The Arecleoch site will cover an area of 24 km2 and the initial phase of construction will involve laying 65 km of roads and tracks on the site to allow access for the delivery of the 60 turbines. Then the process of laying hundreds of kilometers of cables that will eventually connect the turbines to the electricity grid can begin. In total ScottishPower Renewables anticipate that more than 200 workers will be employed on the project.
The construction of Arecleoch, which will be one of the largest wind farms in Scotland, is further confirmation of ScottishPower Renewables commitment to investing in renewable energies in the UK. The company already boasts Europe’s largest onshore windfarm in the UK at Whitelee with 322 MW of installed capacity which is set to double over the coming years to 600 MW.
The company had 790 MW of installed capacity in the UK at the end of June 2009, a 48.8% increase on the previous year, and a pipeline of 5,018 MW.
IBERDROLA RENOVABLES is the largest wind energy company in the world in terms of installed capacity and output and has the largest project portfolio. Installed capacity at the end of June 2009 totalled 10,003 MW while its pipeline amounted to 56,622 MW**.
* Source: New Energy Finance
**Includes 10,000 MW of the first estimated project contribution of Gamesa Energía by virtue of the strategic agreement signed between Iberdrola Renovables and Gamesa Energía.
www.iberdrolarenovables.es/wcren/corporativa/iberdrola