ScottishPower first to meet green targets

Published on Sunday 28 October 2007 01:19

SCOTTISHPOWER is on course to become the first UK utility to meet the Government's green energy targets following further investment in renewables announced last week.

The company will increase its renewables capacity by a further 200 megawatts (mw) to more than 1,200mw, comfortably taking it above the requirement for 10% of total generation to come from green sources by 2010.

The extra capacity was included in a three-year strategy announced by parent company Iberdrola in Madrid, which focused on its commitment to renewable energy sources.

ScottishPower, which the company acquired in April for 11.6bn, has two large wind farms in Scotland. The first of 144 turbines are due to be built at Whitelee on Eaglesham Moor, which is scheduled to open in 2009 and will generate 322mw of electricity, enough to power 200,000 homes.

Planning permission has just been obtained for Harestanes in Dumfries and Galloway, where there will be 71 turbines generating 213mw.

Separately, a second combined cycle gas turbine plant is to be built at Damhead Creek, 30 miles southeast of London, providing a further 475mw in time for the Olympic Games in 2012.