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

A key area highlighted by the CCC for change is within power sector, specifically onshore renewables, such as onshore wind and solar PV. Up until 2015, the UK was a world leader in onshore renewable development, so when the government removed support and changed planning regulations in 2015, it was a significant setback to the industry. According to the report, there is currently no route to market for onshore wind and solar, the lowest-cost forms of renewable generation. This severely limits the potential speed of decarbonisation in the UK and adds to costs.
The report identifies where policy has been successful in catalysing change. Offshore wind is now able to provide power at comparable prices to fossil fuels. This has been achieved by creating a marketplace with long-term contracts and the necessary funding via a ‘Contracts for Difference’ (CfD) scheme.
Renewable energy continues to fall in price and is now the cheapest source of new electricity generation in most parts of the world1. Since 2017 the global average levelised cost of solar PV and onshore wind has fallen by 13%2. By 2020 these two sources are expected to be less expensive than the cheapest fossil fuel alternative in a wide range of geographies2. The CCC progress report underlines that there is absolutely massive potential for onshore renewables in the UK, and with the right policies in place we could start building immediately.
The government doesn’t need to change much to ensure that we can start building renewables at capacity again. A few small planning system amendments could boost investor confidence and support wide-spread and successful subsidy-free onshore renewable generation. Renewable energy projects are almost unique in receiving planning permission for just 20 &#8211; 25 years, which reflected the length of time they received financial support. But now that support has been removed, the government needs to recognise the crucial role of onshore renewables in decarbonising the UK’s energy infrastructure. The time span of planning permissions needs to be changed to in perpetuity to bring renewables into line with other infrastructure projects. This will increase investor confidence and ultimately lead to lower electricity bills for the consumer. Additionally, removing the risk of the existing UK portfolio of renewables from shrinking is key.  Planning guidance should encourage the continued use of existing renewable energy sites, rather than the benchmarking continued operations against a green field.

1 IRENA (2019) Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2018; Bloomberg New Energy Finance (2019) New Energy Outlook 2019. These costs use a generation cost basis, which does not include the systems costs of variable renewables.
2 International Renewable Energy Agency (2019) Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2018

soil

“The need for action has rarely been clearer. Our message to government is simple: Now, do it.” Committee on Climate Change.

Reaching net zero - We need policy with clear and stable direction

The UK committed to ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2050 recently, a very positive move. Matthew Clayton argues that onshore renewables have the potential to play a very significant part in this vital transformation. Read the full article on The Ecologist <a href="https://theecologist.org/2019/jun/18/matching-ambition-action">website</a>.

featured-news-post

Our Managing Director, Matthew Clayton, writes for The Ecologist website.

Matching ambition with action

The UK has just committed to reducing carbon emissions to almost zero by 2050. It is communities like this one at Caton Moor who will help us to get there.

Celebrating wind power 

benita-no-logo

Benita NO LOGO

Wind energy has the power to help deliver net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and deliver economic growth. This film celebrates the difference wind power has made in a rural community.

Video: Celebrating wind power at Caton Moor

The prize was awarded for our innovative Community Energy Funding Bridge financial model. We are proud to be recognised for our unique contribution to community energy ownership, uniting communities through a common movement to invest in and own clean energy. This award reflects our work towards achieving our vision of a clean, smart energy system that is powered by the investment of many.
The Community Energy Funding Bridge was set up in 2016 in response to a growing desire for community owned renewables. By providing temporary funding to purchase local renewable energy projects, we empower communities by giving them the time and breathing space to raise their own funds. Once the funding has been paid back, the community owns the project for the long run.
Mean Moor is a huge success story for the Community Energy Funding Bridge and the first wind farm in the country to be transferred from corporate to community ownership. Thrive provided £7.4million in funding to facilitate the acquisition of Mean Moor by three local energy cooperatives. This gave them the time and support they needed to successfully raise £4million in a matter of weeks, uniting over 700 investors, partially replacing the Community Energy Funding Bridge. The wind farm is now 100% community owned.
Onshore renewable energy projects will play a key role in achieving the Climate Change Committee’s target for net-zero emissions by 2050. Diversifying the ownership of renewable projects, such as Mean Moor, enables people to take action on climate change by owning their local clean energy at source.

mean-moor

mean moor

Thrive Renewables wins prestigious Renewable Energy Association award for the second time.

