Vattenfall awarded multi million pound civil engineering contract to RJ McLeod for Clashindarroch Wind Farm

Wind farm investment leads to Scottish jobs boost

3-7-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Vattenfall, one of Europe’s leading energy companies, boosted the North of Scotland economy today after awarding a multi million pound contract to a Dingwall construction firm.

With construction starting soon, RJ McLeod was awarded the contract by Vattenfall to deliver civil engineering on the Clashindarroch Wind Farm, near Huntly in Aberdeenshire.

Civil engineering works on site will require around 70 skilled and semi-skilled workers to help build the 36.9MW scheme at the peak of construction. Construction and installation of the 18 wind turbines is expected to be complete and fully operational by the first half of 2015.

Piers Guy, Vattenfall’s UK Development Director, Onshore Wind, said: “Vattenfall will do business with the Scottish supply chain where it can. This significant contract award to RJ McLeod for the civil engineering work at Clashindarroch Wind Farm is that principle delivered.

It also underlines the benefit of investing in onshore wind farms to the Scottish economy.”

He concluded by saying that businesses in the North East are also set to benefit from the wind farm’s construction: “We have connected with scores of companies in the North East in the past two years and as construction carries on for the next 18 months we expect many of them to help build Clashindarroch Wind Farm.”

This was confirmed by Bruce Clark, RJ McLeod’s Managing Director, who said: “We are delighted to be working with Vattenfall once again. We have now built over fifty wind farms, including Vattenfall’s Edinbane Wind Farm on Skye, and the Clashindarroch project will allow us to continue to provide ongoing, and additional, employment for technical and construction staff based in the north of Scotland as well as opportunities for the local supply chain.”

Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Fergus Ewing said: “Today’s announcement once again shows the benefits from the renewables industry to the wider Scottish supply chain, and I thus very much welcome Vattenfall’s announcement that it is using Scottish company R J McLeod in the development of 18 wind turbines near Huntly.”

“Not only will this development provide a much needed boost to our economy, but more than 70 jobs will be supported through this £60m project.”

RJ McLeod’s Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP, Dave Thompson said: “I am really pleased that Vattenfall has chosen to invest in a local firm.  It is a testament to the quality of work done by R J McLeod for them to be awarded their second contract from Vattenfall.”

“I warmly welcome this investment and congratulate R J McLeod on winning this very important contract.”

The Clashindarroch Wind Farm, which will cost more than £60 million to build in total (including wind turbines) gained planning consent from Aberdeenshire Council in late 2010. It is expected to start generating electricity in late 2014 and on full power in the first half of 2015.

Contact Vattenfall media:
Joanne Hutchinson, Vattenfall, 07974328358,
joanne.hutchinson@vattenfall.com