Friday 28 June 2013

Iberdrola completes Scottish wind farm expansion

ScottishPower Renewables, a subsidiary of Spain-based Iberdrola, has completed the expansion of the Whitelee onshore wind farm (pictured) in Scotland.

Located south of Glasgow, the capacity of the project has been increased from 322MW to 539MW after 75 wind turbines were added. The wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 300,000 Scottish households and prevent the emissions of 840,000 tonnes of carbon every year.

It also has a Visitor Centre, which has had 270,000 people since it was first opened in 2009. It includes a range of interactive displays and exhibitions and a learning hub which caters for primary and secondary school visits to teach them about the technology and science behind renewable energy.

Iberdrola said the UK is a key market for the firm in the development of renewable energy. It added in a statement: “The UK is the springboard for the Company's development of offshore wind and marine energy technologies in Europe, regarded as the second renewables revolution and its number one commitment within the renewables sector for the coming years."

Iberdrola said the expansion provided work for some 350 of its own employees and those of local suppliers and there is now a full-time staff of 49 assigned for operation and maintenance.

Earlier this year ScottishPower Renewables received consent to build a 288MW wind farm in south west Scotland.