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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.

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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>.

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kessingland

Latest news

Thrive has been working with the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) since 2015 to deliver the programme which has awarded over £224,000 nationally so far, saving a combined estimate of 94 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. In 2024, £33,000 was awarded to nine community buildings across the UK, including St. Werburghs City Farm in Bristol who used their funding to install LED lighting and a new heating system.     
To apply for a grant, applicants will be asked to complete an energy survey of their community building using guidance supplied by CSE. This will calculate carbon savings for different options and identify the most effective potential improvements. Applications will remain open until 7th November 2025. Full details on how to apply can be found on CSE’s website <a href="https://www.cse.org.uk/my-community/community-projects/thrive-renewables-community-benefit-programme/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

In celebration of our 30th anniversary, this year we’re making an additional £30,000 available to install solar panels on two community buildings close to our sites.

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We’re offering grants to community centres near our projects to help them become warmer, cosier and cheaper to run.  

It’s back! New round of Thrive’s Community Benefit Programme is now open

Featured

Thrive’s <a href="/about-us/meet-the-team-1/">Board and Management</a> team: Matthew Clayton, Monika Paplaczyk, Katie Gordon and Alex Connor, as well as valued partners, Tom Harwood from Abundance were there to share the good news and network with some of the UK’s finest sustainable fund managers and organisations.
Thank you to everyone including, Triodos Bank Corporate Finance team, who has been instrumental in making the bond offer with IFISA such a success raising £10M for green energy projects and attracting over 900 new positive investors to Thrive.
The awards are aimed at fund managers and organisations who are at the forefront of facilitating or investing in themes that take into account the environment, ethics, as well as social and corporate responsibility, and whose work promotes a greater understanding into the sector&#8217;s potential.
Now in their tenth year, Investment Week&#8216;s Sustainable Investment Awards offer an opportunity to showcase expertise and commitment to investment factors that take into account environmental, social and ethical criteria as well as good corporate behaviour. Factors that are increasingly in demand by investors and a growing sector of the investment industry.

<h3>About Thrive&#8217;s award entry</h3>
In 2016/2017 Thrive raised a total of £13M for renewable energy projects through innovative online crowdfunding and was the first bond offer to be available through the Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA).
<ul>
<li>The Thrive Plc bond offer raised £9.97m for new sustainable energy projects in the UK exceeding its target of £7.5m by 33 per cent.</li>
<li>The funds are now being deployed into onshore wind and solar projects with the aim of generating a further 36,000 UK homes with clean electricity in 2018.</li>
<li>933 individuals invested their money in Thrive Renewable’s bond from just £5 online.</li>
<li>Whilst the 5% interest rate and IFISA benefits provided a healthy incentive to investors, Thrive’s bond demonstrates strong investor appetite and support for UK renewable energy.</li>
<li>Working with Triodos Bank’s corporate finance specialists and Abundance Investment, Thrive was able to offer Bondholders the opportunity to include their investment in their IFISA.</li>
</ul>

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mean moor

We are thrilled to have been recognised for the category award for 'Innovation (non-fund)' for our successful green energy bond with IFISA.

Thrive Renewables is 'highly commended' for Investment Week's 'Sustainable Awards' 2017

We have now successfully deployed all of the £10m raised in the 2016 Thrive Renewables plc bond offer into four renewable energy projects. In the case of three of these projects we have invested into existing sites to provide local communities with the opportunity to take direct ownership of the projects in their area. This includes Brockholes, a 2.4 MW wind farm in the Scottish Borders which we’ve invested in since the enclosed report has gone to print.
As we adapt to market conditions, our flexible and award-winning investment model is delivering impact and connecting more individuals to clean energy projects.
<a href="/documents/2017-half-year-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View the full report here</a>.

tide-ise-2018-4

TIDE &amp; ISE 2018

We are pleased to present the 2017 Half Year Results with an update on the Company’s operational and financial performance to 30 June 2017.

