Ecotricity

Ecotricity was started by Dale Vince in 1995 as Renewable Energy Company Limited, with a single wind turbine he had used to power an old army truck in which he lived on a hill near Stroud.

Vince later went on to build commercial wind-monitoring equipment, which the company still makes today, using the name Nexgen. Ecotricity started generation with a 40-metre turbine in 1996, which at the time was the largest in the country.

In 2007, Vince ran an advertisement on the back page of The Guardian newspaper inviting Richard Branson to his house to discuss solutions to climate change over a carbon-free breakfast. The ad ran the day after Branson appeared on TV with American former vice president Al Gore, who had managed to persuade Branson that climate change was an issue. The ad included Vince's personal mobile phone number.

Ecotricity was a winner in the 2007 Ashden Awards for sustainable energy. The awards congratulated Ecotricity for its environmental contribution, saying: "The company's turbines are delivering 46 GW·h/yr of renewable electricity and avoiding around 46,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. The installed capacity is expected to double by the end of 2007."

In July 2009, Ecotricity started legal proceedings against French power company EDF Energy for the alleged misuse of the green Union Flag logo, used to promote EDF's Team Green Britain campaign. Ecotricity had previously used a green Union flag in its own advertising and claimed confused customers had contacted it to ask why Ecotricity was co-operating with EDF.

In January 2012, it was announced that Ecotricity has invested in the development of Searaser pump-to-shore wave energy machines, and in June said they were to be deployed in the autumn of that year. In October 2014, Ecotricity and marine consultants DNV GL were moving from laboratory trials to sea trials.

In 2013, Ecotricity's electricity supply became 100% renewable, rather than a mix.

In October 2014, it was announced that Ecotricity had partnered with Skanska to build and finance new turbines, which added a further 100 MW to its existing 70 MW capacity, The following month, the company decided not to attempt new planning applications in England because of the political climate, instead concentrating on Scotland. It went on to spin its small turbine manufacturer out into a subsidiary called Britwind, which, in collaboration with a local company, offered free electricity to crofters in return for installing a small turbine, keeping any excess power generated.

Vehicle recharging (2011 to 2021)

In July 2011, Ecotricity launched a free electric vehicle charging network, sited around the country at 14 of the Welcome Break Motorway service areas, linking London in the south with Exeter in the west and Edinburgh in the north. The charging points were initially equipped with both a UK-standard 13-amp domestic socket and an IEC 62196 32-amp 3-phase socket. There were plans for charging points at RoadChef sites also.

In October 2012, the company started to add 50 kW CHAdeMO fast charging stations, allowing compatible cars to recharge within 30 minutes. In April 2014, it was announced that support for Combined Charging System connectors would be added, and by September Ecotricity had over 120 chargers, branded as the Electric Highway. In May 2014, Ecotricity brought an interim High Court injunction against electric car manufacturer Tesla over its vehicle charging network; this was resolved in an out of court settlement.

In 2014, the Ecotricity vehicle charging network had sporadic software issues after the addition of a new connector which left some chargers not working or not connecting to specific cars.

In December 2014, the network covered 90% of the UK's motorway service stations, with sites also at Land's End and John o' Groats. By December 2015, it had 6,500 members using it once a week or more, and the network, which had hitherto been free to use, began to require payment. From 11 July 2016, a 20-minute fast-charge cost £5, later changed to £6 for 30 minutes, but charges remained free for customers of Ecotricity. Following feedback from users, a balance between the needs of EV drivers and PHEV drivers led to a £3 connection fee, waived for Ecotricity customers, and 17p per KWh.