Frimley, 2011-Apr-06
Community Windpower Ltd is an independent, UK based company, headquartered in Cheshire in the North West of England. Formed in 2001, Community Windpower works with local communities to build wind farms to provide economic, educational and environmental benefits for local schools and whole communities. This is Siemens first contract with the company.
The new Millour Hill Community Windfarm will consist of six SWT3.0-101 wind turbines, which will generate up to 18MW of clean, green electricity, powering 14,000 homes in the local area, mainly Dalry, Kilbirnie and Beith. The windfarm is anticipated to displace approximately 20,340 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.
The new wind turbines will run alongside Community Windpower's original Dalry Community Windfarm, which already powers 12,000 homes. The wind turbines will be of a similar size to those already constructed with a maximum tip height of 125m.
Siemens direct drive wind turbines feature only half the parts required for a conventional geared wind turbine and a significantly smaller number of moving parts, allowing for increased output and improved maintainability.
Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets provided the debt facility for a term of the construction period plus 15 years. It is the fourth project Lloyds has financed under the UK Onshore wind EIB Intermediated loan facility. The long term Power Purchase Agreement is with GDF Suez, the Balance of Plant contractor is Jones Bros.
Rod Wood, managing director, Community Windpower said: "We are very excited about this new collaboration with Siemens, as the leading provider of wind power solutions in the UK. Together we will be able to continue our work in delivering major environmental and social benefits to local communities with viable green energy projects."
Commenting on the new contract, Christoph Ehlers, managing director for Siemens Renewables in the UK said: “This is a very significant and exciting project for Siemens and represents the entry into the UK of the Siemens direct drive technology in collaboration with Community Windpower and Lloyds Bank. Siemens looks forward to working with Community Windpower and Lloyds Bank on this and future projects"
Oliver Alexander, director, Renewable Energy, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets commented: “We are very pleased to be providing a long term debt facility on this market leading project for Community Windpower utilising the new Siemens 3MW Direct Drive wind turbine. It is the first project that will form part of a portfolio that will build up to in excess of 200MW over the next 3 years. We look forward to supporting Community Windpower as the portfolio grows whilst working with Siemens on financing more of their direct drive wind turbines”
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Notes to editors:
About Siemens in the UK
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 168 years ago and now employs around 16,000 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £4.1 billion. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
For more information, contact:
Rachel Odams
PR Manager
Siemens plc
Tel. +44 (0)1276 690782
Mob: +44 (0)7808 824209
Rachel.odams@siemens.com