2017 half year results

Its marginal cost is basically zero, its supply is infinite and contrary to some opinion, reliable, when used in conjunction with other renewable sources (if you have hydro, solar, wind and tidal – you have no reason to worry about black outs).
Sure, the transition takes a bit of effort, but once it’s done, it’s done. And it really will be done.
Last week, the amazing news broke that offshore wind has become the lowest cost option for large-scale, low-carbon power in the UK, after the price paid for electricity from the turbines fell by more than 50 per cent in two years.
If common sense were the only factor behind energy policy, this news should mean curtains for projects such as Hinkley Point C. However, policy decisions never seems as straightforward as: “this is lower cost and lower carbon, let’s make it happen”.
Another example of energy policy failing to make sense came in 2015, when, just as small scale wind and solar were really cranking up, with the costs and subsidies meeting at just the right place for mainstream investors and developers to see real appeal, the Government swiped away the bulk of the subsidies. Just like that. The move put the brakes on a rapidly accelerating sector over night.
Many developers put the last few projects in the ground, then shut up shop. Homeowners who had been in two minds about getting panels suddenly saw their sums didn’t add up.
It looked like a victory for the anti-wind turbine lobby (which also contains a fair few climate change sceptics). The message from the Government was that it was time for the sector to stand on its own two feet – which had, to be fair, always been the goal. But the sector wasn’t quite ready.
At the time, that decision felt like game over. But Matthew Clayton, managing director of <a href="/?utm_source=Good%20With%20Money&amp;utm_campaign=MC%20interview">Thrive Renewables,</a> offers a long term perspective, seeing it as a lull from which the sector will soon recover.
Read the full story at the <a href="https://good-with-money.com/2017/09/18/interview-watch-out-for-the-renewables-comeback/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Good With Money </a>website.

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IMG_0304

Good With Money interviews Matthew Clayton, MD at Thrive: The thing about renewable energy is: it makes total sense. So much so that it’s hard to understand why any energy would not be renewable, now we have the technology to harness it.

Interview: Watch out for the renewables come back

The wind farm comprises of three 2.3 MW Enercon turbines across the valley from the existing High Winds two turbines at Harlock Hill in south Cumbria. Through co-operation, the Energy4All family of Co-ops has been able to acquire an existing wind farm from a commercial operator.
This purchase demonstrates the ability of the community sector to operate in the business world, and reflects the appetite for greater community ownership of renewable energy as an end in itself, especially important since most of the government subsidies for new build have been substantially reduced.

meanmoor

MEANMOOR

Three renewable energy co-operatives, High Winds Community Energy Society, together with Baywind Energy and Energy Prospects, and with the support of the ethical investment company Thrive Renewables, have acquired the Mean Moor wind farm in Cumbria.

The power of co-operation in the community owned renewable energy sector

Here’s one potentially gargantuan implication: as a result of the cost decline, it’s now possible to develop new offshore wind farms for a guaranteed price of £57.50<a class="js-scroll-done" href="https://good-with-money.com/2017/10/09/why-wind-could-become-the-uks-no-1-energy-source/#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1">[1]</a> per megawatt hour. This compares with the Government’s commitment to pay £92.50<a class="js-scroll-done" href="https://good-with-money.com/2017/10/09/why-wind-could-become-the-uks-no-1-energy-source/#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2">[2]</a> per megawatt hour to the planned Hinkley Point.
Matthew Clayton, managing director of Thrive Renewables, a <a href="http://goodegg.good-with-money.com/">Good With Money Good Egg company</a> that allows people to invest directly in UK renewable projects, said: “The results of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643560/CFD_allocation_round_2_outcome_FINAL.pdf">offshore auction</a> price is a great success for the sector and a milestone for the transition to a cleaner energy system. The UK is playing to its physical strength, we are exposed to a powerful wind regime and as an island, we have a long coastline.
&#8220;The Government can on one hand be pleased with the cost reduction, but on the other hand, this does make the cost of Hinkley Point C nuclear plant now seem way out of the market.”
<h3>The renewables revolution</h3>
The UK’s renewable energy capacity has been steadily gaining pace, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/647752/Energy_Trends_Sep_17.pdf">BEIS</a> Energy Trends report for Sept 2017 shows renewable electricity generation capacity grew to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/647752/Energy_Trends_Sep_17.pdf">37 gigawatts</a> in 2017, having installed 4.4 gigawatts of new renewable generation over the course of 2017. Renewables are now generating more than a quarter of the UK’s electricity.

