confidence in how, where, and by whom products and solar components are manufactured.
At Thrive, we pay very close attention to our supply chain and collect information and data to improve our decision making and evaluate our suppliers. The global supply chain for solar panels and batteries is a particular focus for us as we continue diversifying our portfolio. We have been working with suppliers and external experts to identify panel manufacturers who, to the best of our knowledge, are not operating in the areas implicated in modern slavery allegations.
We have also commissioned third party experts to review the provenance of rare earth minerals used in the manufacturing of batteries and the human rights practices in their extraction. Our procurement includes environmental, social and governance criteria upon which tenders are evaluated. By incorporating these ethical and environmental criteria into our procurement processes, we hope that suppliers will see the value in improving their practices.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<aside class="m-share m-share--tight no-print">
<div class="m-share__inner"></div>
</aside>

pxl_20221018_130259109-mp

PXL_20221018_130259109.MP

Read our insights from the UK's largest renewable energy exhibition focusing on solar and storage.

We joined over 10,000 people at Solar & Storage Live – And here's what we learnt

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part in our recent share offer. Because of you, we’ve been able to raise £6.8 million to deliver new renewable energy generation and storage projects across the UK.
The offer, which was promoted by Triodos Bank UK via its crowdfunding platform, has now closed after we reached our original £5 million target ahead of deadline. In September, we extended the offer so that more people had the opportunity to participate, with over 1,200 investments made in total.
Now we’re focusing on action and will be using the funding to fuel our next stage of growth, helping to expand our portfolio of clean electricity projects and creating value across the electricity system as we aim to decarbonise by 2035.
As well as funding new onshore wind and commercial solar projects, we intend to increase our battery storage and baseload capacity and the collaborative funding available for community energy groups to build their own renewable energy projects.

The success of the crowdfund follows new survey data – commissioned by Thrive and undertaken by Opinium – which revealed that retail investors are deeply concerned about the climate and energy crisis and want to take matters into their own hands by investing in renewables.
According to the survey, which gathered data from 1,000 UK retail investors alongside 2,000 people from the general population, seven in 10 investors (69%) think we should increase the amount the UK invests in renewable energy.
When it comes to motivation, 8 in 10 investors (81%) say they are concerned about the long-term implications of the energy crisis, with many (57%) wanting to use their investing power to help bring down energy costs for all. As a result, nearly six in 10 investors (57%) have recently, or plan to, increase their investments in renewables. This attitude is shared by the UK population, with two-thirds (66%) wanting investment in renewables to increase.

Investing in the shares of an unlisted company involves risk – including potential for loss of capital – as the value of shares may go down as well as up. The payment of dividends and the target return on equity are not guaranteed.
Thrive shares are transferable but are not listed on any investment exchange, they can be traded through monthly share auctions. It may be difficult to sell shares at a price investors wish to sell them for and the shares may take time to sell.
If you are unsure if any of these investments are right for you, you should contact an Independent Financial Adviser.

thrive_renew_battery_bristol_2022_jim_j_img_2532

thrive_renew_battery_Bristol_2022_JIM_J_IMG_2532

At a time when the shift to renewables is more urgent than ever, we’ll be using the money raised to build some of our pipeline of onshore wind, commercial rooftop solar and battery assets.

