Scottish Power signs major turbine deal with Gamesa for new £300m windfarm

Scottish Power Renewables has signed a turbine supply contract with Gamesa for its 239 MW Kilgallioch Windfarm located near Barrhill in south-west Scotland.

The project covers an area of 64km² and lies within both South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway Council boundaries.

With a total investment of over £300 million, the windfarm will consist of 94 turbines of 2.5 MW capacity and two at 2.0 MW providing an overall capacity of 239 MW, enough green energy to power the equivalent of 130,000 households.

Around 250 workers will begin construction this month with turbine deliveries planned to start in February 2016. First power export from the windfarm is expected in October 2016 followed by full operation of the site by 2017. Keith Anderson, Chief Executive, Scottish Power Renewables said:

“Kilgallioch windfarm will become our second largest windfarm in the UK and this year marks a real milestone as we approach 2GW of installed onshore wind capacity – enough to power over 1 million homes.”

Ricardo Chocarro, Gamesa’s CEO for Europe & RoW said “This milestone agreement with Scottish Power evidences the success of our commercial strategy in northern Europe, one of Gamesa’s priority markets, and demonstrates the credibility garnered by our new products – which offer market-leading efficiency and profitability – in the eyes of our customers.”

Job opportunities will be created across a range of tasks including; turbine service and maintenance, waste management, grounds and roads maintenance, and the servicing and maintenance of operational buildings. To encourage local employment opportunities in renewable energy for people in  South West of Scotland, Scottish Power Renewables supported The Energy Skills Partnership’s initiative to develop an industry recognised Wind Turbine Technician training course in both Dumfries & Galloway and Ayr colleges.