References

1. 0. Graig Fatha member savings

   Members of Ripple's first project had on average £232 credit applied to their electricity bills Apr-Dec 2022. Their estimated savings for their second year from March 2023 is £977.

2. 1. You could see your bills reduced by up to 25%

   The average volume weighted wholesale electricity price, using BEIS's Energy and Emissions Predictions 2022 (2021-40) is about 8p/kWh. Solar park and wind farms' typical operating costs are 2p/kWh. 8p/kWh - 2p/kWh = an average saving of about 6p/kWhp/kWh generated. The average residential retail electricity price, based on BEIS's projections (2021-2040) is about 20p/kWh. 6p/kWh is 30% of 20p/kWh (we have used a conservative 25% to be on the safe side).

3. 2. Ripple is up to 70% cheaper than installing rooftop solar

   Using Eon's home solar packages from March 2024 and assuming 11% load factor, the lowest starting cost of installing a 2.61kW solar system is £5,785. This generates 2,515kWh annually. To reach a typical UK household's generation of 2,700kWh, the cost would be £6,436. Ripple's cost for the same generation amount 2,700kWh is approximately £1,903, making Ripple 70% cheaper than rooftop solar.

4. 3. How much could you save?

   Household size:

   Consumption estimates based on Ofgem's revised Profile Class 1 electricity TDCVs.
   Super consumption estimate based on electricity required by a Nissan Leaf electric car (efficiency of 264Wh/mile) travelling 8,000 miles a year added to the high usage figure. 264Wh/mile x 8,000miles = 2,112kWh. 4,300kWh + 2,112kWh = 6,412kWh.

   Typical savings per year:

   The average volume weighted wholesale electricity price, using BEIS's Energy and Emissions Predictions 2022 (2021-40) is about 8p/kWh. Solar park and wind farms' typical operating costs are 2p/kWh. 8p/kWh - 2p/kWh = an average saving of about 6p/kWhp/kWh generated. The average residential retail electricity price, based on BEIS's projections (2021-2040) is about 20p/kWh. 6p/kWh is 30% of 20p/kWh (we have used a conservative 25% to be on the safe side).

   CO₂ Savings:

   Assuming 492gCO₂ saved per kWh, based on the UK Governments conversion factors for company reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.

   Trees:

   The Woodland Carbon Code suggests an average of 350,000kgCO₂ is sequestered per hectare of forest over 50 years, so 7,000kg per year. Forestry Research recommends planting 2,500 trees per hectare. For each tree planted 7,000/2,500 = 2.8kgCO₂ captured each year. 20,000,000 / 2.8 = 7,142,857 trees.

5. 4. 5 panels to generate its annual electricity needs

   We anticipate using 74,334 panels across the site to generate 41,172 MWh, therefore each panel will generate about 0.55MWh. 2.7MWh divided by 0.55 is 4.9 panels.

6. 5. That's the same as taking 12,895 cars off the road

   Based on an average mileage of 7,400 miles per year and average CO₂ emissions per gallon of 10.9kg for a small car with 52mpg. (10.9kgCO₂pg / 52mpg) x 7,400miles/yr = 1,551kgCO₂. 20,000,000kgCO₂ / 1,551kgCO₂ = 12,895 small cars, according to carbon independent.org.

7. 6. That's the same as 18,709 people going vegan

   Based on a carbon saving of 1,069kg per person going vegan. 19,000,000kg / 1,069kg = 17,800 people. Scarborough et al 2014.

8. 7. That's the same as the weight of 219,780 baby elephants

   According to National Geographic the average weight of a baby African elephant is 91kg. 20,000,000kg / 91kg = 219,780 elephants.

9. 8. A typical employee could save around 1,300kgCO₂ per year

   For a 2,700kWh share of the project with 492gCO₂ saved per kWh, based on UK Government Greenhouse Gas Emissions provisional figures. 2,700kWh x 492gCO₂/kWh = 1,328kgCO₂. Please note: 532kgCO₂/MWh is the carbon intensity of fossil fuelled electricity generation in the UK, see UK Gov 2022 Greenhouse Gas Emissions. This factor is used as solar generation displaces fossil fuelled generation. A reduction has been applied to account for panel degradation.

10. 9. 73% of workers want improved sustainability policies

    According to a survey of 1,000 office workers commissioned by TopLine Film.

11. 10. Generation to power the average UK home for one year

    Whitelaw Brae

    On average, it will take less than 10 minutes for Whitelaw Brae Wind Farm to generate enough electricity to power the average UK home for a whole year. At maximum power, Whitelaw Brae Wind Farm generates 145.7GWh a year (145,700MWh). There are 8,766 hours in a year so it will generate 16.6MWh an hour on average. 2.7MWh (typical UK household) divided by average of 16.6MWh is 0.16 of an hour, which is 9 mins and 45 seconds, rounded up to 10mins.

    At full power Whitelaw Brae will export 57MW. A typical household's annual consumption is 2.7MWh, therefore it would take (2.7 / 57) 0.047 hours to generate a household's annual needs - that's less than 3 minutes.

