By ScottishPower has acquired wind farm developments from local individual shareholders of 3R Energy and Mitchell Energy. The acquisition will see a combined capacity of 165MW of new clean electricity generation developed near Douglas in South Lanarkshire, 35 miles south of Glasgow.
ScottishPower has signed two separate deals to build wind turbines in central Scotland that could see an investment of over £150 million as part of the company’s pledge to invest in the UK’s green economic recovery and contribute to meeting Net Zero goals.
Both investments will build a renewable energy cluster in South Lanarkshire, totaling 220MW when linked to a similar 55MW project in the area majority-owned by ScottishPower.
The project also involves the repowering of the very first commercial wind farm in Scotland, Hagshaw Hill, which was initially taken over by ScottishPower in 1996.
The overall project is expected to generate 600 peak jobs and 280 long-term jobs.
This will be the third green energy deal since March for ScottishPower owners Iberdrola group. The company acquired €100 million French renewable energy firm Aalto Power. This deal secured 118MW of onshore wind power operating in France and a 636MW project portfolio in various stages of development.
In March, Iberdrola also increased its stake in France’s €2.4 billion offshore wind farm Saint-Brieuc from 70 percent to 100 percent, which will have a capacity of 496MW.
“As we begin to emerge from the coronavirus crisis, investment in green infrastructure can quickly be delivered, creating jobs and offering immediate economic and environmental benefits. This will help to support the UK’s overall recovery at this critical time.
“Globally it is essential that the financial recovery is aligned with climate goals. As today´s announcement demonstrates, companies like ours remain committed to major clean energy investments, fostering quality employment and driving the energy transition forward.”
Ignacio Galán, ScottishPower chairman and Iberdrola CEO.
“Onshore wind is a crucial tool in tackling climate change, and renewable energy is increasingly becoming the backbone of the UK’s power mix. As one of the UK’s leading renewables developers, ScottishPower is committed to investing in a green economic recovery that speeds up progress towards Net Zero.
“Twenty-five years ago we took on Scotland’s first commercial wind farm, which helped to kick-start a clean energy industry that now employs a quarter of a million people in the UK. We see the regeneration of this project as a catalyst for launching a green recovery for the UK economy.”
Keith Anderson, ScottishPower CEO.
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