SmartestEnergy signs deal with Thrive Renewables on 57MW, 14-turbine Whitelaw Brae project

Whitelaw Brae was awarded a Contract for Difference in Allocation Round 7, and once operational, the onshore wind asset will be capable of generating up to 149,400 MWh of clean electricity per year, enough to power around 45,000 UK homes

London, 3 November 2026 – SmartestEnergy, the renewables-focused energy company helping independent generators and businesses navigate the energy transition, has signed a Contract for Difference (CfD) Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) with Thrive Renewables, renewable energy investor, for the Whitelaw Brae project in the Scottish Borders. Whitelaw Brae project in the Scottish Borders. Whitelaw Brae is owned by Fair Play Clean Energy Limited, a joint venture between Thrive Renewables and TopCashback Group Ltd.

This marks Thrive Renewables’ largest onshore wind project to date, bringing together SmartestEnergy’s route to market capabilities with Thrive Renewables’ expertise in renewable generation. Once operational, the onshore wind farm will generate up to 149,400 MWh of clean electricity per year. This is the equivalent of powering around 45,000 UK homes[1] and delivering 63,000 tonnes of emissions reductions[2].

SmartestEnergy and Thrive Renewables have collaborated on a number of projects previously, so this latest development builds on the long-standing relationship already in place. A key factor for Thrive Renewables in the appointment of SmartestEnergy as its commercial partner for Whitelaw Brae, is its experience managing transmission-connected assets, along with its competitive commercial offering and proven capability in managing market risk.

Will Russell, PPA Development Manager at SmartestEnergy, said, “Given its size and scale, Whitelaw Brae is an important project for SmartestEnergy and Thrive Renewables, but also Scotland’s renewable energy sector. The project is Thrive Renewables’ first transmission-connected asset, so they were looking to collaborate with an experienced partner with the flexibility and technical expertise to support its route to market requirements. We’re excited to have been chosen and to have the opportunity to build on our relationship with a long-standing partner on a new project.”

Monika Paplaczyk, Investment Director at Thrive Renewables, said, “We’re delighted with how seamless the process has been partnering with SmartestEnergy on our latest project together. Its experienced team has been working closely with us to deliver the agreement, providing us with the confidence that Whitelaw Brae has a strong route to market partner. Whitelaw Brae supports our company’s 5-year goal of doubling the generation capacity of our portfolio by 2028, whilst also benefitting the local community and enhancing nature on site.”

As well as delivering clean power, the project will provide a community benefit fund of £285,000 a year, and Thrive Renewables is committed to offering an opportunity for the local community to purchase a stake in the onshore wind farm. The project will also enhance biodiversity with native tree planting and the creation of a new network of foot paths across the site, which will form part of the River Tweed Trail.

The final period of construction is now underway at the Whitelaw Brae project site, located near Tweedsmuir, with energisation planned to start before the end of the year. Once operational, the project is expected to generate renewable electricity for at least 30 years.

Image credit: ‘Chris Watt Photography’  

[1] Calculated using the most recent statistics from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) showing that UK average domestic household consumption is 3,323kWh per annum (1,662kWh for a half year).

[2] Carbon reduction is calculated by multiplying the total annual (estimated) generation by the number of tonnes of carbon which fossil fuels would produce to generate the same amount of electricity. We have used DESNZ’s “all non-renewable fuels” emissions statistic of 422 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied from the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (July 2026) Table 5.14 (“Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity supplied”).