Iberdrola receives planning consent for 288 MW kilgallioch wind farm in Scotland

Kilgallioch will see a total investment of over €465 million to become the company’s second largest onshore wind energy project in the UK and one of Europe’s largest wind power plant.

United Kingdom is a key market for the renewable business of IBERDROLA where it operates more than 1,200 MW onshore wind capacity and is developing over 8,000 MW offshore wind energy projects.

IBERDROLA, through its British subsidiary ScottishPower Renewables (SPR), has received consent from the Scottish Government to construct Kilgallioch wind farm in Scotland.

The project will have an operational capacity of up to 288 MW and it will become SPR’s second largest onshore wind project, behind the 539MW Whitelee Windfarm, which is the largest onshore windfarm in the UK.

With a maximum 96 turbines, Kilgallioch will see a total investment of over €465 million. The windfarm will be located south of Barhill, Ayrshire county (Scotland), near the Group’s Arecleoch and Mark Hill facilities.

The company hopes to begin construction in late 2014, or early 2015, and complete within approximately 24 months. When commissioned, it would meet the annual electricity demands of more than 150,000 homes and prevent the emission to the atmosphere of 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

Up to 250 workers will be required to construct the project, helping to boost the local and regional economy in South West Scotland.  During Kilgallioch’s 25 year operational life there will be opportunities for employment in turbine maintenance and opportunities for local companies to gain new business by providing a wide range of services.

The United Kingdom is one of the Group’s core markets for growth in the coming years, particularly in the renewable energy industry.

IBERDROLA is one of the largest developers and generators of wind energy in the UK, with a current operational capacity of more than 1,200 MW. It has recently finished the extension of Whitelee, which with 539 MW capacity is the largest onshore windfarm in the UK. The Company is also extending its Black Law windfarm, from 124 to 193 MW.

IBERDROLA is committed to fostering the development of offshore wind technology, key to the company’s future growth. With the head office of its Offshore Division in Glasgow (UK), the Group is developing a project pipeline of over 8,000 MW across Europe and advances with the necessary caution that any large investment demands.

Among the key projects being developed in the UK, East Anglia offshore, in the North Sea stands out for its size. When completed, it will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, with 7,200 MW capacity. West of Duddon Sands, developed jointly with Dong in the Irish Sea, will be IBERDROLA’s first offshore project. With an installed capacity of 389 MW, the facility will create 500 construction jobs and construction will begin later this year.

Also in the UK, the company is leading pilot wave and tidal energy projects Pelamis 2 and Hammerfest Strom HS1000, being developed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney (Scotland).

http://www.evwind.com/2013/02/15/eolica-en-escocia-iberdrola-logra-permiso-para-construir-un-parque-eolico-de-96-aerogeneradores-y-288-mw/