UK offshore wind power has just become materially cheaper than nuclear. This is a major step forward for UK renewable energy and we hear from Matthew Clayton, MD of sustainable investment company, Thrive Renewables about what this means for the industry. Written by Rebecca O'Connor - Good With Money

Why wind could become the UK's number one energy source

We develop, construct and operate small to medium scale renewable energy projects, and offer accessible opportunities to directly invest in these clean energy projects. The company has more than 6,300 UK investors and more than 90MW of renewable generation capacity under management. We were awarded a Good Egg for our renewable generation capacity and CO2e avoidance impacts, as well as our community engagement.
The mark, launched in May 2017, is designed to make it easier for people to find financial providers that have a positive impact on the environment and society, as well as offering a good deal financially. To find our more about the Good Egg logo click <a class="js-scroll-done" href="http://goodegg.good-with-money.com/#5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.
To read the full article click <a href="http://good-with-money.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here.</a>

The third responsible business to be awarded a Good Egg mark from Good With Money.

Thrive Renewables awarded Good Egg Mark

<h3>Peter, what inspires you to make a difference?</h3>
I have two children aged 14 and 11 and they’re very important to me. I want them to grow up in a clean energy world and renewables are a big part of that. I also want to broaden their minds and encourage them to pursue what matters to them.
My son likes all things related to gadgets and science and told me when he was 9 that that he was going to create a solution for perpetual energy. It is good to dream big! Last year I brought him a small solar lantern and charging unit from Kenya which he now uses to do his homework and charge his phone. Hopefully this can be the first step on his sustainable energy ladder.
My family recently travelled with me to Tanzania where I work with local companies to provide off grid community energy. During the trip we visited a social business assembling and distributing solar lanterns to show my children how some local women live and work and to get them engaged. They have now decided to raise funds for charitable causes of their own. While they did not opt for renewables &#8211; my son went for Water Aid and my daughter chose to protect chimpanzees – I am pleased they too are trying to make a difference.
<h3>How did you come to work in renewables?</h3>
I followed a pretty unconventional career path. I started in financial journalism, followed by market research, electricity trading and energy banking. Energy financing and investment was a constant theme throughout. In the early days, I worked for GE Capital and others, acting as the principal investor and lender in renewable and other energy projects. Later on, I switched to the energy manufacturing side, working for the likes of Siemens Wind Power to increase sales of wind turbines by sourcing financing for their customers.
While I really enjoyed working for these large energy companies, I have always had a soft spot for smaller organisations. Joining Thrive Renewables (Thrive) as a non-executive director in 2011 exposed me to smaller, more localised renewable projects. Becoming a trustee of the NGO Renewable World provided me with insight into even smaller, micro-scale projects, this time in developing countries. And then last year, I joined the management team of Energy 4 Impact where I get paid to do something I love: working with small entrepreneurs on renewable energy in the challenging markets of Africa.
<h3>Tell us more about your work in the renewables sector?</h3>
