Vattenfall Sells Rights to 240 MW Wind Farm in Scotland

Vattenfall has taken the FID to construct the 240 MW South Kyle Wind Farm in Scotland, which will be able to power approximately 170,000 UK homes on completion

Vattenfall has taken the final investment decision to construct the 240 MW South Kyle Wind Farm, which will be able to power approximately 170,000 UK homes, saving close to 300,000 tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The project which is located in the southwest of Scotland will consist of 50 wind turbines when completed (expected Q1 2023).

“The planned construction of the South Kyle Wind Farm shows our commitment to the United Kingdom and its transition to climate neutrality as well as delivering on Vattenfall’s goal to enable fossil free living within one generation”, says Magnus Hall, CEO of Vattenfall.

As an essential part of the project, Vattenfall has entered a partnership with renewable infrastructure fund Greencoat UK Wind, who will acquire the wind farm following its completion. Vattenfall will construct the wind farm and will manage the asset on behalf of Greencoat for a minimum of 10 years. Vattenfall will also purchase the power for a period of 15 years.

Greencoat UK Wind is a renewable infrastructure fund, invested in 36 operating UK wind farms with net generating capacity of 998 MW. The firm provides investors with the opportunity to participate in the ownership of UK wind farms, thereby increasing the resources and capital dedicated to the deployment of renewable energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

“The transition towards a fossil-free future is in full swing and requires large investments in renewable energy. Therefore, we are delighted to be partnering with Greencoat UK Wind and realise the South Kyle Wind Farm. South Kyle will significantly contribute to the renewable energy production in Scotland” says Gunnar Groebler, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Wind at Vattenfall.

In line with UK government guidance to ensure the safety of employees amid the COVID-19 pandemic, construction of the wind farm will begin once it is appropriate to do so. Therefore, a timeline for construction is yet to be confirmed. 

In August 2019, the Swedish state-owned power company had announced that it had officially opened Denmark’s, Scandinavia’s and Vattenfall’s largest offshore wind farm, the 407 MW Horns Rev 3 in the North Sea. The 49 wind turbines on Horns Rev 25-40 km off Denmark’s west coast in the North Sea increase the Danish power production from the wind with around 12 percent. Enough to power the yearly consumption in 425,000 Danish households.