Thrive wins 'financial leadership' award 2019

<div class="cms rte js-cms-done">
We made new investments in renewable heat for retirement homes and battery storage solutions to improve flexibility on the grid and provide businesses with less carbon intensive power at lower prices.
<img decoding="async" src="https://www.thriverenewables.co.uk/media/1956/thrive_2018_achievements-financialenvironmental-v2.png?width=620&amp;mode=none&amp;scale=downscaleonly&amp;quality=80" alt="" />
Our positive environmental impact also increased by over a third when measured in CO2 emission reductions – mitigating the entire annual carbon footprint of 7,760 people3 in total. Last year we produced enough clean electricity to power all the households in a city the size of Norwich.
The sale of two wind farms early in 2019 led to a 40p per share interim dividend for shareholders in April, as well as £11 million released to invest in new clean energy projects. The Directors are recommending a 7p per share final dividend this year, subject to shareholder approval, reflecting an increase in profitability with new windfarms and other investments coming on stream and a decrease in debt as other projects mature.
Renewable power also brings advantages to host communities. Last year Thrive contributed £1.3 million4 to local economies . Our Community Benefit Programme awarded grants of over £30,000 to improve warmth and comfort in shared buildings such as youth centres and village halls close to our sites.
&nbsp;
</div>
<div class="cms rte js-cms-done">
<div class="cms media js-cms-done">
<figure class=""><picture><img decoding="async" src="https://www.thriverenewables.co.uk/media/1953/social-impact-landscape-850x.png?width=620&amp;mode=none&amp;scale=downscaleonly&amp;quality=80" alt="" /></picture></figure>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<div></div>

<div>References</div>
<div></div>
<div>1 Calculated using the most recent statistics from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showing that annual UK average domestic household consumption is 3,781kWh, <a href="https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained">https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained</a></div>
<div></div>
<div>2 RenewableUK uses BEIS’s “all fossil fuels” emissions statistic of 460 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2018) p125 Table 5D (“Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity supplied 2015 to 2017”), <a href="https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained">https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained</a>. Average per capita greenhouse gas emissions.</div>
<div></div>
<div>3 The average UK citizen produces 12.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/city-of-london-tops-uk-carbon-footprint-list">https://www.carbonbrief.org/city-of-london-tops-uk-carbon-footprint-list</a></div>
<div></div>
<div>4 Includes business rates, land rental and community benefits</div>

dc26

DC26

Another year of strong performance and record returns to shareholders.

Thrive Renewables annual results 2018

Drumduff wind farm was officially opened by local MSP Alison Johnstone at a community open day in September 2018 attended by 400 people. The opening celebrated years of hard work transforming a derelict former coal mine into a wind farm fit for the future, generating renewable electricity.
Thrive has also been shortlisted for the Financial Leadership Award for our Community Energy Funding Bridge, a funding model which provides temporary finance for communities wishing to purchase or build their own renewable energy projects. It allows local people to take ownership of renewable energy projects near them and reap the financial, social and environmental rewards.

The successful transition from coal to clean energy

Drumduff wind farm construction

dc25

DC25

Drumduff, our iconic, award-winning wind farm built as a joint venture with GreenPower International, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Renewable Energy Association – Outstanding Project Award.

