Green & Ethical Investment News and Suggestions

Coastalwatch

I know the stock market has seen some turbulent times recently and checking up on my wifes S&S ISA recently it was rather dispiriting to discover it's value was barely 0.6% above that originally invested some five plus years earlier.

In contrast the returns from the Abundance crowdfunding website have been many in the form of dividends ranging from 4 to 10 %/ yr. Compared to savings interest rates on offer during that period it was reassuring indeed and topped off this week with the capital return of our first investment with them, a debenture of thee years tenure along with it's final 10% dividend. It was rather timely as coming to a close in the week ahead is another raise on Abundance for Carbon Plantations 2 where fast growing hybrid hardwood trees are replacing intensive farmed crop production of many years in order to give the soil a rest while native plant species and hedgerows are to be sown alongside and under the tree canopy to encourage insect and wildlife into the area once more. Much of our return was reinvested into this scheme with the hope that it is just as successful as the one it replaces given that there are no cast iron guarantees when investing!

I have to thank Mart for introducing me to Abundance over three years ago. It was formed in 2012 apparently with the aim of raising and directing funding for Good ventures, those of an ethical and sustainable nature and have included several renewable energy generation and storage schemes along with others during that time. They are regulated by the FCA so have a measure of authenticity alongside their decade in assisting Good causes.

JKenH

'I have solar panels, shares in a wind turbine and two heat pumps – and it's saved me £12,000'

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/bills-and-utilities/renewable-energy/have-solar-panels-shares-wind-turbine-two-heat-pumps-saved/

Coastalwatch

While many missed out investing in Ripples initial wind farm offerings or are now awaiting the announcement of their third placement, be it wind or Solar based, there is an opportunity to invest in Ripple, the company, as opposed to there energy generation projects, via the Seedrs crowfunding website. I should advise that any investment would be purely speculative at this time based purely on their ability to grow the company as no dividend returns are currently offered.

Upon their first in raise 2019 the share price was £4.22 whereas during their 4th raise in December last year it was £9.10 and would appear they are now changing hands on the Seedrs crowdfunding website around the £10 mark. I've no idea if this represents good value or not just thought I'd post in case anyone who missed out wished to dip their toe in the water from a different angle. I bought in during their second and third raise at £5.65 but have no intention of selling them for a few years yet.

The current session of the secondary market closes tomorrow at 11am leaving little time to come to a decision.

I can only apologise for the late notification but I wasn't aware the market was open or that Ripple were even listed upon it.

Exiled_Tyke

Coastalwatch said:

While many missed out investing in Ripples initial wind farm offerings or are now awaiting the announcement of their third placement, be it wind or Solar based, there is an opportunity to invest in Ripple, the company, as opposed to there energy generation projects, via the Seedrs crowfunding website. I should advise that any investment would be purely speculative at this time based purely on their ability to grow the company as no dividend returns are currently offered.

Upon their first in raise 2019 the share price was £4.22 whereas during their 4th raise in December last year it was £9.10 and would appear they are now changing hands on the Seedrs crowdfunding website around the £10 mark. I've no idea if this represents good value or not just thought I'd post in case anyone who missed out wished to dip their toe in the water from a different angle. I bought in during their second and third raise at £5.65 but have no intention of selling them for a few years yet.

The current session of the secondary market closes tomorrow at 11am leaving little time to come to a decision.

I can only apologise for the late notification but I wasn't aware the market was open or that Ripple were even listed upon it.

I think there may also be enterprise investment tax relief on these shares, but am not sure.  I've a few of these because I believe in what Ripple is doing. I see it as very high risk with a great chance of expanding hugely and also a good chance of failing as a business model.   I would put money in only on the basis that you are supporting a great idea in RE and not with the expectation of making a lot (or even any) money and could lose the lot.   

70sbudgie

Exiled_Tyke said:

Coastalwatch said:

While many missed out investing in Ripples initial wind farm offerings or are now awaiting the announcement of their third placement, be it wind or Solar based, there is an opportunity to invest in Ripple, the company, as opposed to there energy generation projects, via the Seedrs crowfunding website. I should advise that any investment would be purely speculative at this time based purely on their ability to grow the company as no dividend returns are currently offered.

Upon their first in raise 2019 the share price was £4.22 whereas during their 4th raise in December last year it was £9.10 and would appear they are now changing hands on the Seedrs crowdfunding website around the £10 mark. I've no idea if this represents good value or not just thought I'd post in case anyone who missed out wished to dip their toe in the water from a different angle. I bought in during their second and third raise at £5.65 but have no intention of selling them for a few years yet.