In my day job, I am Investment Advisory Director for <a href="http://www.energy4impact.org/">Energy 4 Impact. </a>We are a non-profit organisation that seeks to alleviate poverty in Sub Saharan Africa by increasing access to energy for under-served rural communities. Currently around 6 out of 10 people in Africa lack access to electricity &#8211; that is nearly 650 million people. Well over half of the businesses there say access to reliable power is a major constraint on their growth. And there is a big urban-rural divide, with access in urban areas being nearly 70% compared to just 15% in the countryside.
We provide advice to small and micro off-grid renewable enterprises, including start-ups and more mature growth businesses. My role is to advise them on business plans and capital raising and to work with local financial and industrial partners to provide financing for their end customers. Our business clients include suppliers of solar lighting and energy products, solar irrigation pumps, cold storage units, biogas digesters and clean cooking solutions. We also support providers of ancillary services such as remote metering and payment systems, which are critical for the sustainability of renewable businesses in remote areas.
Like Thrive, we do a lot of work with small renewable project developers. However, the challenges involved are very different from the developers supported by Thrive. Most of the “mini-grids” Energy 4 Impact supports are very small (I.e. a few kilowatts in size versus the megawatt projects of Thrive) and serve only a few hundred or thousands of people. Because most of the projects are not connected to the national grid, they supply energy directly to local communities where demand for electricity is often uncertain. In the case of Thrive’s projects, we already have a good idea how much and to whom we are selling power.
In my part time, I am a trustee for Renewable World which develops community micro renewable projects in South Asia and East Africa. These include hydraulic and solar water pumping projects in the hillside communities of Nepal and solar mini-grids in remote fishing villages in Kenya. My role is to oversee and support programme management and fund-raising. Like Thrive, Renewable World works closely with local communities to ensure the projects are sustainable from a social, business, financial and environmental perspective.
<h3>What else are you doing?</h3>
A few years ago I became an (unpaid) advisor to Pearlstone Energy, a UK electricity demand response aggregator start-up. They face many of the same challenges in terms of market development and funding that my clients in Africa face, albeit in a very different market context.
Demand response is an emerging market that allows commercial industrial consumers such as data centers and medical facilities to support the National Grid by reducing their electricity usage during peak periods and getting paid for doing so. While the market is currently more risky than traditional generation, the opportunities for investors and potential benefits for consumers in terms of lower cost electricity and reduced CO2 emissions are clear.
<h3>How do you see the future?</h3>
The cost of key components such as solar panels and batteries has fallen dramatically in recent years, creating new opportunities for investors. In developed markets such as UK, we are seeing the emergence of new businesses in energy storage and demand response, which dramatically improve electrical system efficiency. In some developing markets such as East Africa, we are witnessing a solar revolution facilitated by remote metering and pay-as-you-go technologies which allow those unable to afford the high upfront cost of electrical services to pay in small instalments. All in all, it is a very exciting time to be in renewables.
<h3>About Peter Weston</h3>
<ul>
<li>Board Member of Thrive Renewables (formerly Triodos Renewables) since 2011. Chair of Operations and Health &amp; Safety Committee.</li>
<li>Director of Investment Advisory at Energy 4 Impact (formerly GVEP International)</li>
<li>Trustee of Renewable World</li>
<li>Visiting lecturer at ESCP, a European business school</li>
<li>Previous management roles with GE Capital, Siemens Wind Power, MAN Diesel &amp; Turbo, Westdeutsche Landesbank, Aquila Energy and Osaka Gas</li>
<li>Journalist with Euromoney Publications and freelancer for Financial Times</li>
</ul>

