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News
Another first for the UK
Hadyard Hill becomes the first wind farm in the UK to generate over 100 MW of power
Tuesday 11 April 2006
 Hadyard Hill, owned and operated by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), has become the first wind farm in the UK to generate over 100 megawatts (MW) of power.
The 120 MW, 52-turbine wind farm in South Ayrshire reached the milestone as it nears completion of its commissioning phase.
Over a year, the £85 million plant will generate enough electricity to power 80,000 homes, sufficient to supply every household in a city the size of York.
The production of zero carbon electricity at the wind farm is expected to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by almost 300,000 tonnes a year, equivalent to taking 70,000 cars off the road.
Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE, said:
“During 2005, the UK became one of only eight countries in the world to have more than 1,000 MW of wind energy capacity. I am very pleased that in 2006 we have enabled it to pass another green energy milestone – with the first wind farm in the UK to produce over 100 MW of electricity.
“It is clearly to the UK’s advantage that it should minimise its dependence on depleting fossil fuels and maximise its exploitation of indigenous sources of energy, particularly renewables. Hadyard Hill demonstrates that wind farms can make a meaningful contribution to meeting the UK’s energy needs.”
British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) CEO Marcus Rand, added:
"This record breaking contribution to the UK's electricity supply from a 120 MW onshore wind energy project is a welcome addition to another record breaking year for the UK wind industry. With 171 MW operational since January and a total of 665 MW due to be built this year, onshore wind is now firmly established as an essential part of the UK's energy mix. Moving forward, BWEA research published last month demonstrates that onshore wind will continue to lead the UK’s renewable energy developments, by delivering close to 5% of the UK’s electricity supply by 2010.”
Notes
- For more information on Scottish and Southern Energy visit their website at www.scottish-southern.co.uk
- For more information on UK wind farms, both on and offshore, due for completion in 2006 visit, see BWEA's definitive database UKWED
- New research from BWEA, Onshore Wind: Powering Ahead, released 27 March, identifies that by 2010, the onshore wind industry could generate 50 per cent more electricity than previously predicted, and could deliver nearly half of the Government’s 2010 renewable energy target. The report indicates that the onshore wind industry could install 6,000 MW of capacity by 2010, generating almost 5 per cent of UK electricity supply, equivalent to the needs of over 3 million homes, and potentially displacing six million tonnes of coal burn in power stations and avoiding 13 million tonnes of CO2 emissions or displacing 2.9 billion cubic metres of gas, reducing imports, and avoiding six million tonnes of CO2 emissions. The full report and Executive Summary are available at www.bwea.com/media/news/060327.html
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