Net zero by 2030

Thrive Renewables pledges to reach Net Zero by 2030 via our commitment to the SME Climate Hub, a global initiative that empowers small to medium sized companies to take climate action and build resilient businesses for the future. The Hub is an initiative of the We Mean Business Coalition, the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, the United Nations Race to Zero campaign and the Net Zero team at Oxford University.

Download our net zero plan

 

Thrive funds, constructs and operates sustainable energy projects which generate renewable electricity, leading to direct, measurable carbon emissions reductions. Our wind, solar and hydro sites have saved over 900,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the life of the business, so we are playing a significant part in the UK’s net zero transition. We were also one of the first companies to fund ‘direct wire’ energy solutions for businesses – where they install solar or wind projects on site and benefit from the clean electricity generated, reducing their own carbon footprint.

Founded in 1994, we were one of the UK’s first purpose driven businesses, with a mission to power the transition to a sustainable energy future by helping people meaningfully connect with clean energy projects. As such, we take our own carbon footprint extremely seriously.

We are based in a certified BREEAM Green Building, one of the greenest in Bristol, which has solar panels located on the roof. We use renewable electricity tariffs to supply all of our operational renewable energy projects, all our printing is carbon neutral with 0% waste, and we do not serve meat at company events such as AGMs and open days. We support our staff to reduce the impact of their travel, with a ‘bike to work’ scheme and participation in Climate Perks, an initiative to incentivise low carbon holiday travel.

CURRENT EMISSIONS

Although our own direct emissions (characterised as scope 1 & 2 but also including some scope 3) are therefore low, we are conscious that we need to continually reduce them and we are making concrete commitments to doing that, as outlined below. Thrive’s total emissions for business travel plus heating and electricity across the business were 2.48 tonnes (CO₂e) in 2020 and 2.15 tonnes in 2021.

SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS

So far, Thrive has included business travel and home working emissions in our reporting. Currently all other scope 3 emissions relating to construction and operation of our renewable energy sites are excluded. In 2022, we have worked hard to understand which remaining scope 3 categories are relevant to our business activities. We have now published our Net Zero plan, developed in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s ‘scope 3 standard’, which lists which scope 3 activities will be included in our emissions inventory going forward.

The rationale for ‘most relevant’ scope 3 emissions is those which are most directly linked to the core business purpose - the construction and operation of renewable electricity generation projects. It is essential to note that carbon emitted in the construction of these sites is quickly paid back by the emissions avoided by the generation of renewable electricity. However, in accordance with the GHG Protocol’s scope 3 standard, we are required to report them separately.