    Derril Water

    It will take on average 34 minutes for the solar park to generate enough electricity to power the average UK home for one year. At maximum power Derril Water generates 41,172MWh a year. There are 8,766 hours in a year and 2.7MWh demand so it will generate 4.7MWh an hour on average. 2.7 divided by average of 4.7MWh is 0.61 of an hour, which is 34 mins.

    Kirk Hill

    In less than 10 minutes, Kirk Hill wind farm will generate enough electricity to power the average UK home in one year. At maximum power Kirk Hill wind farm generates 18.8MWh in an hour, or 313kWh per minute. Typical UK household uses 2,700kWh per year. 2,700kWh / 313kWh per minute = 8.62 minutes.
    Ofgem’s Typical Domestic Consumption Values for Gas and Electricity

12. 11. Over the last year 26% of the UK's electricity has come from wind

    According to data from Drax Electric Insights.

13. 12. By 2030, 64% of the UK's electricity could come from wind

    According to BloombergNEF's New Energy Outlook 2019.

14. 13. Over 11,500 wind turbines in the UK

    According to RenewableUK’s Wind Energy Statistics.

15. 14. Electricity generation from wind power in the UK has increased by 715% from 2009 to 2020

    Based on analysis by the IPCC finding onshore wind to be the lowest CO₂ source of power and BEIS’s Electricity Generation Costs 2020 report.

16. 15. 84% of people in the UK support onshore wind

    According to the BEIS’s Public Attitudes Tracker: Autumn 2021.

17. 16. The greenest and cheapest electricity in the UK

    Based on analysis by the IPCC, finding onshore wind to be the lowest CO₂ source of power and BEIS’s Electricity Generation Costs 2020 report.

18. 17. Enjoy low, stable priced onshore wind power

    For projects commissioning in 2025 according to BEIS’s Electricity GenerationCosts 2020 report.

19. 18. Onshore wind is the lowest CO₂ source of power

    According to analysis by the IPCC.

20. 19. Tonnes of CO₂ emissions saved per year

    Assuming 492gCO₂ saved per kWh, is the carbon intensity of fossil fuelled electricity generation in the UK, see UK Government Greenhouse Gas Emissions provisional figures. Please note: 532kgCO₂/MWh is the carbon intensity of fossil fuelled electricity generation in the UK, see UK Gov 2022 Greenhouse Gas Emissions. This factor is used as solar generation displaces fossil fuelled generation. A reduction has been applied to account for panel degradation.

    Whitelaw Brae

    Assuming 531gCO₂ saved per kWh, is the carbon intensity of fossil fuelled electricity generation in the UK, see UK Government Greenhouse Gas Emissions provisional figures.

    Whitelaw Brae’s estimated yearly output is 147,500MWh. 531kgCO₂/MWh x 147,500MWh = 78,322,500kgCO₂ = 78,322 tonnes of CO₂. Annual CO₂ savings of a member with ownership of 2.7MWh x 531kgCO₂/MWh = 1,434kgCO₂.

    Derril Water

    Derril Water’s estimated yearly output is 41,500MWh. 492kgCO₂/MWh x 41,500MWh = 20,418,000kgCO₂ = 20,418 tonnes of CO₂.

    Kirk Hill

    Kirk Hill's estimated yearly output is 60,300MWh. 492kgCO₂/MWh x 60,300MWh = 29,667,600kgCO₂ = 29,667 tonnes of CO₂.

    Graig Fatha

    Graig Fatha's estimated yearly output is 6,681MWh. 492kgCO₂/MWh x 6,681MWh = 3,287,052kgCO₂ = 3,287 tonnes of CO₂. Annual CO₂ savings of a member with ownership of 2.7MWh = 1328kgCO₂.

21. 20. One swoosh of the turbine's blades could power your home for 8 hours

    At rated speed and assumes a typical household demand of 2,700kWh per annum Ofgem’s revised Profile Class 1 electricity TDCVs.

22. 21. 100% renewable electricity

    Electricity backed by 100% renewable sources, E.ON’s renewable generation assets, agreements with UK generators and the purchase of renewable electricity certificates. The electricity supplied to your home or business comes from the National Grid and DNOs.

23. 22. Average savings for Graig Fatha members

    First-year generation from March 2022 to February 2023 with a savings rate of 9.6p/kWh and the second-year generation from March 2023 to March 2024 with a savings rate of 27p/kWh.

24. 23. EV drivers costs and savings

    The costs and savings are based on a Tesla Model Y as UK's best-selling cars of 2022. According to the ev-database.org the energy consumption of a Tesla Y is 164Wh/km which is 264Wh/mile (164 * 1.609 = 264). 264 / 1000 = 0.264kWh/mile. The average car mileage according to the Department for Transport for the UK is currently 6,800 miles per year. 6,800 * 0.264 = 1,795kWh annual consumption.

25. 24. New turbine development in England

    21 new turbines were built between 2016-2022 - less than 3% of the number of turbines built between 2009-2015, according to RTPI.org.uk.