A Spanish-owned utility company has unveiled plans to build 80 megawatts (MW) of wind capacity across a number of UK landfill sites.
Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), a leading multinational environmental services, infrastructure and energy group, owns more than 100 landfill sites in England, Scotland and Wales through UK subsidiary
Waste Recycling Group (WRG). It says it is going to invest £100 million in the roll out, which will mark the Spanish company’s first move into the UK
wind energy sector.
WRG already operates a number of energy from
waste (EfW) incineration facilities at some of its landfill sites and FCC said this latest project would further “leverage” WRG’s UK waste facilities.
“Generating low carbon electricity locally not only alleviates
energy security concerns but also reduces distribution inefficiencies,” the company said in the statement, adding that its plans would help fill the UK’s anticipated energy gap as older nuclear and coal powered facilities are decommissioned.
The initiative will managed jointly by FCC Energy (FCCE), another subsidiary of FCC and WRG, which will first identify suitable sites from the group’s portfolio.
FCC said the new electricity generating capacity would add to the 533 MW of
renewable capacity FCC currently owns and manages in Spain and the UK.
FCCE operates 14 wind farms in Spain with 422 MW of installed capacity and two photovoltaic plants of 10 MW each in the south of Spain. The company is also building two concentrated solar power (CSP) projects in the country.
“Sustainable energy is a strategic priority for FCC. Our energy division, FCC Energy, plans to leverage FCC’s internal capabilities and competences to continue the group’s solid and stable global growth,” said Alejandro Seco, FCC Energy’s Strategy and Development director.
WRG chief executive Paul Taylor added: “As an environmentally responsible company it is right that we take the opportunity that our extensive landholding offers for the development of wind turbines, and which will contribute to efforts to increase the amount of renewable energy generated in the UK.”
FCC seeking out other wind energy opportunities in the UKTaylor said the group would also seek other opportunities to develop its wind energy activities beyond the current initiative.
FCCE and WRG are currently conducting “a rigorous assessment of all technical and environmental aspects” of sites to ensure the final ones selected are the most appropriate for wind energy developments.
It is anticipated that planning applications for the first wind turbines will be submitted later this year.
Related news:Renewables newsWaste & recycling newsRelated links:www.fcc.eswww.wrg.co.uk