Ripple Energy wind farm?

Coastalwatch

Good move SQ makes sense to me. We've just doubled our stake with them to assist in our energy bills moving forward. Great to know you're also able to nominate a beneficiary as well!

M0ney

Just a thought, I currently use around 1820kWh/yr from the grid, the rest is supplied by my solar PV array. From memory I used just over 3800kWh/yr prior to having the solar PV installed. 
What I noticed is that there is an option to select how much of the wind turbine you wish to buy based on your electricity consumption up to a maximum of 120%, do you have to be honest about how much electricity you consume if you really wanted a bigger share? Could I use my pre-solar PV install usage figures in order to buy a bigger share?

macman

The downside is not that you are locked in for the first two years, but what happens then. You are not buying conventional shares in a quoted company, because they are not freely tradeable. It's more akin to buying a bond. If you do want to exit at any time after the initial 2 years, then you are dependent on someone else being available and willing to purchase your investment. 
In their absence, you simply have no exit strategy.
If you accept the ethical basis of this investment, then fine, but I'm unconvinced by the financial model.

Coastalwatch

M0ney said:

Just a thought, I currently use around 1820kWh/yr from the grid, the rest is supplied by my solar PV array. From memory I used just over 3800kWh/yr prior to having the solar PV installed. 
What I noticed is that there is an option to select how much of the wind turbine you wish to buy based on your electricity consumption up to a maximum of 120%, do you have to be honest about how much electricity you consume if you really wanted a bigger share? Could I use my pre-solar PV install usage figures in order to buy a bigger share?

Hi, from the members update a couple of days ago I believe it was suggested that they may be reviewing the max figure of 120%. Along with seeking clarification on that, you could also be open, explain the position you find yourself in and seek their recommendation/decision accordingly.

What have you got to lose!

Might be worth trying the link below:-

https://rippleenergy.com/contact

M0ney

JKenH said:

M0ney said:

....do you have to be honest about how much electricity you consume if you really wanted a bigger share? Could I use my pre-solar PV install usage figures in order to buy a bigger share?

I am concerned that you should even ask whether you have to be honest. Why would you want to be anything else? Is that how you lead your life? Do you want to be known as dishonest? If that doesn’t worry you, I should  point out that you could be guilty of a criminal offence. 

Perhaps the question you are really asking is “would I get away with it?” Sadly that question reflects the attitude of many to life today. 

Just do the right thing. 

I should've worded this better, I'm merely asking if I can use the total amount of electricity I use which is around 3800kWh/yr, it just so happens that a lot of it is produced on my roof and I take around 1800kWh/yr from the grid, also whether the amount of electricity that one uses in their home is an absolute limiting factor in how much someone can invest in a windfarm or whether the slider is more of a suggestion in how much you would be advised to invest, my feeling was that it wouldn't make any difference to Ripple how much each individual was investing in their project but I wanted to ask the question. I'm sorry if your impression of me is that I am a crook, I don't think that I am but obviously it's for those who know me to judge.

JKenH

M0ney said:

JKenH said:

M0ney said:

....do you have to be honest about how much electricity you consume if you really wanted a bigger share? Could I use my pre-solar PV install usage figures in order to buy a bigger share?

I am concerned that you should even ask whether you have to be honest. Why would you want to be anything else? Is that how you lead your life? Do you want to be known as dishonest? If that doesn’t worry you, I should  point out that you could be guilty of a criminal offence. 

Perhaps the question you are really asking is “would I get away with it?” Sadly that question reflects the attitude of many to life today. 

Just do the right thing. 

I should've worded this better, I'm merely asking if I can use the total amount of electricity I use which is around 3800kWh/yr, it just so happens that a lot of it is produced on my roof and I take around 1800kWh/yr from the grid, also whether the amount of electricity that one uses in their home is an absolute limiting factor in how much someone can invest in a windfarm or whether the slider is more of a suggestion in how much you would be advised to invest, my feeling was that it wouldn't make any difference to Ripple how much each individual was investing in their project but I wanted to ask the question. I'm sorry if your impression of me is that I am a crook, I don't think that I am but obviously it's for those who know me to judge.

Fair enough, I see where you are coming from. I’m old school and just have a thing about propriety.

Reed_Richards

Am I right in thinking that if you buy-in to this scheme then you are tied to Octopus as your electricity supplier?

Coastalwatch

There are two options, Octopus and Co-op, although I believe Ripple intend enlisting additional suppliers as time progresses.

Octopus do offer a variety of tariffs which others on here appear to switch between to obtain the cheapest available to them as seasons progress through the year!

Having signed with them on their variable rate I'm booked to have a smart meter installed later in the month when I'll switch over to the Go tariff to make use of charging the EV on cheap over night rates during the winter months when solar output is limited..

Exiled_Tyke

Craglett said:

Crystal ball moment here... Based on solar panels, wind turbines and battery storage reducing in price significantly, over the next 25 years are we expecting electric prices continue to rise, stay the same or reduce? Anyone know enough about this to hazard an educated guess? 

Just noticed that Greencoat Wind UK PLC in their annual accounts have valued their turbine investments on the basis of realising wholesale electricity prices of £45/MWh rising to £48/MWh over the next 30 years. They also perform a sensitivity analysis at plus and minus 10%. So they are suggesting by 2050 prices could be in the rejoin of £43/MWh to £53/MWh.  As an aside and repeating what I've written elsewhere I prefer the Greencoat shares as an investment - which are expected to yield around 5% at current prices and appear to be reasonably solid, as they invested in the fixed contracts.  

Reed_Richards

Coastalwatch said:

.... I'm booked to have a smart meter installed later in the month when I'll switch over to the Go tariff to make use of charging the EV on cheap over night rates during the winter months when solar output is limited..

Unfortunately where I live the mobile phone signal is very weak and I don't know anyone in the area who has had a smart meter installed and got it to work.  In two cases the electricity supplier gave up the idea of installing a smart meter after having tested the mobile phone signal.