E.on UK , the utility firm that runs Powergen, has bought the windfarm business of competitor United Utilities, a sign of further rationalisation in the burgeoning wind sector. The deal has the potential to more than triple E.on’s renewable energy capacity. It gives the German ownedgroup shares in projects in various stages of consent that, if operational, will have a total capacity of 500MW. These include two offshore windfarms, at Scarweather Sands in Swansea Bay and the Humber Gateway close to Grimsby , and 15 onshore sites across the UK . E.on’s renewables portfolio previously included stakes in 20 windfarms with a total capacity of 200MW,though more are planned with a total of another 1,000MW.

Meanwhile, diversified engineering group FKI Energy Technology has begun negotiations to sell the German wind turbine maker DeWind, which it bought in 2002, to Milton Keynes-based EU Energy and Indian wind firm Shriram EPC .

FKI said that the rapid consolidation of wind-turbine manufacturers and the increasing influence of large windfarm developers had increased competitive pressure on DeWind, one of the smaller turbine-makers, and led to an operating loss of some £6 million in 2004.

As well as continuing the DeWind brand in Europe , the move will see the turbines used extensively in India . The moves continue the trend of fewer, bigger players dominating the wind industry. In autumn 2003, energy supplier Centrica and the then Powergen renewables division bought the rights for two offshore windfarms already well advanced by a handful of smaller developers.

However, the independent North British Wind Power is bucking the trend, partly by what it calls its unique ability to raise financing. It plans to build a 62-turbine windfarm in Fallago Ridge, in the Lammermuir Hills of Berwickshire in a project costing £80-£100 million. If approved, it could generate up to 150 MW and work may begin in late 2007.
(Professional Engineering 9 Mar 05)

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