Thrive shortlisted for two prestigious awards with partner GreenPower International

Kirksanton Village Hall near our Haverigg II wind farm in Cumbria was underused due to poor lighting and heating. We awarded them just over £3,000 in 2018 to install LED lighting, energy efficient space and water heaters and insulation for water pipes. Now the Parish Council meets there, along with groups like the ‘stitchers’.
The Thrive Community Benefit Programme has awarded a total of 21 grants to 17 community groups, providing 40 tonnes per year of carbon savings in total.
The Centre for Sustainable Energy, an independent national charity that shares knowledge and experience to help people change the way they think and act on energy, runs the programme. The scheme will reopen in May.

img_0316

IMG_0316

Our fourth annual Community Benefit Programme, awarding grants to improve energy efficiency and comfort in village halls and other community buildings, will open on 10th May.

Warmth and light for chilly community buildings

Space heating and hot water accounts for 80% of final residential energy consumption in the UK.  70% of our heating requirements are met by burning natural gas, resulting in 20% of the UK’s CO2 emissions. Ground source heat pumps significantly reduce this negative environmental impact by using underground pipes to extract natural heat from the ground to heat radiators, underfloor or air systems and water.
Buildings like retirement homes, which need to be warm and cosy all day, can be particularly difficult to heat efficiently. Running a heat pump costs around 30% less than an equivalent gas boiler, 40% less than oil and 60% less than LPG, so as well as reducing carbon emissions, they can also lower energy bills. Heat pumps also have a longer life than combustion boilers and require less maintenance. The ground stays at a fairly constant temperature under the surface, so the heat pump system can be used throughout the year.
Our investment forms part of a £4.1 million seven-year bond, financing the rollout of 100 ground source heat pumps to retirement homes across England and Wales. Rendesco achieves a return on its investment through the government’s non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, a 20-year inflation-linked subsidy. This model will allow Rendesco to repay the bond in full within seven years. The funds have come from a £1 million investment allocation that Thrive has ringfenced for new sustainable energy technologies, such as heat, energy storage and other innovative solutions.

rendesco_website

Rendesco well on the way to meeting its target of 100 installations across the UK.

Over 45 ground source heat pumps installed in retirement homes

Following the successful sale of two wind farms in February 2019, a General Meeting was held for shareholders to consider two resolutions:
1.1 that the directors be authorised to offer shareholders the right to elect to receive shares instead of cash in respect of dividends declared by the Company;
1.2 to approve an interim dividend of £0.40 per ordinary share to be paid to the holders of ordinary shares on the register of members at the close of business on 15 February 2019.
Each of the resolutions were put to the meeting and passed on a show of hands. The interim dividends have now been paid to shareholders.
Thrive’s regular Annual General Meeting will be held in Bristol on 15 June. All shareholders are warmly invited. We will welcome a guest speaker and a light lunch will be provided.

img_2820-1

img_2820 (1)

Shareholders agree to proposed interim dividend of 40p per share

<div class="cms rte js-cms-done">
We evaluate the DRSP when material events occur. On 15 February, two wind farms were sold, providing evidence of an increase in the value of our operational assets, leading to an increase in the DRSP to £2.65 per share. An interim dividend of 40p per share, representing 15% of the share price, was proposed, subject to approval by shareholders. An additional £11 million realised by the sale will be retained by the company to invest in more sustainable energy capacity for the UK.
Following a unanimous decision by shareholders at the General Meeting on 12 March to approve the payment of a 40p per share interim dividend, the revised DRSP will be £2.28. This takes account of the interim dividend payment, but also reflects positive developments including securing improved electricity prices at a number of renewable energy sites and the company’s performance in 2018.
The interim dividend payments will be made to shareholders in two equal instalments of 20p on 3 and 17 April. The Thrive Renewables Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held as usual in June. Invitations and information on proposed annual dividends will be sent to shareholders in May.
Changes to the DRSP are always published on our website. Below you will find a graph which shows the movements in the DRSP since February 2018.
&nbsp;
</div>
<div class="cms media js-cms-done">
<figure class=""><picture><source srcset="/media/1933/drsp-image.png?width=468&amp;mode=none&amp;scale=downscaleonly&amp;quality=80" media="(min-width: 1080px)" /><source srcset="/media/1933/drsp-image.png?width=410&amp;mode=none&amp;scale=downscaleonly&amp;quality=80" media="(min-width: 620px)" /><img decoding="async" src="https://www.thriverenewables.co.uk/media/1933/drsp-image.png?width=620&amp;mode=none&amp;scale=downscaleonly&amp;quality=80" alt="" /></picture></figure>
</div>

_80a2532

Directors Recommended Share Price updated following approval of interim dividend.