We've raised £6.8 million to fund new clean energy projects in the UK

Through our community benefit programme, we’re pleased to be able to support another ten shared buildings – located within 20 miles of one of our clean energy projects – with grants totalling over £30,000. With support from national energy charity, Centre for Sustainable Energy, up to £4,000 has been awarded to each of these community organisations so that they can make sustainability and energy efficiency improvements ahead of winter, including roof, window and wall insulation, double glazing and LED lighting.
With this latest round included, we have awarded 51 grants to 43 buildings since 2016, totalling over £150,000. These improvements save over 75 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
As part of round six, we have awarded grants to:
<ul>
<li>Eastside Community Trust – near our Feeder Road battery project in Bristol</li>
<li>Birsay Community Hall – near our Sigurd wind turbine in Orkney</li>
<li>Shutlanger Hall – near our Wicken battery project outside Milton Keynes</li>
<li>Bridgehouse Community Association – near our wind farm in Drumduff, Scotland</li>
<li>Hawkesbury Hospital Hall – near our Feeder Road battery project in Bristol</li>
<li>Colne Village Hall – near our Ransonmoor wind farm in March, Cambridgeshire</li>
<li>Wrentham Village Hall – near our Ness Point wind turbine in Ipswich</li>
<li>Helmdon Reading Room – near our Wicken battery project outside Milton Keynes</li>
<li>Knowle West Media Centre – near our Feeder Road battery project in Bristol</li>
<li>Strichen Playgroup – near our Clayfords and Auchtygills wind farms in Strichen, Aberdeenshire</li>
</ul>

image-gallery-1

During challenging times, community buildings can offer a warm, safe place for people to come together and socialise. Thrive is offering grants to shared buildings close to our clean energy sites to improve energy efficiency and lower bills.

Helping community buildings become a warm hub this winter

Put on hold due to Covid-19 restrictions, it was brilliant to be able to meet lots of new and engaged faces to our four-turbine site in Avonmouth. Attendees had an opportunity to peep inside one of the 2MW operational turbines on site, as well as enjoy a range of other wind-related activities for the whole family including Explorer Dome’s climate change show, face painting and more. The Centre for Sustainable Energy were also on hand to provide advice on energy efficiency.
Coinciding with the start of Great Big Green Week – a national initiative led by the Climate Coalition to celebrate community action in fighting the climate crisis – we wanted to continue the conversation about climate change and how onshore wind projects are part of the solution. We were thrilled by the enthusiasm shown for the turbines and the number of insightful questions asked – with lots coming from well informed budding engineers of the future!
A massive thank you to everyone that joined us, from our excited guests to the exhibitors who helped make it such a valuable event for the community.
Below are just some of the brilliant moments captured from across the day.

image-carousel-image-1

As part of Great Big Green Week, we invited the wider Bristol community to join us at our Avonmouth wind farm to learn more about onshore wind and its role in tackling the climate emergency.

Meeting budding engineers of the future at our sold out Bristol open day

The project will also see the site’s biodiversity increase by more than 40%, a £40,000 fund for local community-led, sustainable projects created and over £1m spent on services and contracts in the local area.
Thrive has already provided funding to the UK’s first deep geothermal power plant, which is construction at United Downs, near Redruth.
Similarly to United Downs, the second site at Penhallow will be made up of two deep wells. The first will reach approximately 4,500 metres deep and will bring the naturally heated water to the surface, whilst the second well will be around 3,000 metres deep and will be used to return the cooled fluid back under ground after it has been used to produce electricity and heat. Construction works are expected to start next year, with generation estimated to start in 2026 – delivering circa 42,000 MWh of baseload renewable electricity per year, enough to power around 11,000 UK homes and save 700,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, according to GEL.

ud-10-2

UD 10

Planning for Geothermal Engineering Ltd’s second geothermal power plant in Cornwall has been granted, with works expected to start in 2023.