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0U9A9201-Edit

Empowering communities, connecting people to power and inspiring the next generation.

Team profile: Peter Weston

This passion extends to everyone around him, from his family and friends, to the UK renewable investment community, and to the small off-grid entrepreneurs he works with in Africa.
With a 20-year career as an investor, lender and strategic adviser to different organisations in the renewable energy sector, we are interested to find out what makes Peter tick and where the next chapter of his renewables adventure will take him.
<h3>Peter, what inspires you to make a difference?</h3>
I have two children aged 14 and 11 and they’re very important to me. I want them to grow up in a clean energy world and renewables are a big part of that. I also want to broaden their minds and encourage them to pursue what matters to them.
My son likes all things related to gadgets and science and told me when he was 9 that that he was going to create a solution for perpetual energy. It is good to dream big! Last year I brought him a small solar lantern and charging unit from Kenya which he now uses to do his homework and charge his phone. Hopefully this can be the first step on his sustainable energy ladder.
My family recently travelled with me to Tanzania where I work with local companies to provide off grid community energy. During the trip we visited a social business assembling and distributing solar lanterns to show my children how some local women live and work and to get them engaged. They have now decided to raise funds for charitable causes of their own. While they did not opt for renewables &#8211; my son went for Water Aid and my daughter chose to protect chimpanzees – I am pleased they too are trying to make a difference.
<h3>How did you come to work in renewables?</h3>
I followed a pretty unconventional career path. I started in financial journalism, followed by market research, electricity trading and energy banking. Energy financing and investment was a constant theme throughout. In the early days, I worked for GE Capital and others, acting as the principal investor and lender in renewable and other energy projects. Later on, I switched to the energy manufacturing side, working for the likes of Siemens Wind Power to increase sales of wind turbines by sourcing financing for their customers.
While I really enjoyed working for these large energy companies, I have always had a soft spot for smaller organisations. Joining Thrive Renewables (Thrive) as a non-executive director in 2011 exposed me to smaller, more localised renewable projects. Becoming a trustee of the NGO Renewable World provided me with insight into even smaller, micro-scale projects, this time in developing countries. And then last year, I joined the management team of Energy 4 Impact where I get paid to do something I love: working with small entrepreneurs on renewable energy in the challenging markets of Africa.
<h3>Tell us more about your work in the renewable sector?</h3>
In my day job, I am Investment Advisory Director for <a href="http://www.energy4impact.org/">Energy 4 Impact. </a>We are a non-profit organisation that seeks to alleviate poverty in Sub Saharan Africa by increasing access to energy for under-served rural communities. Currently around 6 out of 10 people in Africa lack access to electricity &#8211; that is nearly 650 million people. Well over half of the businesses there say access to reliable power is a major constraint on their growth. And there is a big urban-rural divide, with access in urban areas being nearly 70% compared to just 15% in the countryside.
We provide advice to small and micro off-grid renewable enterprises, including start-ups and more mature growth businesses. My role is to advise them on business plans and capital raising and to work with local financial and industrial partners to provide financing for their end customers. Our business clients include suppliers of solar lighting and energy products, solar irrigation pumps, cold storage units, biogas digesters and clean cooking solutions. We also support providers of ancillary services such as remote metering and payment systems, which are critical for the sustainability of renewable businesses in remote areas.
Like Thrive, we do a lot of work with small renewable project developers. However, the challenges involved are very different from the developers supported by Thrive. Most of the “mini-grids” Energy 4 Impact supports are very small (I.e. a few kilowatts in size versus the megawatt projects of Thrive) and serve only a few hundred or thousands of people. Because most of the projects are not connected to the national grid, they supply energy directly to local communities where demand for electricity is often uncertain. In the case of Thrive’s projects, we already have a good idea how much and to whom we are selling power.
In my part time, I am a trustee for Renewable World which develops community micro renewable projects in South Asia and East Africa. These include hydraulic and solar water pumping projects in the hillside communities of Nepal and solar mini-grids in remote fishing villages in Kenya. My role is to oversee and support programme management and fund-raising. Like Thrive, Renewable World works closely with local communities to ensure the projects are sustainable from a social, business, financial and environmental perspective.
<h3>What else are you doing?</h3>
A few years ago I became an (unpaid) advisor to Pearlstone Energy, a UK electricity demand response aggregator start-up. They face many of the same challenges in terms of market development and funding that my clients in Africa face, albeit in a very different market context.
Demand response is an emerging market that allows commercial industrial consumers such as data centers and medical facilities to support the National Grid by reducing their electricity usage during peak periods and getting paid for doing so. While the market is currently more risky than traditional generation, the opportunities for investors and potential benefits for consumers in terms of lower cost electricity and reduced CO2 emissions are clear.
<h3>How do you see the future?</h3>
The cost of key components such as solar panels and batteries has fallen dramatically in recent years, creating new opportunities for investors. In developed markets such as UK, we are seeing the emergence of new businesses in energy storage and demand response, which dramatically improve electrical system efficiency. In some developing markets such as East Africa, we are witnessing a solar revolution facilitated by remote metering and pay-as-you-go technologies which allow those unable to afford the high upfront cost of electrical services to pay in small instalments. All in all, it is a very exciting time to be in renewables.
<h3>About Peter Weston</h3>
<ul>
<li>Board Member of Thrive Renewables (formerly Triodos Renewables) since 2011. Chair of Operations and Health &amp; Safety Committee.</li>
<li>Director of Investment Advisory at Energy 4 Impact (formerly GVEP International)</li>
<li>Trustee of Renewable World</li>
<li>Visiting lecturer at ESCP, a European business school</li>
<li>Previous management roles with GE Capital, Siemens Wind Power, MAN Diesel &amp; Turbo, Westdeutsche Landesbank, Aquila Energy and Osaka Gas</li>
<li>Journalist with Euromoney Publications and freelancer for Financial Times</li>
</ul>