Directors' recommended share price review

We constructed both onshore wind sites between 2009 and 2011. Since then, the sites – in North Wales and Suffolk – have generated over 280 Gigawatt hours (GWh), enough clean electricity to power over 9,000 average UK homes annually**.
Following a competitive tender, we chose Equitix, an infrastructure investor, as the buyer of the two sites. Equitix was selected due to its attractive offer, long term commitment to keep the sites generating clean wind power and guarantee to maintain Thrive’s local community engagement work.
Through our community funds, the wind farms have delivered positive benefits for local people, including energy efficiency improvements to community buildings and children’s playground equipment. We have also installed potentially life-saving defibrillators in remote locations and raised awareness of climate change with local children.
Last year our portfolio delivered a reduction of 96,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Deals such as this one help us to increase the UK’s overall renewable energy capacity as we use capital appreciation from these two operational wind farms to invest in new projects.
Shareholders will be invited to a General Meeting (GM) on 12 March to vote on the proposed dividend and other related resolutions.
&nbsp;
* <a href="/for-investors/buy-and-sell-shares/directors-recommended-share-price">Directors&#8217; Recommended Share price</a>
** Calculated using Thrive Renewables’ own generation multiplied by the impact figures published at www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained

img_4719

IMG_4719

Two of our onshore wind farms with a total generation capacity of 13MW have been successfully sold, taking advantage of current high market valuations for operational projects. The multi-million deal will enable us to build new renewable energy capacity in the UK. The wind farms will continue to produce clean, green electricity under new ownership.

Sale of two wind farms to fund new sustainable energy projects

<div class="cms rte js-cms-done">
We evaluate the DRSP when material events occur. In October 2018 , the Directors undertook a review of the valuation of the company, resulting in a 25p increase in the DRSP due to a combination of factors which had a positive effect. These included an extension of the lease duration at Haverigg II, an increase in wholesale electricity prices, lowering the cost of our debt and an increase in the value of operational renewable energy projects in the UK.
The sale of two wind farms, announced on 15 February , has provided evidence of an increase in the value of our operational assets, resulting in a 5p increase in the DRSP to £2.65 per share.
Also announced on that date was a proposed interim 40p dividend per share to be paid in April 2019. If the proposed dividend is agreed at the General Meeting on 12 March, we expect the DRSP to reduce to around £2.25 when it is paid out, assuming there are no other significant changes in the Company and marketplace. The Thrive Renewables Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held as usual in June. Invitations and information on proposed annual dividends will be sent to shareholders in May.
Changes to the DRSP are always published on our website. Below you will find a graph which shows the movements in the DRSP since February 2018, including projected future changes illustrating the impact of the proposed interim dividend on the DRSP.
&nbsp;
</div>
<div class="cms media js-cms-done">
<figure class=""><picture><img decoding="async" src="https://www.thriverenewables.co.uk/media/1929/drsp-graph.png?width=620&amp;mode=none&amp;scale=downscaleonly&amp;quality=80" alt="" /></picture></figure>
</div>

Directors’ Recommended Share Price increases following positive developments.

