Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2008/07/21/lanarkshire_wind_farm/

Scottish gov OKs Europe's biggest onshore wind farm

Windbaggery

By Lester Haines

Posted in Science, 21st July 2008 12:07 GMT

Scottish ministers today greenlighted Europe's largest windfarm.

The 152-turbine, 548MW Clyde wind farm will comprise clusters of turbines straddling the M74 motorway near Abington in South Lanarkshire, providing juice for 320,000 homes. The £600m project will create 200 jobs during construction and 30 full-time operational posts once completed.

Announcing details of the scheme, First Minister Alex Salmond told the World Renewable Energy Congress in Glasgow: "The Scottish Government has an ambitious target to generate 31 per cent of Scotland's electricity demand from renewable sources by 2011 and 50 per cent by 2020. Today's announcement makes it virtually certain that the 2011 target will be met early and represents a significant milestone on the way to achieving the 2020 target.

"Scotland has a clear, competitive advantage in developing clean, green energy sources such as wind, wave and tidal power. We have put renewable energy at the heart of our vision of increasing sustainable, economic growth."

Scotland's wind power plans are already well advanced, with the Eaglesham Moor development, south of Glasgow, promising to deliver 322MW from 140 turbines by 2009.

The Scottish parliament does, however, take pains to consider the possible environmental impact of such installations, and back in April kicked into touch a proposed 181-turbine farm on the Isle of Lewis. ®