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Iberdrola has finalised the purchase of two onshore wind projects in Scotland, with a combined 165-megawatt (MW) capacity and which will involve an investment of around 190 million euros, from individual local shareholders 3R Energy and Mitchell Energy.

The two renewable developments acquired by lberdrola are located in South Lanarkshire, about 20 miles south of Glasgow.

One of these is a project involving the construction of a 100-MW wind farm: 20 turbines with 5 MW capacity each and a maximum height of 200 metres.

In the other, the company will be able to upgrade the first non-experimental wind farm developed in Scotland, some 25 years ago: Hagshaw Hill. The upgrade will increase the facility's operating capacity from 42 MW to 65 MW.

Thanks to this transaction, Iberdrola's subsidiary in the United Kingdom, ScottishPower, will be able to develop its third largest wind farm in the country, which will have a capacity of 220 MW, given that the 165 MW now acquired will be augmented with 55 MW from another nearby park that it was already developing and that is now being reactivated. This complex, which will require an overall investment of about 250 million euros, will be able to supply green energy to almost 135,000 households.

The company led by Ignacio Galán, which will make a record investment of 10 billion euros this year to boost the green recovery, is thus undertaking its third corporate operation since the start of the health crisis.

In the wake of this purchase, Galán noted that "as we overcome the coronavirus crisis, investment in clean infrastructure, which creates jobs and whose delivery times are short, offers immediate economic and environmental benefits, which will support the UK's recovery at this critical time".

The Iberdrola chairman went on to say that "globally, it is essential that the recovery is in line with climate objectives. As today's announcement demonstrates, companies like ours remain committed to investing in clean energy in order to foster quality employment and drive the energy transition".

Iberdrola's new onshore wind farm will be the third largest in the United Kingdom, behind those already operating in Whitelee (539 MW) and Kilgallioch (239 MW). 

This operation allows ScottishPower to continue strengthening its position as the UK's leading 100 % renewable integrated energy company and the group to continue contributing to the UK's ambitious decarbonisation goals.

Third renewable corporate transaction in two months

Iberdrola Group is thus undertaking a third purchase in the European renewable energy sector in two months and the second in just one week.

Last Wednesday, it notified the Spanish National Securities Commission (CNMV) of the acquisition of the French company Aalto Power for just over 100 million euros. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Marseille, Aalto Power provides Iberdrola with 118 MW of onshore wind farms operating in France and a portfolio of onshore wind farm projects in that country in different stages of development that adds another 636 MW.

The integration of Aalto Power, owned until a few days ago by Aiolos and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, reinforces the company's growth plans in renewable generation in France, thanks to the projects the company has and its team of professionals.

Then, on 9 March, Iberdrola acquired 100 % of the capital of the Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm in France, which will involve an investment of approximately 2.5 billion euros.

The 496 MW capacity at this complex, which will begin construction in 2021, will come into operation in 2023, generating enough clean energy to supply 835,000 people.

Located in Brittany, about 16 kilometres off the coast, the Saint-Brieuc wind farm will feature 62 Siemens Gamesa turbines of 8 MW each, which will extend over an area of 75 square kilometres. The wind turbines will have a total height of 207 metres.