The current session of the secondary market closes tomorrow at 11am leaving little time to come to a decision.

I can only apologise for the late notification but I wasn't aware the market was open or that Ripple were even listed upon it.

I think there may also be enterprise investment tax relief on these shares, but am not sure.  I've a few of these because I believe in what Ripple is doing. I see it as very high risk with a great chance of expanding hugely and also a good chance of failing as a business model.   I would put money in only on the basis that you are supporting a great idea in RE and not with the expectation of making a lot (or even any) money and could lose the lot.   

I agree. I sized my "investment" almost as though it were a charitable donation. I made it in support of something I believe in and won't necessarily see a return on my investment. 

As this discussion isn't just about Ripple, I would like to also point out QED Naval, also on Seedrs marketplace,  who are developing tidal generation (as I understand it, not the barrage type, but at estuaries). 

Coastalwatch

70sbudgie said:

Exiled_Tyke said:

I think there may also be enterprise investment tax relief on these shares, but am not sure.  I've a few of these because I believe in what Ripple is doing. I see it as very high risk with a great chance of expanding hugely and also a good chance of failing as a business model.   I would put money in only on the basis that you are supporting a great idea in RE and not with the expectation of making a lot (or even any) money and could lose the lot.   

I agree. I sized my "investment" almost as though it were a charitable donation. I made it in support of something I believe in and won't necessarily see a return on my investment. 

As this discussion isn't just about Ripple, I would like to also point out QED Naval, also on Seedrs marketplace,  who are developing tidal generation (as I understand it, not the barrage type, but at estuaries). 

Nice one @70sbudgie, also on a nautical energy generating theme and raising funding on Seedrs were Nova Innovation, Marine Power Systems and Achelous Energy though have no idea if further raises are planned for any of them!

JKenH

There have been a couple of articles in the press recently in Greencoat UK wind which is currently trading at a discount of 16% to NAV. A buying opportunity possibly?

https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/1023781/greencoat-uk-wind-has-a-well-honed-successful-strategy-says-research-house-1023781.html

https://invezz.com/news/2023/08/17/greencoat-uk-wind-share-price-has-dipped-buy-the-dip/

Also Gresham House Storage is now trading at a significant 22% discount to NAV and the share price has fallen by around a third from its peak of 183p last year. Dividend yield is currently 5.6%.

https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/shares-search-results/g/gresham-house-energy-storage-ord-gbp0.01

Please note this is not intended as advice. Do your own research. 

DougMLancs

Great timing on your post @JKenH - I was looking for opportunities along these lines and so I’ll do some research into these. One other option I came across last night was the Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust which is currently trading at a 17.7% discount to NAV.

https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/shares-search-results/o/octopus-renewables-infra-trust-ord-gbp0.01

JKenH

Trading update yesterday from Gresham House Energy Storage fund which included observations about the energy storage market in the UK.

At the start of 2023 the UK electricity system included 55GW of operational renewable generation capacity, of which 44GW was wind and solar. During Q1, driven by wind and solar, renewables capacity grew by 2.9GW. By comparison, the size of the energy storage market today is c.2.7GW, and as such the entire GB BESS market is smaller than the incremental growth in renewables in Q1. This highlights the widening gap between installed battery storage capacity and renewables growth, and consequently the fundamental investment opportunity.

Despite this positive backdrop, while revenues per MW were well above budget in 2021 and 2022, revenues in H1 2023 have been lower and below budget. The electricity market has been impacted by reduced demand as consumers face higher power prices and more supply availability as renewable deployment continues unabated and legacy power stations are taking longer to be decommissioned. These fluctuations in supply and demand are expected to normalise in due course.

Exacerbating the current picture, NG ESO[3] has not completed the modernisation of its control room and associated processes in time to be able to make effective use of BESS in the Balancing Mechanism (BM), despite the successful trials demonstrating their potential back in 2020. Instead, despite being cheaper and lower-carbon assets, batteries are consistently skipped over in favour of assets such as fossil fuel gas plants. As such, all GB BESS are earning less revenue than they should from the BM at this time.

https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/GRID/trading-update-eq74lae35m2vy9s.html

LightKnow

Impact funds

Funds have made following impacts 


Generating 4MWh of renewable energy

Avoiding three tons of carbon dioxide emissions

Treating 190,000 litres of waste water for reuse

Providing a day of tertiary education

Helping three people receive healthcare treatment and saving £2,500 of costs through more efficient healthcare systems



Green bonds ? Investment by government in greener projects