Tired of deceiving headlines? Worried about misinformation spreading on social media? Here’s how you can set the record straight on renewables

1. ‘Renewables are costly and intermittent. They’ll never be able to meet the UK’s energy demands’

In 2024, more than half of the UK’s electricity was generated from renewables. We also have access to some of the world’s best wind resource, so it’s no surprise that wind was the top source of electricity generation. What happens when sun or wind is lacking? The development of technologies such as battery storage help to stabilise the peaks and troughs in consumer demand, supporting a consistent supply. This combined with hydro, tidal and geothermal has the potential to provide 24/7 baseload power – and that can be used to keep essential things such as lights and appliances running. We’re also seeing a shift towards a smarter grid, with some energy suppliers now offering consumer incentives to encourage a shift in usage patterns that help balance out supply and demand.

It’s important to remember that all energy sources could be called “unreliable”. Access to fossil fuels is dependent on a wide variety of geopolitical, economic and social factors – issues that are often out of our control. Just look at the events following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The UK experienced huge spikes in the cost of energy due to our overreliance on imported oil and gas, pushing an estimated 238,000 households into fuel poverty and causing energy debts to rocket to £3.7bn last year, from £1.8bn in 2021. As well as generating clean electricity, homegrown renewables are key to greater energy security and independence.

2. ‘Wind turbines aren’t green – the construction emits tonnes of carbon emissions and then they just end up in landfill’

Wind turbines pay back all of the carbon produced during their 25- to 30-year lifetime, and they do so within about seven months of operation. Currently, 85% to 90% of wind turbine materials are also recyclable, and we see this improving further as technology continues to evolve. There are some great examples of turbine repurposing. For example, we repurposed the 22-year-old blades on our Sigurd wind turbine in Orkney, working with a local company, Reblade, to turn them into EV charging stations and bike shelters, among other things.

3. ‘Wind and solar farms are destroying our landscape and its natural biodiversity’

Although some people may not like how wind or solar farms look, climate change poses one of the largest long-term threats to nature. It’s vital that we stop burning fossil fuels and replace them with renewable energy sources that will help keep the planet liveable for the generations to come.

Research shows that clean energy projects can actually enhance site biodiversity over their lifetime. In fact, a well-managed solar farm can become a haven for wildlife – providing a unique opportunity to introduce diverse plant life that supports nature and attracts vital pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Scientists from the RSPB and the University of Cambridge have also found that, in some areas, UK solar farms are also helping boost bird numbers by nearly three times compared with arable farmland. And let’s not forget that agricultural livestock, such as sheep, can graze alongside solar panels, meaning farmers can also benefit from projects hosted on their land.

What you might not know is that the owners of wind and solar farms are legally required to deliver at least a 10% increase in on-site biodiversity, with many (such as Thrive) aiming to go beyond this target to further enhance local wildlife. For example, at our Feeder Road battery storage site, we’ve introduced more places for animals to nest and shelter by installing bird, bat and invertebrate boxes. Plus, planted trees, hedgerows and species-rich grassland to strengthen local habitat corridors.