London Electricity buys wind farms from N.Electric
Date: 11-Feb-02
Country: UK
"Our acquisition of Northern Electric's wind portfolio makes the group a significant wind power generator," said London Electricity's chairman and chief executive Bruno Lescoeur in a statement.
The acquisition includes operational on-shore wind farms at Kirkheaton and High Hedley Hope in northeast Britain and Northern Electric's proposed off-shore wind development in the mouth of the river Tees known as Northern Offshore Wind Limited.
London Electricity, owned by Electricite de France , said the total portfolio has a potential generating capacity of up to 115 megawatts - enough to power about 96,000 homes.
The acquisition and investment in marine technology company Marine Current Turbines to carry out research into the possibility of installing underwater turbines to harness tidal currents was concluded via London Electricity unit London Power Company.
Britain's Energy Minister Brian Wilson, commenting on the investment, said: "This is further evidence that renewables is moving into the mainstream of energy production."
The government is keen to boost renewable energy such as wind farms and solar power to curb greenhouse gas emissions, blamed by many scientists for contributing to global warming.
The government has a target of generating 10 percent of Britain's electricity from green sources by 2010, compared with just under three percent at present.
