Scottish Water tests the wind for self-sufficiency

PROPOSALS for a wind farm in Angus are to be explored by Scottish Water as it investigates ways it can become self-sufficient in energy.
The utility company is working with Eneco Wind UK which has been awarded the rights to examine the development of a wind farm of up to 54MW on land at the Backwater Reservoir near Kirriemuir. The 18-turbine project, which will be known as Macritch Hill, will have the capacity to generate 142GWh a year, almost a third of Scottish Water’s annual energy requirement.
Eneco has started a consultation programme and the results, along with impact assessments and technical surveys, will determine the over-all scale and design of the farm.
Eneco, whose head office is in Rotterdam, was chosen as partner following a decision by the utility to investigate and develop “all appropriate opportunities” on its land and assets to build a range of renewable energy schemes. Eneco already owns and operates a development near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire and is nearing completion of a 51MW farm near Inverness.
Chris Banks, commercial director at Scottish Water, said generating renewable energy on appropriate sites is a natural fit for the company. “We want to become increasingly energy efficient while helping to meet Scotland’s ambitious renewable energy targets. That’s why we are exploring the feasibility of renewable energy development on suitable Scottish Water land.
“The more Scottish Water commits to renewable generation on its own assets at stable future prices the more efficient we become and that can only be good for all our customers across Scotland.”
Elsewhere, Scottish Water is entering the final phase of the Loch Ryan project to upgrade the waste water treatment and sewer network for Stranraer and surrounding villages. The scheme includes flood prevention, a new waste water treatment system and sewers, a pumping station and a long outfall pipe.
Project manager Stephen Hepburn said: “Work recently started at Fairway to install new waste water infrastructure that will play a part in enhancing water quality in the burns and streams that feed into Loch Ryan. This is one of several small projects that feed into the overall waste water management in the area.”
Contractor for the scheme is Leslie MWH.