Ripple Energy wind farm?

Spies

Magic 8 ball says: probably. 

Petriix

barker77 said:

With the crazy electric prices now , is this a better investment than previously? 

Almost certainly a good investment, if you've got the spare cash. 

barker77

Without wanting to annoy anyone with the expected new energy prices - how much would I save by investing?! I tried to work it out but it seemed complicated - especially when people started talking about tax… 

Reed_Richards

Last time I looked you were restricted to two energy suppliers which may or may not be taking on new customers at the moment. 

Coastalwatch

When costs were originally calculated, against low evergy prices, savings per kWh were approx 4p and the ROI projected to be 14years. The life of the turbine is 20-25 years. It is difficult to predict energy prices over that period of time. I believe with the current increase in energy prices the ROI is predicted to have reduced now to 12 years.

However while due to come online at end of Feb, windfarm one is sold out. The second is scheduled for completion in 2023.

I've invested in the first and will also invest in the second as the capacity factor(return per Watt purchased) has a higher ratio than WF 1.

While energy may eventually be less costly as renewables are rolled out I suspect we are in for a decade of fluctuating prices. 

There should be no issues surrounding tax, its the reason we are limited to purchasing a max of 120% of our annual consumption.

I had two reasons for investing the first to secure our own energy from a renewable source at a fixed price and second to encourage the take up of community funded projects such as this for anyone to join in with.

Sorry I can't be any more specific than this.

Swan_Valley

We invested in Ripple for very similar reasons as Coastalwatch.

1. To (theoretically) cover the winter period when our Solar PV system is not generating so much.

2. To get a better return than what can be achieved in fixed term savings accounts.

3. To support a Community Funded project that was within 25 miles of where we live.

4. To secure & help increase the amount of RE generation.

5. To be able to go for a walk in the area and know that a small part of one of the wind turbines is ours.

Regarding the Income Tax situation, Coastalwatch is correct, but also if the investment is registered in the name of a partner that does not pay income tax they would not be allowed to buy enough shares to meet the threshold for paying tax anyway.

We have also registered for the next Wind Farm & already have investments in a number of Wind Farms, Solar & Tidal projects through Abundance.

barker77

Can I ask where the figure of 4p kWh came from? I guess with electric potentially about to become 35p plus then I’m interested if that figure is more like 8p for example? 

Verdigris

barker77 said:

Can I ask where the figure of 4p kWh came from? I guess with electric potentially about to become 35p plus then I’m interested if that figure is more like 8p for example? 

Renewable & nuclear generators put in a bid under the CfD (contract for difference) process. Hinckley C nuke is about 10p/kWh, the new offshore farm that has come on stream this week is around 6p/kWh, the price for onshore wind is around 4p/kWh, the cheapest form of generation available. Those strike prices are fixed for a long period, so the higher retail prices go, the greater the return.

barker77 said:

Sorry still not sure I understand. Is the return on investment listed on the ripple site somewhere ?!

barker77

Sorry still not sure I understand. Is the return on investment listed on the ripple site somewhere ?! 

Coastalwatch

barker77 said:

Can I ask where the figure of 4p kWh came from? I guess with electric potentially about to become 35p plus then I’m interested if that figure is more like 8p for example? 

From my understanding its the average annual cost per kWh of energy that the figure is based upon. So while figures this winter are very high it is likely these will be tempered by lower costs from other seasons. Of course the wholesale cost of energy is not the only factor taken into account with price charged for each kWh. I believe maintenance and transmission costs make up approx 60% of it. What we save with Ripple is the difference between average wholesale cost and that from the wind farm. While it was originally envisaged to be 4p/kWh it is now likely to be considerably more, but precisely how much will only become known once generation commences and the fresh wholesale cost of energy is announced. Afraid I can be no more precise than that presently.