ScottishPower signs deal for 239MW wind turbines

The renewables arm of ScottishPower has signed a deal to buy almost 100 turbines from Spanish firm Gamesa for its 239 megawatt (MW) wind farm in south-west Scotland.

About 250 workers are due to begin construction on the site, near Barrhill, next month, with turbine deliveries planned to start in February.

The £300 million Kilgallioch project, lying within the boundaries of both South Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway councils, will comprise 94 turbines of 2.5 MW capacity and two at 2 MW, providing enough energy to power the equivalent of 130,000 households.

Keith Anderson, chief executive of ScottishPower Renewables, said: “Kilgallioch wind farm will become our second largest in the UK and this year marks a real milestone as we approach 2 gigawatts of installed onshore wind capacity – enough to power over one million homes.”

Gamesa’s chief executive for Europe, Ricardo Chocarro, added: “This milestone agreement with ScottishPower evidences the success of our commercial strategy in northern Europe, one of Gamesa’s priority markets, and demonstrates the credibility garnered by our new products.”

First power export from the Kilgallioch wind farm is expected in October 2016, followed by full operation of the site by 2017.

Meanwhile, Perth-based rival SSE has sold the Blackcraig and Whiteside Hill wind farm developments in Dumfries & Galloway, along with the Cour site in Argyll & Bute, to Blue Energy for an undisclosed sum.

The three projects will have a combined installed capacity of up to 98.7 MW once constructed.

Martin Pibworth, SSE’s wholesale managing director, said: “The sale represents the next step, following the recent sale of Langhope Rig wind farm, in a programme of disposals to recycle capital and optimise our wind farm pipeline.

“The proceeds from the disposal of these three projects will help to support our future investments in new renewable energy assets.”