From New Age traveller to green energy mogul and diamond maker

Health · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: How does a former traveller, once involved in the 1985 Battle of the Beanfield, become a £107 million business magnate? Explore the unconventional journey of Dale Vince, the man behind the world's first all-vegan football club and carbon-neutral energy ventures.

Born in Norfolk in 1961, Dale Vince’s path from a 15-year-old school leaver to a prominent business leader is marked by radical shifts. After spending time as a New Age traveller and participating in the 1980 occupation of RAF Molesworth, Vince transitioned into the renewable energy sector. In 1995, he founded the Renewable Energy Company, which later became Ecotricity, and launched his first wind turbine in 1996. His early years were shaped by his family's Fenland haulage business. Before his energy career took off, he was present during the 1985 Battle of the Beanfield at Stonehenge.

Vince’s influence extends into professional sports and high-tech manufacturing. In 2010, he became the chairman of Forest Green Rovers, transforming it into the world's first all-vegan and carbon-neutral football club. His environmental ventures include the creation of 'Nemesis,' a modified electric supercar that set a UK land speed record for electric vehicles in 2012, and SkyDiamond, a company that uses carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere to produce chemically identical artificial diamonds. His technological reach includes the Electric Superhighway, a network of charging stations he sold to Gridserve in 2021. He also established the Green Britain Foundation in 2012 to promote physical recreation and nature protection.

Despite his commercial success, Vince's life has been marked by significant legal and financial complexities. He has faced high-profile financial claims from former spouses, including a 2016 settlement of £300,000 to his first wife, Kathleen Wyatt, and a 2024 High Court order to pay £43.51 million to his second wife, Kate Lane. Beyond business, he remains a polarizing figure in politics, known for his donations to the Labour and Green parties and his outspoken views on international conflicts. His political influence is reflected in his support for Caroline Lucas and his donations to various environmental groups like Greenpeace. He also recently announced plans to implement an eco-curriculum in 12,000 UK schools by 2025.

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