The owners of the UK’s last aluminium smelter plans to install up to 54 wind turbines at a site in the Highlands. The wind farm proposed for Glenshero, near Laggan, would supply electricity for GFG Alliance’s Lochaber Smelter near Fort William. The scheme would also provide power for Motherwell’s Dalzell steel mills run by Liberty, which with another company SIMEC forms GFG Alliance. If the farm goes ahead, steel for the turbines would be rolled in Motherwell. As well as the wind farm, GFG said it hopes to upgrade existing hydro power stations serving the smelter and look at the potential of building smaller scale hydro schemes in Lochaber. It also proposes investing in housing in the area. Jay Hambro, of the GFG Alliance and chief executive of SIMEC Energy, the firm leading the wind farm project, described the turbines as a “unique project”. He said: “It would be built in an environment of zero subsidies, using steel rolled and finished in Scotland and then generate clean energy to support the Scottish metals industry. “It is also an exciting opportunity for us to work with the local community and encourage their investment alongside our own. This is truly a win-win project for all parties.”
BBC 6th Sept 2017 read more »
A PROPOSED £170 million wind farm in the Highlands could be the key to creating and supporting hundreds of jobs across the area. The GFG Alliance, owner of Dalzell steelworks through its Liberty House company, yesterday unveiled its plans for multiple projects for clean and renewable energy to support manufacturing.
The National 6th Sept 2017 read more »