We are committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2030 via the SME climate hub &#8211; a non-profit global initiative that empowers small to medium sized companies to take climate action and build resilient businesses for the future. By reporting on our emissions, we’re able to better understand the sources of them, whilst demonstrating transparency on our journey to net zero.
<a href="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Thrive-Climate-Report-2023-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thrive’s latest climate report</a> for 2023 highlights key updates on our path to net zero by the end of the decade:
<ul>
<li>Maintained scope 1 and 2 emissions at zero (down from a baseline of 2.9 tCO2e in 2019). *</li>
<li>For the second year running, we reported comprehensive emissions estimates across our seven relevant scope 3 categories, which include all areas relating to the construction and operation of our clean energy projects.</li>
<li>Reduced carbon intensity of business travel by 17% in 2023 compared to 2022.</li>
<li>Calculated avoided emissions (sometimes referred to as scope 4) to illustrate the wider carbon impact of the business.</li>
</ul>
Emission reductions are the emissions ‘avoided’ from the operation of our portfolio of clean energy projects. These serve as a key metric to illustrate the wider positive carbon impact of the business.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8005" src="/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NZ-report-24-graph.png" alt="" width="903" height="405" srcset="https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NZ-report-24-graph.png 903w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NZ-report-24-graph-300x135.png 300w, https://cms-admin.thriverenewables.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NZ-report-24-graph-768x344.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 903px) 100vw, 903px" />
It is important to note that 2022 was a very successful year for project construction and that our reported emissions include the full construction footprint of three new projects. By comparison in 2023, our reported emissions only include the construction of one small rooftop project. Despite this yearly variation in our highest emissions area, it is useful to see how much greater our avoided emissions are in both years.
Our eyes are now fixed on the 2024 reporting year as we continue rolling out more clean energy projects and helping businesses to decarbonise. We are committed to continually reporting our emissions and reviewing our strategy on an annual basis.
*Thrive’s emissions are reported using The Greenhouse Gas protocol framework that splits emissions into three categories:
Scope 1 – Direct emissions from sources that a company owns or controls directly e.g. the gas used for our heating.
Scope 2 – Indirect emissions coming from the energy it purchases and uses e.g. the electricity powering our office.
Scope 3 – Indirect emissions resulting from sources that are not controlled or owned by the company. For example, the resulting emissions from our supply chain or employee commuting and business travel.

Newsletter CTA

avonmouth-yellow-flowers

Avonmouth yellow flowers

Our positive contribution to reducing UK emissions far outweighs our carbon footprint. But we take responsibility for the emissions we make in the course of our operations.

2023 Net Zero Report – Scopes 1 & 2 remain at zero and carbon intensity of business travel reduced by 17%

The record low is followed by the symbolic closure of the UK’s last coal fired power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in September – ending over a century of burning coal to generate electricity.
At the beginning of the 20th century, coal accounted for more than 95% of the UK’s electricity generation. Now it is 0%.
The UK is the first G7 nation to completely phase out the use of coal to generate power. A few weeks ago, the government also confirmed it will introduce legislation to ban new coal mining licences.
Whilst renewables have played a crucial role in helping the UK phase out coal, we’ve still got a lot of work to do. In its recent report the National Energy Systems Operator stressed that net zero by 2030 is ambitious but achievable, if we expand renewables capacity swiftly and significantly – tripling solar and doubling onshore wind.
As the UK shifts towards a new era of green energy jobs, it’s crucial that no one is left behind and we’re working hard to play our part in a fair and inclusive energy transition. Thrive is proud to help fund community-led projects like the Ambition Community Energy wind turbine in Bristol which is providing a deprived community with a source of revenue. The charity behind the project, Ambition Lawrence Weston, is also preparing local people to take their place in the changing green economy through community-based advice, support and upskilling.

ace_june_2024-6

ACE_June_2024-6

Record low for fossil fuels on the grid as renewables soar.

Life after coal: what's next for UK energy?

<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>

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

12 Jul 2019

21 Jun 2019

14 Jun 2019

12 Jun 2019

23 May 2019

20 May 2019

25 Apr 2019

25 Apr 2019

17 Apr 2019

12 Mar 2019

15 Feb 2019

15 Feb 2019