Scotland’s Little Raith Wind Farm is Launch Project for Kennedy Renewables
GE Industry Expertise Supports Entrepreneurial Venture and Project Success
Nine 2.75-Megawatt Turbines Will Produce Clean Energy for Scotland
Next month, Kennedy Renewables’ Little Raith Wind Farm will be fully operational in Fife, Scotland. Little Raith, powered by GE (NYSE: GE) wind turbines, marks the culmination of a new relationship between GE and Kennedy Renewables resulting in an important milestone for Kennedy: the company’s first wind project.
“We couldn’t have done this without GE,” said Brian Kennedy, owner of Kennedy Renewables. “We formed a new company, in a new industry, in a developing wind region. GE’s partnership and commitment to our success truly helped us realize our vision.”
Kennedy Renewables was founded in 2009 by Brian Kennedy, a U.K. entrepreneur most recognized for achieving success in the home improvement and commercial real estate industries. He also is owner of the U.K.’s Sale Sharks Rugby Club. Little Raith is Kennedy Renewables’ first project and in a new industry for Brian Kennedy.
“Brian is an entrepreneur with a dream to develop wind energy,” said Vic Abate, vice president of renewable energy for GE. “It’s been a pleasure developing a relationship with Brian and using the power of GE to help him realize his dream.”
Nine advanced technology GE 2.75-megawatt (MW) wind turbines will power Little Raith, generating electricity to power 15,000 U.K. homes. The project marks the debut installation of GE’s 2.75-MW platform in the United Kingdom and offers the flexibility in generator size and overall physical parameters required by permitting in the U.K. and Ireland.
Located 20 miles from Edinburgh, Little Raith will support the European Union target for the U.K. to produce 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Additionally, the county of Fife has set a goal of reducing its carbon emissions 25 percent by 2013.
“With Little Raith due to become Fife’s first commercial wind farm and the 2.75-MW units the first to be installed in the U.K., the project could well become a landmark site for Kennedy renewables, GE and the industry as a whole,” said Bruce Allen, construction director for Wind Prospect Ltd.
This year, GE celebrates 10 years in wind energy with 28 gigawatts of installed capacity and 18,500 wind turbines around the world.