Investing into the next phase in geothermal electricity production

<div class="cms rte js-cms-done">
The new polling, undertaken by Opinium Research, surveyed 1,000 UK retail investors alongside 2,000 people from the general population. The findings show that seven in 10 investors (69%) think we should increase the amount the UK invests in renewable energy, despite the position of the new Prime Minister, who has indicated that she will restrict development in renewables.
Specifically, 65% of retail investors support more solar energy projects in the UK, which rises to 78% of seasoned investors that have been investing for 10 years or more. Meanwhile, 62% support more onshore wind projects (rising to 72% of experienced investors).
<h3>Future thinking investors funding renewables themselves</h3>
8 in 10 investors (81%) say they are concerned about the long-term implications of the energy crisis, with many (57%) wanting to use their investing power to help bring down energy costs for all. Over half (56%) say that, as an investor, they feel a responsibility to use their investments to help the UK achieve its net-zero carbon goals.
Prompted by this desire for positive change in the energy sector, nearly six in 10 investors (57%) have recently, or plan to, increase their investments in renewables. This attitude, in support of investing in renewable energy, is shared by the UK population as a whole, with two-thirds (66%) wanting investment in renewables to increase.
<h3>Thrive&#8217;s crowdfunding campaign reaches £5 million</h3>
Our current share offer provides further proof of public support for investing in renewables. We have now raised more than £5 million from over 1,000 investors to fund new renewable energy generation and storage projects across the UK. We are aiming to raise a total of £7 million. The offer is promoted by Triodos Bank UK through its crowdfunding platform (<a href="https://www.triodoscrowdfunding.co.uk/invest/thrive-renewables-plc-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">find out more here</a>) with a minimum investment of £94 (40 shares). As with all investments, returns are not guaranteed, and investors may not get back all, or any, of their original investment.
</div>
<div class="cms quote js-cms-done"></div>

thrive-renewables

Thrive Renewables

UK retail investors are deeply concerned about the climate and energy crisis and want to take matters into their own hands by investing in renewables to find long-term, sustainable solutions, according to our new research.

Investors back renewables in bid to solve energy and climate crisis as Thrive's share offer reaches £5 million

We are pleased to report a significant increase in generation and associated emissions savings as wind speeds returned to expected levels in the first half of 2022 and new clean energy projects came into operation.
A 38% increase on the same period last year, our clean energy projects generated 73,625 MWh of clean electricity<a class="js-scroll-done" href="/latest-news/news/thrive-s-2022-half-year-results-reveal-increase-in-generation/#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a> – enough to power the equivalent of almost 40,000 average UK homes<a class="js-scroll-done" href="/latest-news/news/thrive-s-2022-half-year-results-reveal-increase-in-generation/#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a> – and delivered emissions reductions equivalent to 32,653 tonnes of CO2 during January to June 2022.
Half year operating profits were £3.4m on a turnover of £8.4m, with shareholders receiving a final dividend of 7p per share for 2021, which was paid in July 2022.
<img decoding="async" src="/media/2707/hy-22-tiles.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3efe257307864979ab9646aeab4117f6" />
Good progress has been made with our diversification strategy, which includes the construction of three commercial solar rooftop sites as part of our work with Olympus Power. We’ve also begun works on our 20MW battery storage site at Feeder Road in Bristol, with the project expected to be connected to the grid later this year.
In April, we finalised our investment in Ambition Community Energy, with our unique collaborative funding model helping to get England’s biggest onshore wind turbine into construction after years of planning work. With a capacity of 4.2MW, the turbine will be capable of generating enough power for close to 3,000 homes – the equivalent of Lawrence Weston’s domestic use. The project will also save almost 120,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime. Groundwork is now underway, and commissioning is expected in Spring next year.

Our mission to decarbonise the energy system and tackle climate change also saw us named as a Best for the World B Corp for the second year running, putting us in the top 5% of global B Corps for our positive impact on the environment, and highly commended for financial leadership at the British Renewable Energy Awards.
We are currently crowdfunding for £7 million to further increase our impact by building new clean energy projects across the UK. To find out more and register, visit<a href="https://www.triodoscrowdfunding.co.uk/invest/thrive-renewables-plc-2022"> Triodos Bank’s crowdfunding platform here.</a> Remember, investing comes with risk. Returns are not guaranteed, and you may not get back all, or any, of your original investment.
&nbsp;
<a class="js-scroll-done" href="/latest-news/news/thrive-s-2022-half-year-results-reveal-increase-in-generation/#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> 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.
<a class="js-scroll-done" href="/latest-news/news/thrive-s-2022-half-year-results-reveal-increase-in-generation/#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a> Calculated using the most recent statistics from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showing that UK average domestic household consumption is 3,748 kWh per annum (1874 kWh for a half year) www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained

guardian-group-shot-ace

Guardian group shot ACE

Good wind resource and strong progress with diversification strategy reflected in positive performance.

