UU and Peel Energy set to expand Scout Moor wind farm

United Utilities (UU) and Peel Energy have announced plans to expand the 65MW Scout Moor Wind Farm near Rochdale in northern Greater Manchester.

The proposals are to install additional wind turbines at select locations within the existing wind farm and in an area to the north of the site.

Peel Energy originally consulted communities on the principle of expanding the wind farm in December 2011. Since then the areas of proposed expansion have been refined, and design options confirmed, in partnership with United Utilities.

In its first two years of operation, the existing Scout Moor Wind Farm produced enough electricity to meet the demand of almost half the homes in Rochdale.

Jon England from Peel Energy, said: “This exclusive collaboration between Peel Energy and United Utilities will see the delivery of a wind farm that will sustainably generate enough electricity for it to be considered of national importance whilst at the same time protecting and improving the local environment. These recent developments, and the consultation we have undertaken to date, have reaffirmed that the wind farm could be expanded if done in a way which is sensitive to the moorland and minimises disturbance to local residents.”

According to UU, design and installation of the new wind turbines, which are set to stand in an important water catchment area, will take into consideration the findings of extensive environmental studies.

Jonathan Hodgkin, of UU, said: “An expansion to the wind farm provides an opportunity to improve areas of heavily degraded peat moor as well as to protect and enhance wildlife habitat areas and water quality sources on Scout Moor.”

A public consultation of the expansion plans is scheduled to begin in April.