Dear Member,
Welcome to the first Derril Water Coop newsletter post-Ripple, and to the much anticipated update directly from our newly installed email platform! Whilst we’ve managed to get some messaging out via social media and some emails to our temporary email account, we recognise that is a sub-optimal solution. This this is the start of our own managed channel between Members and their Coop Board and I look forward to sharing our new website and dashboard imminently. Today’s update is broadly similar to that shared in those pre-emptive communications for sake of expediency. We will, of course, be improving the email updates iteratively over the coming weeks and months.
I want to begin by saying a big thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition away from the Ripple model. As your Board, we are highly aware of how unsettling the administration process of Ripple may continue to feel, and we understand your genuine concerns arising from the situation. We also acknowledge that we haven’t been able to communicate as much, or as soon as we would have liked, which is broadly a consequence of the administration situation.
Given the position of DW, our priority, as is the priority for members as a whole, is energisation of the solar farm. I am also really pleased to say that the delivery team and contractors we are working with are equally focussed on getting to this milestone.
Our main message to members is that your project remains on track commence commercial operations this summer. I look forward to being more specific on this as soon as we can. For now, I will share a few other topical updates with you.
1st Energy / Administration of Ripple
Unfortunately we do not have a complete picture of what has happened, or may continue to happen with the assets and administration process of Ripple Energy Ltd. The process of administration from the insolvency firm Begbies Traynor has been unsatisfactory from our perspective. Whilst they are not obliged under law to interact with the various Coops, given the unique nature of the Ripple model we would have hoped for better communication. Which has impacted our communications with members. However, despite this, we have progressed and adapted to the situation as it unfolds, remembering that the DW situation was always different from the other Coops as we are still in construction. What we do know is:
- All employees of Ripple Energy have been made redundant
- The technology platform (your dashboard) has been sold to 1st Energy
- Initially we sought to maintain a relationship with Ripple to continue management services to Derril Water. As it became apparent this would not be a suitable solution, the DW Coop (as have all others), formally ceased that relationship earlier in April. We therefore no longer benefit from a ‘managed service’ from Ripple, but RES continues to oversee the construction works on our behalf.
1stEnergy Situation
I have met the Directors of 1st Energy to discuss what if any services they could provide for DW and other Coops. At this time, we are keeping our options open and will run a competitive process based on our requirements to procure management services in due course.
Ripple Dashboard
In selling the platform to 1st Energy, we believe the administrators would have also had access to shared member details, such as name and email. Whilst on the one hand, this has enabled continued access for members, on the other hand we are unsure whether this is compliant with GDPR rules. Therefore, we have reported (as have all the ex-Ripple Coops) the administrator to the ICO, and await their report.
1stEnergy Communications
Repeating Kirk Hill’s comment on this topic you may have received also, we assume you will all have received an unsolicited email from 1st Energy (1E). We believe (as do some of you) that this is a direct breach of GDPR and it is particularly frustrating that they have done this even after we asked them not to contact members directly and to delete all member data.
Some of you have already responded to 1E on this matter and thank you for sharing those emails and the responses with us. There is further information on this matter on the ICO website here https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/your-right-to-get-your-data-deleted/ but we have a number of GDPR experts within our ranks and one has agreed to us sharing their wording if you wish to contact 1E directly. I will share this template with you as soon as possible.
Project update
The last formal Board meeting was held on the 28th April. Minutes from that meeting alongside all previous have been loaded onto our new portal that I look forward to sharing registration details with you very soon.
The key update from that meeting was a potential short delay to energisation date due to ongoing testing for successful grid connection. Our anticipated commercial operations date has not changed, which is the key milestone dates for members as this is the point when the site starts selling power.
I was able to visit DW in person at the end of March and met with the project team from Ethical Power (our Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contractor), which I also posted on Facebook/LinkedIn. I was impressed with the progress on the site, and with how engaged the team at Ethical and RES have been to work with the board. Clearly, alongside our bank, Virgin Money, all parties are committed to project delivery.
The board has met multiple times informally to navigate the situation as it unfolds and to progress the project. I have been regularly liaising with the other ex-Ripple Coop Boards to share progress and collaborate where it makes sense to do so.
To provide project continuity, we have chosen to employ ex-Ripple Chief Project Officer, Simon Peltenburg, on a short term, contractor basis. This is expected to last till energisation. Whilst there may be some member misgivings about retaining an ex-Ripple Director, Simon has extensive renewable development expertise and knowledge that will serve the project well. We believe this is the best option to allow us to retain some continuity during the construction process, and to move us towards energisation as efficiently as possible.
Communication channels
Managing communications for almost 10k members is not as simple as sending a group email, it requires a “business-grade” system. To manage communications to a reasonable standard that is sustainable long term, we will need to set-up our own website. Whilst this is a relatively quick process, we have been temporarily constrained by our limited payment capability due to clearing bank account access, security. Now resolved, we have the ability to pay for services required, as this email demonstrates. This will also facilitate further third-party services we need, from legal to accounting.
We have been using a temporary email [email protected], that I will start to wind down. However, please understand we will remain resource constrained, so please refrain from general or ad-hoc update queries.
Commercial operations
With Ripple falling away, we now have several options to consider for how the solar farm operations will be managed, including the optimum commercial route to market and path to pay savings to members. Part of the critical path to site energisation was getting metering systems in place, which requires input from the meter operator and data collector, who in turn need a supplier in place to enable power to be exported from the site. Whilst we have a few months to work through the options available to us for longer-term export arrangements, we have decided to go with a flexible offer from EDF in the short term to enable energisation.
Members of existing Ripple Coops will be aware that Octopus has been historically for power purchases, which remains an option we will consider in due course. Again, our priority remains site energisation, and EDF were able to act quickly for us. This approach will allow the Board to run a competitive selection process from a range of potential parties for longer term power purchase later this summer.
As these options become clearer, we will engage with members further. For the time being members should be reassured that their investment remains safe, and that this situation affords us the opportunity to consider what is in our long-term best interest to manage DW.
In summary, we are making good progress and looking forward to generating power for members this summer. Things will look different from how we all expected at the start of this project, but the consistent fact is you are a shareholder of a 42MWp solar site that will provide renewable power and savings for members and their households for many years to come. We look forward to engaging members more regularly through our own website soon and subsequently setting up a live update meeting in due course.
Across the DW Coop and SPV we have seven volunteer Board members, who have stepped up above and beyond their anticipated contribution for this project. We are comfortable that we have a clear path and necessary resources for the project to commence commercial operations. For now, and on behalf of your Board, thank you for your ongoing support and patience.
Best Wishes,
Ben Reade, Derril Water Chair
