Launched one year ago in Lincolnshire, the innovative tariff has saved customers an average of nearly £200 annually, with the top 5% saving close to £400.
The ‘Fan Club’ rewards customers for using energy when local offshore wind turbines are generating. During periods of strong sea breezes, the tariff triggers a 50% discount on electricity bills. Notifications via the Octopus Energy app allow customers to plan energy-intensive activities like laundry to coincide with these savings opportunities.
Celebrating one year of success
To mark the anniversary, Octopus hosted a competition for local customers, offering winners a boat trip to visit the Lincs offshore wind farm.
The scheme is part of Octopus Energy’s wider efforts to expand its green energy offerings. Currently, the ‘Fan Club’ is also available in three onshore locations: Market Weighton and Halifax in Yorkshire, and Caerphilly in Wales.
Octopus is using its proprietary tech platform ‘Winder’ to identify potential new sites for ‘Fan Clubs’. This tool matches community support for wind power with suitable land, earning it the nickname “Tinder for wind.”
Meeting UK energy goals
The UK, with around 14GW of installed offshore wind capacity, aims to quadruple this figure by 2030. Offshore wind already plays a critical role in the nation’s energy mix.
Octopus Energy holds stakes in three UK offshore wind farms, including Lincs, Hornsea One, and Walney Extension, as well as others in Germany and the Netherlands. The company continues to invest in offshore wind projects worldwide.
Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, said: “The success of our offshore wind ‘Fan Club’ tariff over the past year shows us what the future of energy can look like. By incentivising people to use energy when wind power is abundant locally, we can put money back into customers’ pockets.”
Image: Octopus