UK Consumer Owned Wind Farm

UK launches first consumer-owned wind farm.

01:09 14 June 2020

London-based start-up Ripple Energy has launched what it describes as UK's first consumer-owned wind far. The firm is working together with Octopus Energy and Co-op Energy to send electricity from the facility to people's homes. 

 

In an announcement, Ripple Energy said that the Graig Fatha wind farm in Wales would be "owned by the consumers it supplies" but clarified that the energy will not be distributed for free. To take part in the project, customers will need to be on specific tariffs and must purchase shares in the co-operative which owns the wind farm. Purchasing options start from £250 and will cover the wind farm's construction. Ripple said that the electricity section of a customer's bill "will reflect the low and stable operating cost of your power from the wind farm rather than the wholesale market price." 

 

Sarah Merrick, Ripple's Founder and CEO, said: "The move to a zero-carbon world opens up completely new ways of doing things.

 

"You can't own a bit of a coal or nuclear power station to supply your home with electricity, but you absolutely can own a bit of a wind farm. A huge change is now possible, and people are embracing it.