British Energy and Amec to Partner on Europe's Largest Wind Farm13/12/2001A project to create Europe's largest wind farm on Lewis, off the West coast of Scotland, was officially launched today by Energy Minister, Brian Wilson at a press conference on the island. The facility will involve the construction of up to 300 wind turbines and create at least 600 MW of electrical power - around one per cent of the UK's electricity needs - along with a cable to link to the UK mainland. The project, with an investment value of £600 million over the next six years, will be developed jointly by AMEC and British Energy and will greatly assist the UK Government to achieve its targets for sustainable energy generation by 2010. Benefits to the regional community would be considerable in terms of local employment and revenue and would establish the Western Isles as the 'renewables capital of Europe'. It will also provide long term income for members of the Stornoway Trust - the local landowners - and see the re-opening of local fabrication facility Arnish Point, as a turbine and tower manufacturing plant. The first stage of the project, which is starting immediately, will involve AMEC undertaking a detailed feasibility study. The project has already been developed in close and ongoing consultation with the local community and various interest parties, including Scottish National Heritage, RSPB, Western Isles Enterprise, Western Isles Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Brian Wilson, Minister for Energy said: "It has long been recognised that the Western Isles offer outstanding potential for the development of renewable energy. I am delighted that a project of such significance has emerged and that it would not only contribute to our energy needs but also create manufacturing employment on Lewis. "If we are serious about the development of wind and wave energy, we need to reassess our electricity distribution system. I recently commissioned a study looking into scope for a sub-sea cable system linking the Western seaboard of Scotland, the North West of England, Northern Ireland, West Wales and possibly the South West of England." AMEC chief executive, Peter Mason, said: "I am very pleased that AMEC is involved in such an exciting renewable energy project. It will, by any standards, firmly establish wind power as an essential element of the UK's energy mix. AMEC is fully committed to the renewable energy market and with our partners we already operate five wind farms, including the UK's first offshore wind farm". British Energy's executive chairman Robin Jeffrey said : "I'm delighted that British Energy is a partner in this venture - the UK's biggest generator getting involved in the country's biggest windfarm. But what's more important is that it fits so well with our vision of the future - with commercial wind power and nuclear energy as natural partners complementing each other in combating global warming, and giving Scotland a leading international role in developing sustainable energy systems of the future." British Energy is already involved in developing an off-shore wind farm near Skegness in the UK, and an on-shore wind farm on the shores of Lake Huron in Canada - in each case in partnership with other energy companies. Ends Contacts: AMEC British Energy Photos available from |
