THE ESB has bought its first wind farms in Britain for an undisclosed sum. One is based in Devon and the other is the West Durham.
An ESB spokesman said prices are not being disclosed "for commercial reasons".
The deals mean the Irish semi-state energy group has reached almost half its 2012 target for wind generation in Britain.In its corporate strategy the group said it wanted to have 200MW of electricity under generation in the renewable sector in Britain by 2012.
Fullabrook Wind Farm in Devon has permission to generate up to 66MW of electricity generation with construction expected to start early next year.The 24MW West Durham wind farm, near Tow Law in the north-east of England, started generating power last May.
The group also set out a target of having 3GW of electricity under generation in the conventional manner in Britain also by 2012. It has acquired two conventional plants there including a base in Southampton helping it to move towards its GW target.
ESB’s head of wind development, Joe O’Mahony, said the deals marked the first step in the company’s strategy to achieve 200MW of wind generation in Britain by 2012.
"We are committed to developing a balanced portfolio of generation with less reliance on fossil fuels. Market convergence between the UK and Ireland, and delivery of our low carbon strategic framework, means that ESB sees the UK as a key market. We are delivering on our strategic objectives to become a significant investor in the UK renewables market," he said.
ESBI launched a major investment strategy in Britain last November that has significant plans to develop or acquire wind energy projects.That is in line with the ESB’s strategy to halve its carbon emissions in 12 years and to achieve carbon zero emission by 2035.
Overall, ESB has allocated €4bn specifically for direct investment in renewable generation projects.
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, July 30, 2009
An ESB spokesman said prices are not being disclosed "for commercial reasons".
The deals mean the Irish semi-state energy group has reached almost half its 2012 target for wind generation in Britain.In its corporate strategy the group said it wanted to have 200MW of electricity under generation in the renewable sector in Britain by 2012.
Fullabrook Wind Farm in Devon has permission to generate up to 66MW of electricity generation with construction expected to start early next year.The 24MW West Durham wind farm, near Tow Law in the north-east of England, started generating power last May.
The group also set out a target of having 3GW of electricity under generation in the conventional manner in Britain also by 2012. It has acquired two conventional plants there including a base in Southampton helping it to move towards its GW target.
ESB’s head of wind development, Joe O’Mahony, said the deals marked the first step in the company’s strategy to achieve 200MW of wind generation in Britain by 2012.
"We are committed to developing a balanced portfolio of generation with less reliance on fossil fuels. Market convergence between the UK and Ireland, and delivery of our low carbon strategic framework, means that ESB sees the UK as a key market. We are delivering on our strategic objectives to become a significant investor in the UK renewables market," he said.
ESBI launched a major investment strategy in Britain last November that has significant plans to develop or acquire wind energy projects.That is in line with the ESB’s strategy to halve its carbon emissions in 12 years and to achieve carbon zero emission by 2035.
Overall, ESB has allocated €4bn specifically for direct investment in renewable generation projects.
This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, July 30, 2009
