Vattenfall will build two new wind farms in the UK
Swedish energy company Vattenfall has announced the construction of two new wind farms in the UK – boosting its renewable energy production. The investment amounts to approximately 460 million pounds, the equivalent of 4.7 billion Swedish crowns.
The investment decision is in line with Vattenfall's ambitions to increase its share of renewable energy generation and will further strengthen Vattenfall's position as a leading supplier of wind power in the UK.
- Currently, the UK market for investing in onshore wind power is an attractive market for Vattenfall because of the Government has backed its development as a crucial part of its growth agenda, says Peter Smink, Vattenfall’s Director for Business Divison Sustainanble Energy Projects.
The largest of the announced wind farm project is Pen y Cymoedd, located in south Wales, near the Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf. The 76-turbine wind farm will have a combined capacity of 228 MW, corresponding to the annual electricity need of approximately 140,000 households.
The investment for Vatttenfall amounts to more than 400 million pounds and the construction of Pen y Cymoedd will commence in 2014. The plant is expected to generate first power by the end of 2016. The construction of the 18-turbine Clashindarroch Wind Farm, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland has just started and will be completed in early 2015.
The investment amounts to 60 million pounds with a targeted capacity of 36.9 MW, corresponding to the annual electricity need of 22,000 households. Since entering the UK market in late 2008 Vattenfall has invested more than 2 billion in five wind farms onshore and offshore. Among other plants, it currently operates Thanet Wind Farm, one of the worlds largest offshore wind farms, located 11 km off the coast of Kent.