Thrive's 2022 half year results reveal increase in generation

From 10am – 3pm on Saturday 24 September, we’re inviting you to join us at our Avonmouth wind farm in Bristol for a day filled with fun activities for the whole family. Take a tour of the site, peek into the base of a turbine with one of Thrive’s experts, watch the lively, interactive climate change show by <a href="http://www.explorerdome.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explorer Dome</a> and enjoy lots of other wind-related activities for kids, from arts and crafts to face painting and more. Entry is by ticket only and places are limited, please visit the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/avonmouth-wind-farm-free-family-open-day-tickets-407360986677" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eventbrite page here to book</a>.
The event takes place at the start of <a href="https://greatbiggreenweek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#GreatBigGreenWeek</a> – the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature, started by the Climate Coalition.
This will be Thrive’s first open day since 2019, after putting the event on hold due to Covid-19 restrictions. Some transport will be provided from the city centre and Lawrence Weston.

caton-moor

Caton Moor

For the first time since 2019, we’re hosting an open day! You’ll have chance to tour our wind farm at Avonmouth in Bristol, learn more about renewable energy and enjoy lots of other fun activities on-site as #GreatBigGreenWeek kicks off.

Get up close to an operational wind turbine at our free family open day

A battery energy storage system (BESS) charges itself by taking energy from the grid or power plant e.g., a solar array and then discharging that energy later when needed. As we move towards a more renewables-based energy system, battery storage is becoming more critical. This is because it helps provide greater flexibility, enabling higher levels of renewable energy to be integrated onto the grid – i.e. storing energy when it’s really windy, for example, and releasing it when demand peaks.
Power from smaller MW batteries like our Feeder Road site can be combined (aggregated) so that they provide a larger storage resource. This is where software platforms, such as those provided by Flexitricity, become incredibly important as they help provide oversight of multiple batteries, ensuring that they work together to match the consumption demand of our towns and cities.

Flexitricity pioneered the demand side response industry in Great Britain thirteen years ago and has added a host of grid scale and behind-the-meter battery storage projects to its ‘virtual power plant’ platform which aggregates multiple sites benefiting customers as well as the national energy system. Flexitricity has a contracted virtual power plant of over 800MW and this agreement pushes the contracted portfolio of batteries to over 330MW.

20220914_144308

The agreement will allow the lithium-ion BESS site to be monitored and dynamically optimised from Flexitricity’s 24/7 control room in Edinburgh.

Thrive joins forces with aggregator, Flexitricity, on 20MW battery project in Bristol

We’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has participated in our share offer so far –with your help we’ve raised over £4 million to support our mission of building new clean energy projects that reduce carbon emissions and ultimately help tackle the climate emergency.
We’re now working towards our end goal of raising over £5 million (with a maximum raise of £10 million). The crowdfund marks the first step in our ambitious growth plans as we seek to further diversify and expand our portfolio, creating value across the electricity system as it transitions to net zero by 2035.
As well as investing in new renewable generation and battery projects, the funding generated will help support local communities looking to take a meaningful stake in the energy transition. We aim to continue investing collaboratively with community energy groups so that they can build their own projects and take control of their energy supply.

Minimum investment in the crowdfunding offer is £94 (40 shares) and shares can be held in a self-invested personal pension (SIPP). We are targeting 5-8% return per year through a combination of dividends and increasing share value. As with all investments, returns are not guaranteed, and investors may not get back all, or any, of their original investment.
The crowdfund launched on 27 June via Triodos Bank’s crowdfunding platform and we expect it to close by the end of September.

tide-ise-2018-8

TIDE &amp; ISE 2018

There’s still an opportunity to help us expand our portfolio of clean energy projects, from onshore wind to commercial rooftop solar and battery storage.

We've hit the £4 million milestone in our crowdfund - But we're not stopping there!

