Green & Ethical Investment News and Suggestions

Exiled_Tyke

I've now lost the article but I read recently that AIM is not as risky as it used to be, with bigger companies and tends to be less volatile. Interesting it's done pretty well compared to the other markets this year: apparently because tech and renewables companies have fared well during the pandemic. 

Coastalwatch

Coastalwatch said:

A further recovery last week saw FTSE rise above the 6k mark to close on 6014 with ISA gaining a full 1% over GESF to close the gap down to 9%.

It'll be an interesting time in the coming weeks with another lockdown potentially on the cards not to mention the matter of a little ballot across the Atlantic!

Following a drop of 5% in share values on FTSE, I guess our S&S ISA did well to fall back just a couple of %. Unfortunately this takes it's value to less than that orignally invested some three years ago.

On the other hand our Green Energy Storage Fund stubbornly stood firm. The gap between the two is now back to 11%.

Instead of being an either or situation, perhaps sustainability and economics can both prosper given the correct balance?

Coastalwatch

A steady rise in FTSE last week saw our ISA gain almost 3% taking the gap between it and the Green Energy Storage fund down to 8%, the narrowest it's been for sometime.

With the new covid vaccine announced today and FTSE subsequently gaining rapidly it will certainly be interesting to see how they compare in the coming weeks ahead.

Coastalwatch

Ripple, the Energy company behind the Graig Fatha wind farm are raising funds for themselves in a push to expand their offering at home and abroad into what they see as an expanding market place. Apparently they are in discussions with energy companies in Ireland and Australia together with several companies at nationally. They are seeking to raise £350k of funds through the Seedrs crowdfunding website where they were voted Startup company of the year in 2019.

I'm still chewing over whether to invest further but considering they fulfil the requirements of ESG investing then it's probably not if, but how much!

Of course it is for each individual to assess whether investment with Ripple suits their own parameters or not.

Coastalwatch

Halleluiah! Thank goodness for last weeks vaccine announcement!

As a result FTSE has risen some 7% in the last week. Some share prices rising even more, some less and some even decreasing.

Our ISA saw it's biggest ever weekly move growing 3.5% taking it to a figure commensurate with that of any accrued savings rates since its opening.

Moving in the opposite direction the Green Energy Storage fund took a knock closing down a similar amount leaving the gap between the two now at just 1%.

Admittedly the GES figure reflected being ex dividend following confirmation earlier in the week of it's final dividend, being that projected, when the raise was launched two years ago. Total dividend payout for the two years being 11.5%. A creditable performance considering the difficulties posed by covid in between. 

With the announcement expected from Boris to bring the ban on FF vehicles from 2040 to 2030 then maybe the Green recovery called for might just be nudging it's way to prominence!

Coastalwatch

Not for everybody perhaps! but these little beauties are slowly replacing the Gas guzzling peaker plants which are now finding it difficult to compete with the efficiencies delivered by Battery Storage facilities these days.

Gresham House to finance c.485MW battery storage portfolio with new share issuance programme

Gresham House Energy Storage Fund has outlined plans to “significantly increase” its portfolio as it launches a new share issuance programme.

John Leggate CBE, chair of Gresham House Energy Storage Fund, said that over the last few years the company has seen "real growth in the quantum of deal flow", as well as new developments in the energy storage market and batteries specifically. 

"The drivers behind this growth are now increasingly obvious and we believe we are getting closer to a tipping point where battery-based storage is becoming a strategic imperative in the UK’s journey towards delivering a net zero carbon future."

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/gresham_house_to_finance_c.485mw_battery_storage_portfolio_with_new_share_i

Coastalwatch

Great that they've dropped shares in Coal but I hardly see net zero by 2050 as anything other than lip service and green washing. Of course I'm more than happy to be proven wrong!

Australia’s biggest super fund commits to 2050 net zero

AustralianSuper, the country’s largest superannuation fund, has followed up from its dumping of shares in Whitehaven Coal with a commitment to a net zero carbon emissions investment portfolio by 2050. The fund, a major global investor, is as yet only a minor investor in the renewable energy sector, but that looks like it will soon change.

Australia’s biggest super fund, AustralianSuper, dumped its shares in Whitehaven Coal last week and yesterday announced its commitment to net-zero carbon emissions investment portfolio by 2050. AustralianSuper is jumping on the bandwagon with other major investors, and indeed fellow superannuation funds such as Hesta, in setting 2050 targets. But of course, there is no shame in jumping on the bandwagon in this regard. After all, a bandwagon is the most efficient way of getting the whole band to the next gig. 

AustralianSuper, which invests $188 billion in assets in the global economy, says that its plan to transition to net zero 2050 is already in full swing. Indeed, the fund has already reduced the carbon intensity of its portfolio by 44% between 2013 and 2019.

https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2020/11/17/australias-biggest-super-fund-commits-to-2050-net-zero/?utm_source=pv+magazine+USA&utm_campaign=9204dc5bb6-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_80e0d17bb8-9204dc5bb6-159341337

Martyn1981

Looks like more monies will be going into renewables and out of FF's, not that anyone will be surprised I assume.

Investors plan major move into renewable energy infrastructure

Global investors managing nearly $7tn (£5.2bn) of assets plan to almost double their spending on renewable energy infrastructure over the next five years amid deepening concerns over the fossil fuel industry’s climate plans, according to a report.

A survey of institutional investors found that they are planning to increase their renewable energy investments from 4.2% of their overall portfolio to 8.3% in the next five years and 10.8% within the next decade to about $742.5bn.

The survey of more than 100 investors, representing $6.9tn of assets under management, found that 83% did not believe the plans put forward by oil and gas companies would be enough to meet the Paris climate agreement goals.

Coastalwatch

Coastalwatch said:

Coastalwatch said:

So, our ISA which had finally just shown a marginal gain beyond bank interest rates is now back to being 92% of the original sum invested.

As for the Storage Fund, the one pound shares did reach 109.0p, before dropping back to 88p worst case. They have now recovered to 99p,

Two days later and the ISA has dropped from 92% to 90% of original while the Energy Storage fund is back to par, £1 or 100%.

So for the time being I make that Energy Storage Fund 1 - 0  ISA or, a win for clean energy sustainability over a worldwide mix of more traditional investments.

In percentage terms it will be interesting to see how long it takes the ISA to reach parity and/or catch up and pass ESF.

I'm hoping not another six years!

It's getting close now! The ISA gained another half% point last week while ESF refused to move in either direction, so the gap now down to 0.5%.

Never mind six years, six months maybe all that's required!

Coastalwatch

Coastalwatch said:

It's getting close now! The ISA gained another half% point last week while ESF refused to move in either direction, so the gap now down to 0.5%.

Never mind six years, six months maybe all that's required!

With the FTSE trading positively this last two weeks ISA gained 0.1% while ESF found a second wind and rose 5% taking the gap back out to 5.6%. Musn't grumble though as the ISA is now showing 6% over it's three and half year duration, so approx 1.7%/annum or about par with bank savings interest rates when taken out.

Guess we shall have to see how Boris's "Oven ready Brexit deal" pans out in the coming weeks before any degree of sustained confidence returns!