Ripple Energy has marked the opening of what is being claimed as Britain’s first consumer-owned wind farm in a light show that projects the name of the turbine owner onto the tower.
In the enterprising model, 907 owners donated £ 2.2 million to the Graig Fatha wind turbine in Coedely, South Wales.
Turbines allow customers to own their own source of low-cost, stable-priced green electricity. In the era of record energy prices, and as the Ukrainian war progresses, people are looking for ways to reduce their dependence on imported energy, and owning a stable priced homegrown green energy source is against both. It’s a simple, off-the-shelf solution.
Sarah Merrick, CEO of Ripple Energy, said: Ripple’s 907 members will generate their own low-cost green energy for the next 25 years. This shows that better energy solutions are available today that empower people.
“It’s a moving moment, a moment we’ve been waiting for since we founded Ripple in 2017. Our members passionately believe in the power of green energy. This is their wind power. By the way. They made it happen. They will get that electricity. Projecting their name onto the turbine feels like a great recognition of what they have achieved. “
Ripple estimates that owners can save an average of about 25% annually on energy bills over the 25-year life of a turbine. The current high price means that the average Graig Fatha owner is set to save £ 340 next year. Most members own enough wind farms to meet the consumption of the entire home. Wind farms are set to save 1.1 million kg of CO2 as a whole.
Customers who buy a stock of wind turbines and participate in Ripple get the power generated by the wind turbines and save all the electricity bills in the life of the turbine. In light of the current volatility of energy prices across the UK, Ripple’s unique proposal provides customers with price stability through access to onshore wind, the UK’s cheapest source of electricity. The higher the energy price, the higher the energy price and the higher the member’s savings.
“Since energy prices are the highest in a generation, now is a great opportunity to own a unique source of low-cost green electricity,” Merrick added.
“Ownering a wind farm can reduce energy costs and stabilize it over the long term. Fortunately, registering it with Scotland’s second wind farm available to members will make it I still have time to do it today. “
Ripple Energy’s pioneering wind power model increases UK renewable energy capacity
At Ripple’s second wind farm in Ayrshire, Scotland, “thousands of people” have registered to become wind farm owners, and membership is available here.
Consumers can choose the amount of wind farm they want to buy, starting at just £ 25. Not only can partial ownership of wind farms save significant billing, but Ripple members say they are helping to build a more environmentally friendly power grid by directly increasing the UK’s renewable energy capacity. I’m sure.
In addition to the shares of 907 members, the development of Graig Fatha was supported by a £ 1.1 million grant from the Welsh government. Income generated from the Welsh government-backed portion of the wind farm will be directed to initiatives to help people facing fuel poverty in the region through the Wind Farm Community Benefits Fund (CBF).
Michael Chamberlain, a member of Ripple, is a pioneering model that enables individuals and families to collaborate directly with others to reduce or eliminate carbon dioxide emissions in bulk by co-investing in renewable energy sources. I said there is.
“It’s also the first option to separate a home from a generation that makes it accessible to more people,” he said.
The electricity generated at the Graig Fatha wind farm will be sold to Co-op Energy with Octopus, which will then be given discounted electricity to the owner. The discount is based on the amount of energy it produces, the electricity bill, and the amount of turbines owned by the customer.