In response, there have been some significant policy announcements by government, including the Energy Security Bill, which is currently being read by Parliament, and a fundamental review of the UK electricity market. Currently gas prices dictate wholesale electricity costs and we have been calling for this to come to an end for some time – it is unacceptable that UK energy consumers are still not able to fully access the economic benefits of renewables.
Below we unpick the changing energy landscape, the proposed policy and market changes and what this means for the future roll-out of renewables in the UK.
<h3>Why are energy prices so high?</h3>
Ultimately, prices are high because of the way the electricity market is currently structured. Energy suppliers and generators trade electricity in half-hourly auctions, with the National Grid responsible for matching supply and demand. Bids for each half hour of demand are stacked in price order, starting with the least expensive and flexible generators – renewables – and the price is then set by the last and most expensive generator into the auction – often, gas.
This means that the end price we pay for electricity is susceptible to any wider volatility in the gas market, which has become increasingly strained due to a global supply shortage. Several geo-political issues are also at play, including the world’s response to the invasion of Ukraine.
With gas flows being restricted by Russia, the government has subsequently raised concerns over the country’s energy security and the need to end our dependence on fossil fuel imports. That’s where the energy security bill comes in.
<h3>The energy security bill</h3>
The Energy Security Bill was published in July, containing 26 measures that ministers claim will help reduce the UK’s dependence on imported gas. As we <a href="/latest-news/blog/energy-security-strategy-a-disappointing-result-for-onshore-wind-but-there-s-still-reasons-to-be-hopeful/">outlined in our initial response</a>, it was positive to see the government aligning the strategy to net zero and recognising the important role renewables will play in both reducing carbon emissions and lowering the cost of energy long term.
However, we were disappointed to see a lack of support for certain clean technologies such as onshore wind, especially as <a class="js-scroll-done" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-23/building-new-renewables-cheaper-than-running-fossil-fuel-plants#xj4y7vzkg">new data from BloombergNEF</a> has found that it’s now cheaper to build and operate new large-scale wind or solar plants in nearly half the world than it would be to run an existing coal or gas-fired power plant.
The bill, which has been called the most “ambitious package of energy measures in a decade”, also included the promise of a broad review into the UK electricity market which, amongst other things, aims to explore the ways we could decouple the wholesale electricity market price from fossil fuels.
<h3>Electricity market reform</h3>
The Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launched the consultation in July as part of its Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA). According to the press release, ‘REMA will focus on establishing a fit-for-purpose market design, identifying and implementing the reforms needed to GB electricity markets that work for businesses, industry, and households’.
Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said: “We’ve just seen the price of offshore UK wind power fall to an all-time low and gas is a shrinking portion of our electricity generating mix, so we need to explore ways of ensuring the electricity market is adapting to the times. That includes ensuring the cost benefits of our increasing supply of cheaper energy trickle down to consumers, but also that our system is fit for the future – especially with electricity demand set to double by 2035.”
Alongside a review of the marginal pricing model, another issue that has been raised is how we can incentivise consumers to use energy at times when renewables are cheap and abundant, instead of at times of high demand when power is more likely to be generated from high-cost, high-carbon sources like gas. It will also consult on the evolution and expansion of existing schemes, such as the Capacity Market and Contracts for Difference (CfD).
If done correctly, we believe that reform of the current structure will be a positive move and will support the UK’s acceleration towards a clean energy system. There is some work to be done on ensuring that initiatives such as the CfD auction work in favour of smaller projects too. We look forward to taking part in the consultation, considering how the reform will support future investment and development of clean energy projects, whilst working in the best interests of consumers during challenging times.
<h3>Keeping up momentum in a changing world</h3>
Although almost 40 per cent of our electricity was provided by renewable sources in 2021 – the second highest year for generation on record – the UK still relies too heavily on fossil fuels. According to the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/digest-of-uk-energy-statistics-dukes-2022">latest Digest of UK Energy Statistics</a> (DUKES), fossil fuel electricity generation increased by 11% last year, due to increased demand and lower renewable generation as a result of adverse weather conditions.
Given the current economic climate, there is a clear need to accelerate the roll-out of renewables in the UK, but this needs to be backed by favourable policies that allow investors and developers to move forward with building new projects quickly. The energy security bill and REMA go some way in increasing industry confidence and highlight an acknowledgement from government that moving to a cleaner energy system is both achievable and a priority. This is of course something we have known and championed for a long time, but we will continue sharing our insight to inform the important conversations unfolding. While we are facing increasingly difficult and uncertain times, one thing is for sure – there is no time to waste when it comes to ending our reliance on dirty fossil fuels. This is why Thrive was founded way back in 1994 and we’ll continue working hard to reduce carbon emissions and tackle the climate crisis.

