ScottishPower Renewables (SPR), the largest developer and generator of onshore wind power in the UK, nearly doubled its electricity output during 2009, producing just over 1.7 million megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity from its 23 operational windfarms. The rise of 43.8% on 2008 figures meant that the company produced enough clean, green electricity to power the average annual needs of over 375,000 homes.

During 2009 the company completed construction at Europe’s largest onshore windfarm, Whitelee, near Glasgow.  The Scottish Government has since granted planning consent for two major extensions to the site, which will increase the maximum output from the windfarm to 593MW.

Recently, in partnership with Vattenfall, SPR was awarded the rights to develop a major offshore windfarm off the coast of East Anglia by the Crown Estate, which has the potential to produce up to 7.2GW of electricity. The company is currently developing its first offshore windfarm, with a two-thirds stake in the 500MW West of Duddon Sands project, as well as holding the development rights to a site west of Argyll and the island of Tiree that has the potential to generate anywhere between 500MW to 1800MW of electricity.

Iberdrola Renovables, SPR’s parent company, produced a combined 21.5 million MWh of renewable energy during 2009, an increase of 26% on the previous year.

Of the total, 20.9 million MWh are produced by the company’s windfarms, 560,000 MWh at its small-scale hydro plants and 21,000 MWh from other technologies.

In wind power, 9.6 million MWh were generated in Spain, 7.7 million MWh in the US, 1.7 million MWh in the UK and 1.7 million MWh in the rest of the world.

Keith Anderson, Director of ScottishPower Renewables, said: “2009 was a landmark year for ScottishPower Renewables. Not only did we complete the largest windfarm in Europe, but we also laid the foundations for our expansion into offshore wind.

“We ended the year with a pipeline of over 5,000MW and have already announced our ambitions to co-develop the 7200 MW East Anglia Array offshore project. As part of the largest wind energy company in the world, ScottishPower Renewables has the support and ambition to continue to be a leader in renewable energy in the UK.”

Notes to Editors:

• ScottishPower Renewables is part of Iberdrola Renovables, the largest wind energy company in the world with an installed capacity of close to 11,000 MW at the end of 2009, and a pipeline of over 57,400 MW. ScottishPower Renewables had over 800 MW of installed capacity at the end of 2009, and a pipeline of 5,115 MW.

Media Information: Simon McMillan 0141 566 4875 / 07753 622 257