Green Knowes visit for pupils

Oct 3 2008 by Caroline Boxer, Strathearn Herald

SCOTTISHPOWER Renewables (SPR) Director, Keith Anderson, was joined by pupils from the Community School of Auchterarder to open ScottishPower Renewables' newest windfarm, Green Knowes, near Glendevon, Perthshire.

Primary pupils Katie Belford and Megan Wheatley won an art competition run by the company, and were given a tour of the windfarm.

Consisting of 18 turbines, Green Knowes can produce up to 27 MW of electricity - enough clean green energy to power over 15,000 households.

Part of SPR's continued voluntary commitment to the communities surrounding Green Knowes, is the creation of a new community trust fund, administered by Auchterarder & District Community Trust, with the remit of supporting local projects and organisations.

Over £12,000 will be invested by SPR in this fund each year for the 25-year life of the windfarm.

Keith Anderson, ScottishPower Renewables Director, said: "Green Knowes is an excellent location for a windfarm and will make a significant contribution to our expanding wind energy operations as well as helping Scotland to achieve its ambitious green energy targets. The windfarm will be producing clean, green energy for at least the next 25 years and we hope that its presence will have a positive impact on the local community.

"It was also great to be joined by the pupils from The Community School of Auchterarder and I hope they enjoyed their close-up view of the windfarm in operation and were able to learn a bit more about renewable energy and the way it works."

Green Knowes becomes ScottishPower Renewables 19th operational windfarm in Scotland. It is also the first windfarm in the UK to use turbines supplied by Spanish manufacturer Acciona.