dc01

DC01

The government recently announced the ‘biggest reform of the UK electricity market in a generation’. With energy prices set to soar further as we move into winter, it’s critical that we accelerate our transition to a renewables-based energy system.

The energy market isn't working – Let the winds of change blow through

We were excited to learn that Thrive featured in the top 20 of businesses in the South West and placed 281st overall, with a 163% growth in revenue between 2021 and 2023. Thrive was in good company with the likes of OVO and Ethical Power also listed.
According to Business Leader, <a href="https://businessleader.co.uk/feature/growth-500">the Growth 500</a> is the largest and most comprehensive guide to the fastest-growing businesses in the UK. Compiled by Robert Watts, the man behind The Sunday Times Rich List, all the data is sourced from publicly available annual accounts filed by businesses with Companies House between May 1, 2024, and April 23, 2025.

g500

G500

Thrive featured in the top 20 of businesses in the South West and placed 281st overall, with a 163% growth in revenue between 2021 and 2023.

Thrive ranks as one of the UK’s most ambitious businesses in the Growth 500 list

As part of its annual progress report to Parliament, the tone was more optimistic than in recent years, with the CCC commending the Government’s “bold policy decisions” following its recent election, which includes the swift removal of the de-facto ban on onshore wind. The biggest gap identified by the CCC, however, is also something that featured heavily in the Government’s industrial strategy – the cost of energy.
Published last week, the Government’s 10-year plan to boost investment, create jobs and accelerate British business emphasised that clean energy is central to the UK’s economic growth. As one of eight sectors of strength, the Government published its complementary <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68587856b46781eacfd71de4/industrial_strategy_clean_energy_industries_sector_plan.pdf">Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan</a>, which it hopes will help tackle two of the biggest barriers facing UK industry right now – high electricity prices and long grid connection times. Below we unpack some of the key takeaways.
Electricity costs 
You may be aware that the UK currently operates under a marginal pricing system, which means the most expensive source of power needed to meet demand – i.e. gas – dictates the price for all our electricity.
But, as well as the price of the energy itself, the Government requires energy providers to collect levies or “policy costs” to help fund Government initiatives. Because of how the Government has chosen to apply them, the majority of the levies associated with the transition to clean energy are currently added to electricity bills. This means that people are paying disproportionately higher amounts for electricity compared to gas, despite <a href="https://www.nesta.org.uk/project/finding-ways-to-deliver-cheaper-electricity-by-rebalancing-levies/household-energy-bills-green-levies/">UK households consuming around three times as much gas each year.</a>
Central to the recent industrial strategy was how it can reduce energy costs for big electricity users, with the Government stating that it plans to introduce a “British industrial competitiveness scheme” from 2027. The idea is that this will reduce electricity costs through exemptions from paying green levies such as the Renewables Obligation, which requires electricity suppliers to source a specific proportion of their electricity from renewable energy sources, and the Feed-In-Tariff.
Unfortunately, these interim measures do not support the long-term switch from fossil fuels to homegrown, clean energy. <a href="https://www.edie.net/ccc-expensive-electricity-is-biggest-hurdle-to-britains-net-zero-transition/">As the CCC has pointed out</a>, what we need to see is the Government restructuring these levies all together, removing the legacy costs that have been placed on electricity bills and placing them on gas or into general taxation. <a href="https://www.edie.net/ccc-expensive-electricity-is-biggest-hurdle-to-britains-net-zero-transition/?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=edie_daily_news_alert_25-06-2025&amp;utm_content=edie_daily_news_alert_25-06-2025+CID_ec79a57c63297a0733166e724823bba6&amp;utm_source=campaign%20monitor&amp;utm_term=CCC%20Expensive%20electricity%20is%20biggest%20hurdle%20to%20Britains%20net-zero%20transition">It estimates that doing so would reduce the ratio of domestic electricity to gas prices from around 4:1 currently to between 2:1 and 3:1 – a ratio comparable to Ireland and France</a>.
