ScottishPower has become the first integrated energy company in the UK to shift completely from coal and gas generation to wind power, after completing the sale of its traditional generation business to Drax for £702 million.
It is the first vertically integrated UK energy company to exit coal and gas generation, with 100 per cent of electricity to be generated from clean wind power.
Cutting carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2020
Ignacio Galán, chairman and chief executive of
Iberdrola (ScottishPower’s parent group), said: “Energy companies must be part of the solution to climate change. Iberdrola is acting now to cut carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 and be carbon neutral by 2050. The sale of these generation assets is consistent with our strategy.”
Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of
ScottishPower, said: “This is a pivotal shift for ScottishPower as we realise a long-term ambition.
"We are leaving carbon generation behind for a renewable future powered by cheaper green energy. We have closed coal, sold gas and built enough wind to power 1.2 million homes.
“Every working day we are investing over £4 million to deliver cleaner, smarter power for customers. From today we can focus solely on making energy generation cheaper, cutting carbon quicker, building smart grids and connecting customers to renewable electric future for transportation and heating.”
In the last decade ScottishPower has closed all of its coal plants, and with the sale of the remaining gas and hydro stations, the company now generates 100 per cent of its electricity from wind power.
Currently ScottishPower has 2,700 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity operating or under construction in the UK, and a pipeline of future projects capable of generating more than 3,000 MW.
Investing £5.2bn to 2022, with a focus on renewable energy
ScottishPower is investing £5.2 billion to 2022, with a focus on renewable energy, enhanced grid networks and smart technology for customers.
In offshore wind alone in the UK, ScottishPower has a pipeline of 2,900 MW beyond the 714 MW under construction at East Anglia ONE.
The company is closely following the proposals by the Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland, with ambitions to secure additional development areas in the next round of offshore wind leases throughout the UK.
The sale forms part of Iberdrola’s €3 billion global asset rotation plan, which was announced to the market in February 2018 as part of the company’s strategic outlook, setting out core business objectives to 2022.
The rotation of assets is designed to complement growth plans and support a commitment to carbon reduction. Globally Iberdrola aims to reduce emissions by 30 per cent by 2020, and 50 per cent by 2030 compared to 2007 and be carbon neutral by 2050.