Europe’s biggest consented wind farm in Scotland worth £500M will direct £200M to local businesses – First Minister Salmond

The site of Europe’s biggest consented wind farm, the Clyde wind farm in southern Scotland, was recently visited by First Minister, Rt Hon. Alex Salmond MSP prior to full construction by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), slated at the beginning of next year.

“The Clyde wind farm is a £500 million development that will direct more than £200 million of investment to businesses in Scotland. I am delighted that the towers for this groundbreaking 152-turbine development will be manufactured right here in Scotland,” said the Minister.

The project is expected to power 200,000 homes annually, create 200 construction jobs, and more than 30 jobs upon operation. SSE is also planning to set up a fund of more than $20 million over 25 years for local community projects.

In line with the announcement that £200 million of the project’s investment will be placed with Scottish companies, the preferred wind turbine supplier Siemens plans “to place an order in excess of £10 million” for the construction of wind turbine towers at the Welcon Towers facility, at Machrihanish in Argyll, western Scotland. More than 100 jobs are expected to be generated by the said plan. Orders for offshore wind farm developers are also projected.

“The sheer scale of the Clyde wind farm reflects Scotland’s ambition and ability to become the clean, green energy capital of Europe. The development of Europe’s largest single consented on-shore wind farm in South Lanarkshire reinforces the Scottish Government’s commitment to reduce harmful emissions while capitalizing on the vast opportunities renewable energy presents,” the Minister added.

SSE is the second largest electricity generator in the UK and Ireland, owning around 10,700 megawatts of generating capacity. It supplies electricity and gas to more than nine million UK customers.

Europe’s biggest consented wind farm in Scotland worth £500M will direct £200M to local businesses – First Minister Salmond

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