The energy transition requires us to migrate our heat and transport energy consumption from fossil fuels to electricity. If the levies were collected from fossil fuel consumption, electricity would be cheaper and the transition would accelerate.
Grid connections
The grid is currently a major barrier to progress, with limited connection capacity and inefficient queue management slowing down delivery timelines, meaning projects could be waiting years before they are connected and generating clean power for UK homes and businesses.
In April, Ofgem approved major reform to the grid connection process, with an aim to accelerate progress toward clean power by 2030 by pushing ready to build projects to the front of the queue. Additionally, there are proposals to ensure smaller projects such as micro solar and community energy do not face delays due to large transmission upgrades.
The industrial strategy recognises that the grid remains a major challenge, with the Government announcing that it is exploring new ways to ensure strategically important projects are connected to the grid quickly. This includes the creation of a new “connections accelerator service” which it says will prioritise projects that guarantee high quality jobs and bring the greatest economic value. While we welcome this in principle, we will need to see how this works in practice and want to ensure that small to medium sized projects, that are equally as important to communities, are not deprioritised.
Onshore wind
The Government will be establishing a new joint Government-industry forum to implement its forthcoming onshore wind strategy. The sector plan has given us a hint of what is to come, including the potential for onshore wind to be included in its Clean Industry Bonus. This will give onshore wind developers access to more revenue for investments in clean, sustainable supply chains as part of its Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme – which we think will help boost investor confidence.
Other suggestions include:
<ul>
<li>Working with industry body, RenewableUK, to conduct a supply chain capability analysis for onshore wind this year.</li>
<li>Implementing ambitious new reforms to decrease the rate of attrition in the planning system and ensure streamlined consenting.</li>
</ul>
We have been actively involved in the finance working group for the Government’s onshore wind taskforce and will continue engaging with policymakers on the key opportunities and challenges facing the clean energy sector, with the ultimate objective of accelerating the transition to a cleaner energy system.
Skills
The Government has committed to “upskill the nation” with an extra £1.2 billion a year for skills programmes by 2028-29.  It will shortly set out its first ever Clean Energy Workforce Strategy, ensuring it’s “taking full advantage of the skills of our existing energy workforce and giving a new lease of life to industrial and coastal communities”. As part of this it will invest over £100 million in building engineering skills in England, as well as supporting an additional 65,000 16–19- year-olds in England by 2028-29, including providing key pathways into priority occupations in the sectors identified as strengths for Britain.
Following years of uncertainty, it was a breath of fresh air to see clean energy at the heart of the Government’s industrial strategy and a clear, consistent plan for the industry to work with. Aligned with the CCC’s findings, we do think the Government has missed a trick by not re-distributing the levies onto gas bills – which would incentivise switching to cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy.

w-300

We share our thoughts on the Government’s 10-year plan to boost investment, create jobs and accelerate British business.

Missing a trick on the cost of energy? Unpacking the latest moves from the Government and Climate Change Committee

This is our second time winning this award, and it felt particularly special to be recognised in the year we’re celebrating thirty years building and funding renewables.

To top off the month, we were highly commended at the British Renewable Energy Awards.

Latest news

Find out more about our new projects, events and industry insight.

Featured

11 Feb 2026

New bond offer open – help us develop and build two new wind farms

04 Nov 2022

26 Oct 2022

17 Oct 2022

12 Oct 2022

04 Oct 2022

22 Sep 2022

15 Sep 2022

07 Sep 2022

30 Aug 2022

18 Aug 2022

09 Aug 2022

09 Aug 2022