Statkraft acquires wind farm in Wales
Oslo, Norway - Statkraft has decided to purchase all the remaining shares in the company Catamount Cymru Cyf, which owns the rights to build and operate Blaengwen wind farm in Wales. The purchase is part of Statkraft's wind power focus in Europe.
"Statkraft aims to be a leading wind power player in Europe. United Kingdom enjoys some of the best wind resources in Europe. The UK also has high power prices and favourable framework conditions for renewable energy. The acquisition in Wales is totally in line with our strategy," remarked Managing Director Eivind Torblaa at Statkraft UK.
The project developed by Catamount Cymru Cyf and its joint venture partner Force 9 Energy, was granted consent to construct Blaengwen wind farm in March 2007. The wind farm is located to the north of the town of Carmarthen in southwest Wales and will have a total of 10 wind turbines with a combined installed capacity of 23 megawatts (MW). The expected annual production is around 65 GWh - enough to supply around 16,000 UK households with electricity.
Construction works started last week, and the wind farm is scheduled to enter operation in January 2010. Siemens Wind Power has been chosen as turbine supplier, while the contractor Carillion has been awarded the construction contract.
Statkraft has a series of wind farm projects under development in the United Kingdom. Last summer the company was awarded consent for the construction of Carraig Gheal wind farm in Scotland, with a capacity of 60 MW. In Norway Statkraft owns and operates wind farms at Sm
Source: IWR Online, Nov 11 2008