The Power of Positive Partnerships

A unique partnership between Fuel Bank Foundation, Graig Fatha Co-op, Ripple Energy and the Welsh Government is helping thousands of people in South Wales stay warm and manage rising energy costs.

Thanks to the Graig Fatha wind farm, near Coedly, since 2022 more than £700k has been raised and distributed to support people living in fuel poverty.

Graig Fatha is the UK’s first cooperatively owned wind farm. More than 900 members of the public are invested in the scheme, with the Welsh Government also providing a £1.1 million grant to support it.

Co-owners of the wind farm benefit by receiving savings on their electricity bills. They also forego some of their returns on the sale of wind-generated electricity to support Fuel Bank Foundation.

Income generated from the Government’s share of the farm is also donated to Fuel Bank and RCT Interlink, a charity that provides free support and advice to community and voluntary groups in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

To date, thanks to the funding generated by Graig Fatha, more than 3,000 emergency fuel vouchers have been issued by Fuel Bank Foundation to support families. This has directly benefitted 4,378 adults and 3,272 children.

Matthew Cole, CEO of Fuel Bank Foundation, said: “Graig Fatha is a fantastic example of what’s possible when communities come together to support renewable energy. This turbine not only generates green energy but also creates a meaningful social impact.

“We are extremely grateful for the support from Ripple Energy, The Welsh Government and the 900 members of the public who co-own the wind farm. Thanks to the energy and the subsequent income generated at Graig Fatha, we are able to provide support to more households in fuel crisis through the provision of same-day emergency fuel vouchers to get their lights, heat and power back on and offer practicable help and advice to prevent them falling into fuel crisis in the future.”

“For the Fuel Bank Foundation, it’s an inspiring reminder of how community-driven initiatives can tackle big challenges like climate change and fuel poverty simultaneously.

“Energy access shouldn’t be a privilege—it’s a necessity. By making renewable energy more affordable, we can reduce financial pressure on households while supporting the transition to a greener future.

“Ripple Energy is pioneering a model where everyone can get involved. The cooperative approach breaks down barriers, allowing people to own a share of their own source of clean, green energy, and contribute to the transition to Net Zero.

“I’m excited to see Ripple scale up and make this model accessible to even more communities.”

Sarah Merrick, Ripple Energy Founder and CEO, said: “Britain’s transition to clean power must work for everyone. At Graig Fatha, we’re proving that community-owned renewable energy can both reduce the cost of electricity for members and generate vital funding to support those facing fuel poverty.

“Nobody should be left behind, and this project shows what’s possible when communities, companies and Governments work together.”