Case Studies
Growth in our Renewables
ScottishPower took another step towards its aim of being a world leader in renewable energy during 2005/06 by bringing online another 704 MW of new renewable energy.
The company ended the year as the largest generator of wind power in the UK, and the second largest in the US.
We added 130 MW of new wind energy capacity during the year, with the completion of Black Law in Lanarkshire (97 MW), Callagheen in Northern Ireland (17 MW) and Coldham (16 MW) in Cambridgeshire, our joint venture with the Co-operative Group.
Beinn Tharsuinn, our 29 MW windfarm in Easter Ross was nearing completion at the year end and will be fully commissioned in summer 2006.
At 31 March 2006, we had a windfarm portfolio totalling 288 MW of owned capacity, with 490 MW of projects consented or under construction and over 600 MW onshore and 220 MW offshore in planning. We are well on the way to meeting our target of 1,000 MW of wind energy by 2010.
Construction of the next phase at Black Law
Windfarm has continued since the financial year end and the capacity of the site has increased to 124 MW.
Final planning approval for Whitelee Windfarm, at Eaglesham Moor south of Glasgow, was granted in April 2006. Work is due to begin at the 322 MW site - which will be the largest in Europe - in summer 2006. The first turbines will arrive during 2007 and the first phase of the site will become operational in 2008.
The £330 million, 140 turbine project will provide enough green energy to power over 180,000 homes, roughly equivalent to the whole of Glasgow.
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, said in a keynote address to the All Energy Conference in Aberdeen in May: "The Government's target is that 10% of the UK's electricity will come from renewable sources by 2010 and this will provide a solid foundation that can be built on in order that they can make an even greater contribution to the mix as we look to bridge any future energy gap.
"To do this we will need more schemes like the Whitelee Windfarm which was recently given the green light by the Scottish Executive."
In addition to bringing its own new windfarms on stream, ScottishPower agreed a 15 year deal in February 2006 to purchase the output of a 12 MW windfarm at Dummuies, near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. The site is owned by Englefield Renewable Energy Fund.
PPM Energy added 574 MW of new wind energy capacity during the year with the completion of five projects. These included - Klondike II (75 MW) in Oregon, Trimont (100 MW) in Minnesota, Shiloh (150 MW) in California and 50% of the 198 MW Maple Ridge Windfarm in upstate New York.
The business now has more than 1,400 MW of wind power developed or controlled and aims to achieve a portfolio of 3,500 MW by 2010.
Welcoming the announcement of the company's plans to build a 200 MW windfarm at Big Horn, Washington, US Senator Maria Cantwell said: "I am pleased to support the Big Horn project, which will provide a vital economic boost to Klickitat County, help meet our state's growing need for electricity and help reduce our nation's overdependence on fossil fuels."
PPM Energy's Maple Ridge Project is one of five selected by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to provide
green energy in the first phase of the Renewable Portfolio Standard Program.
Peter R. Smith, President of NYSERDA said: "Increasing the amount of renewable energy that is produced in New York is one of the key components of the state's energy policy. The Maple Ridge project is a shining example of how we can promote economic development, improve our energy security and provide a cleaner, healthier environment for all New Yorkers."
