Centrica buys Scottish wind farm under construction

UK energy group Centrica has increased its wind energy assets with the purchase from Renewable Energy Systems UK Ltd (RES) of a Scottish wind farm under construction. Under the deal, Centrica buys the 26 MW Glens of Foudland project near Huntly in Aberdeenshire and will contract with RES affiliates to provide the turnkey construction contract plus an initial five-year operation and maintenance management service once the wind farm begins operating in summer 2005. Centrica puts the total cost of the acquisition, construction, land lease, maintenance and warranty contracts at around £31 million. When completed, the 20 Bonus 1.3 MW turbines are expected to generate some 80 GWh each year for customers of Centrica's power supply business, British Gas.