A Canadian plc renewable energy company has formed a 50-50 joint venture with a UK counterpart to build up to 10 new wind power farms in Scotland.
Montreal-based Boralex and Infinergy Ltd plan to invest around £6.5 million in a network of new onshore wind farms with a combined design capacity of 325 megawatts – capable of meeting the energy demands of 150,000 average households over the next 24 months.
Varying from 6- to 80-MW in size, these projects are at different stages of development, from early stage to being on the verge of full authorisation.
With close to 70 MW of other wind projects already being developed by Boralex in Scotland, this joint venture enables the company to increase its future footprint as well as taking advantage of the ‘significant Scottish wind resource’.
The 10 joint venture projects include the following proposed new wind farms in Scotland:
Limekiln Wind Farm, Caithness, 63MW
Ardtaraig Wind Farm, Argyll & Bute, 30MW
Lochluichart Wind Farm Extension 2, Ross-shire, 32MW
Shepherd’s Rig Wind Farm, Dumfries & Galloway, 76MW
Stroanshalloch Wind Farm, Dumfries & Galloway, 33MW
Infinergy will act as the principal developer of the joint venture projects.
This is the second major inward investment in Scotland’s wind-powered electricity generation industry within a week.
On Monday (16 Oct 2017) we revealed that Norwegian power company Statkraft and Airvolution Clean Energy had formed an onshore wind development partnership to build a project pipeline of 300 MW investable project opportunities for Scotland.
Patrick Lemaire Patrick Lemaire
Patrick Lemaire, Boralex President and Chief Executive, said: “With Scotland’s strong political will to support the growth of all its renewable energy sources, we are excited to start working with our new partners Infinergy.
“We are confident that Boralex will be able to contribute its unparalleled experience as a wind developer to complement Infinergy’s. We share the common objectives to develop, build and operate as many projects as possible over the next five to seven years.
“Facing declining state subsidies for wind energy all around Europe, the choice to focus on Scotland – knowing it possesses the most favorable wind conditions in Europe – made it very logical both strategically and tactically.”
Boralex is listed on the Toronto stock market. It is leader in the Canadian energy supply market – operating wind, hydro-electric, thermal and solar assets – and is France’s largest independent producer of onshore wind power.
Esbjörn Wilmar, Infinergy Chief Executive, added: “We are very pleased to team up with a new partner who shares our positive outlook on renewable energy in general and the opportunities for onshore wind energy in Scotland in particular.”
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