After lunch, Thrive’s MD, Matthew Clayton covered the company’s outlook and how investors had made a direct impact, finished off with an inspiring talk from Felicity Jones of Everoze about the evolving electricity system and the growth of ‘storage’ as a means of delivering the flexibility required for an increasingly renewables powered system.
For more information on Thrive’s performance, projects and market outlook read the 2016 <a href="/documents/2016-annual-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Annual Report.</a> To see how we’re making a difference, visit our ‘<a href="/impact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Impact</a>’ section.
<h3>2016 at a glance</h3>
It was a mixed year with particularly low average wind speeds, the autumn being the least windy for 15 years and major flooding creating challenges for the electricity networks. This resulted in profits being down for 2016, to some extent being balanced by improving power prices and two very successful, award-winning, bond offers raising over £13 million fuelling growth. The funds went straight into more onshore wind projects, and for the first time a ground mounted solar farm. Over the last 18 months the project portfolio has grown by over 16% to 19 UK sites in total, the majority being onshore wind with hydro and now solar.
The shareholders agreed an annual dividend at 4 pence, as per the previous two years, demonstrating the underlying health of Thrive Renewables.
The Thrive team were on hand to discuss a number of topics including the share price and latest investments as well as answer any questions. It was wonderful again to see our committed shareholders and bondholders to talk about the future of renewables.

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Around 90 investors, both shareholders and bondholders, connected for one day in London for Thrive’s AGM at the prestigious Royal Institution - a fitting venue given its scientific legacy and the adjoining Faraday museum for shareholders to enjoy as part of the day.

Thrive investors connect in London to affirm renewables mission

Renewables generated 26.6% our electricity from January to March, an increase of 1% on last year, while coal’s output dropped from 15.8% to 11.3%. In Q1 2015, coal was providing 30.8% of our power, so the UK’s clean energy transition is continuing to accelerate rapidly.
All low-carbon sources, including nuclear, generated 45.6% of the UK’s electricity, up from 44.4% at the same three-month period last year.

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Renewable energy generated more than 25% of the UK’s electricity in the first quarter of this year reports RenewableUK.

Onshore wind leads UK renewable power generation in 2017

With over 6,300 investors in Thrive, the company funds sustainable projects all over the UK to create genuine, long-term, positive impact – financially, environmentally and socially.
Thrive has worked with REV to support the timely procurement and construction of the Gevens project with three turbines in Kirkcaldy, Fife all being delivered by boat. It is now focusing on delivering Brotherton, a two-turbine project near Johnshaven, Aberdeenshire and on schedule to start generating green electricity to the grid in summer 2017.

Banks typically lend 75%-80% of project capital costs with developers still needing to find the remaining 20%-25%. Thrive Renewables provided a mezzanine loan to compliment the senior loan provided by Santander on both the projects.
The Gevens project is located 5km from Kirkcaldy close to the open water of Loch Camilla. The three 2.3MW Enercon E82 turbines are just under 100 metres tall.
The Brotherton project is located within the Brotherton Estate near Johnshaven in Scotland. The two 2.3MW Enercon E82 turbines are just under 100 metres tall.
For the Gevens site, the civil engineering works were delivered by contractor RJ McLeod; and on the Brotherton site by AE Yates. The construction process has been managed by firms Green Cat Renewables and Greenbank Accountants.

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In partnership with developers, Renewable Energy Ventures (REV), this type of funding marks an additional way for Thrive Renewables to contribute to the growth of renewable generation in the UK.

