Key Takeaways
- Iberdrola, through its UK subsidiary ScottishPower, plans to repower Whitelee, the UK’s largest onshore wind farm, raising installed capacity from 539 MW to 1,000 MW.
- The plan carries an estimated €1.8 billion investment and would replace the site’s current turbines with more modern, higher-capacity units.
- Once complete, Whitelee is expected to generate enough clean electricity to supply more than 1.5 million people.
- The repowering is projected to add €380 million in gross value to the Scottish economy over the next decade and support hundreds of jobs.
- The work sits within ScottishPower’s plan to invest £28 billion through 2028 in UK electricity networks and renewable generation.
Iberdrola has set out plans to repower Whitelee, the UK’s largest onshore wind farm, aiming to nearly double its output through its British subsidiary ScottishPower. The company intends to lift installed capacity at the Scottish site from 539 megawatts to 1,000 megawatts in the coming years, backed by an estimated €1.8 billion investment.
Iberdrola Plans to Double Whitelee’s Capacity
The initiative would swap the turbines now in operation for more modern, higher-capacity machines. Repowering is a well-established route for mature renewable sites to increase output while reusing existing infrastructure such as grid connections and access roads. Iberdrola said the upgraded wind farm is expected to produce enough clean electricity for more than 1.5 million people once the work is finished.
How Repowering Extends an Ageing Site
Whitelee has operated since 2008 and ranks among the three largest onshore wind farms in Europe. Replacing older turbines lets operators apply more than a decade of performance data, typically improving efficiency, availability and digital monitoring while extending the site’s working life. The project remains subject to planning and permitting approvals.
Iberdrola’s Wider UK Investment
The announcement is part of Iberdrola’s broader commitment to the UK, one of the group’s priority markets. Through ScottishPower, the company plans to invest £28 billion through 2028 to expand electricity networks and build renewable generation. The Whitelee repowering is expected to generate €380 million in gross value added for the Scottish economy over the next decade and support hundreds of roles across engineering, logistics, operations and maintenance.
