Climate and energy transition

The biggest European onshore wind farm has been officially switched on, on 20 May 2009 in Scotland.

 

Some 140 wind turbines cover a 55km area in the south of Glasgow, the biggest city of the region. Whitelee - this is the name of the farm - can produce up to 322 megawatts per year. An extension of the wind farm is already planned and should, according to the BBC, provide the energy for some 250 000 homes, and create 300 jobs.

 

Whitelee is one of the 23 major energy projects launched in Scotland since May 2007. The Scottish government's objective was that, by 2011, 31% of the electricity would be provided by renewable sources.

 

The project however has its opponents. Some claim that the wind turbines kill the birds. Others fear that the region's tourism will be affected by these wind farms.

The Scottish government's announcement on Whitelee