Thrive Renewables delivers mezzanine funded wind farms in Scotland

<h3>Financial leadership category and submission</h3>
In 2016/2017 Thrive raised a total of £13M for renewable energy projects through innovative online crowdfunding and was the first bond offer to be available through the Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA).
Thrive highlights:
<ul>
<li>The Thrive Plc bond offer raised £9.97m for new sustainable energy projects in the UK exceeding its target of £7.5m by 33 per cent.</li>
<li>It was one of the first crowdfunded bonds eligible for an Innovative Finance ISA.</li>
<li>The funds are now being deployed into onshore wind and solar projects with the aim of generating a further 36,000 UK homes with clean electricity in 2018.</li>
<li>933 individuals invested their money in Thrive Renewable’s bond from just £5 online.</li>
<li>Whilst the 5% interest rate and IFISA benefits provided a healthy incentive to investors, Thrive’s bond demonstrates strong investor appetite and support for UK renewable energy.</li>
<li>Working with Triodos Bank’s corporate finance specialists and Abundance Investment, Thrive was able to offer Bondholders the opportunity to include their investment in their IF-ISA.</li>
</ul>
With a 20-year history and trusted ethos, Thrive unites a growing movement of investors who are wanting to see investment with direct impact. The Bristol based, sustainable company has contributed to the construction of 95 MW of renewable energy projects, across 19 sites around the UK with a total of £105M assets under management.
The IFISA was introduced on 6 April 2016 and from 1 November 2016 crowdfunded debt securities, such as the Thrive Bond, were eligible for inclusion.
Thrive Renewables continues to invest in and operate renewable energy projects, uniting a community of over 6,300 investors.

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We are pleased to announce that Thrive has won the Financial Leadership category as part of the British Renewable Energy Association (REA) Awards 2017.

Thrive wins 'Financial Leadership' award at the British Renewable Energy Awards 2-17

Beochlich consists of two Pelton 21X2.45 turbines, fed via a pipeline which creates the pressure to drive the turbines most efficiently. A storage reservoir is incorporated which allows the flow to be regulated to an optimum level when rainfall is high as well as store water during periods of lower rainfall. Water diverted from the Beochlich Burn is returned to the same water course downstream. 
The project generates roughly 4.5GWh of renewable electricity a year – enough to power 1,126 UK homes. As well as being a key renewable energy source, the hydro project helps to regulate the water flow at Beochlich which is positive for plant health and irrigation purposes.

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25 year life extension agreed for the 1MW project in Western Scotland.

Thrive's first hydro-electric project secures another 25 years of operation

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The refinancing loan along with a loan from Energy Prospects Co-operative will enable community benefit society, Resilient Energy Forest of Dean (REFD), to retain ownership of the project. Energy4All, who currently manage 33 renewable energy co-operatives, will support REFD as the commercial manager of the project.
As well as providing clean electricity to the grid, funding from revenues generated will continue to support local community projects in the Forest of Dean. So far, a wide range of local community buildings and schools have benefitted as a result.
The addition of this project to Thrive’s portfolio brings the total we have invested in community projects to £17 million. It is the 6th community funding bridge we have facilitated, plugging funding gaps to enable community energy groups to build and operate their own clean energy projects. This includes providing a £4 million to fund the construction of England’s largest onshore wind turbine in Bristol, which is owned by a community group.
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Working alongside Energy4All, Thrive’s investment will enable the project to remain in community hands.

£1 million investment into 1MW community-owned wind project in the West Country

We kicked off the insight day with a visit to our Avonmouth wind farm where the group were able to view the turbines up close and learn how they work. Adrian, our Head of Operations led the tour, explaining the processes and jobs involved in the operation of a 8.2MW wind project like this – from planning through to construction and maintenance.  There were some brilliant questions and discussions as the turbines worked hard in the background.  
Next it was back to the Thrive office, where Louise our Head of External Affairs delivered a short presentation on the renewable energy industry, Thrive’s impact and the diverse range of roles that exist within the sector.  
Over lunch, members of the Thrive team enjoyed chatting with the group to provide insight on their job roles and answer any questions about the day-to-day of working in renewables.  
For the final activity of the day, the group split into teams for a fun learning activity.  Each group was tasked with planning a new wind farm in metaphorical ‘Thriveshire’, taking into account various social, economic and environmental factors that go into the planning of clean energy projects. The teams presented their ideas to the wider group with some very impressive proposals and learnings from the day.

Having provided a grant last year to support one of Babbasa’s core services, it’s been fantastic to continue our partnership with an opportunity for some of their Young People to learn about careers in renewables. Thrive’s £1,000 grant will help Babbasa to continue offering its Support Programme that works with young people who are at risk or have dropped out of education or employment, who may be facing multiple barriers or challenges, or who are disadvantaged by their background.  
We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone from Babbasa who attended our insight day – we hope you found it inspiring!

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