Dublin-based energy company Airtricity has today announced that its renewable energy development division, the leading developer of renewable energy in the UK and Ireland, is to be renamed SSE Renewables. The rebrand will take effect from 1st January 2010.
The announcement was made by Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of Airtricity’s parent company Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) along with Paul Dowling, Chief Executive Officer of SSE Renewables, at Airtricity’s headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.
SSE Renewables will be responsible for the development and construction of the group’s renewable energy projects across Great Britain, Ireland and Continental Europe, including onshore and offshore wind farms, hydro, marine, biomass, and solar projects. The company, which will employ over 200 staff out of 17 offices located throughout Europe, will remain headquartered in Sandyford, Dublin.
The Airtricity supply business, which employs over 300 staff, will continue to use the Airtricity brand while supplying energy to over 100,000 customers in Ireland.
Airtricity’s renewables development and energy supply businesses became part of SSE in February 2008 when the Perth, Scotland-based company acquired the Irish business.
SSE is the leading generator of renewable energy in the UK and Ireland, with over 2,200MW of renewable electricity generation capacity. The combined SSE and Airtricity team has developed 40 wind farms across Europe and North America, making it a leading wind farm developer. The company is currently developing two of Europe’s larger wind farms, a 350MW onshore wind farm, Clyde, located in the Upper Clyde Valley in Scotland and a 504MW offshore wind farm, Greater Gabbard, located off the Suffolk coast of England.
In addition to these projects and the exploration and development of other renewables technologies, SSE Renewables will have responsibility for the development of almost 2,500MW of consented European offshore wind farm projects in Ireland (Arklow), Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Germany, as well as the development of almost 1500MW of consented European onshore wind farm capacity in Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Portugal and Italy.
SSE Chief Executive Ian Marchant said: “Since joining SSE in 2008, the Airtricity team has taken our renewables business forward into a range of new areas, expanding their expertise beyond their original wind energy focus. Changing the business’s name to SSE Renewables recognises that their knowledge and enthusiasm now embraces the full spectrum of sustainable energy.”
Commenting on the announcement, Dublin-based Chief Executive Officer Paul Dowling stated: “The launch of SSE renewables is an exciting development for the company that will allow our renewables business to flourish. The creation of SSE Renewables supports and promotes SSE’s European business objectives and reflects the company’s continued investment in renewables. SSE Renewables not only celebrates Airtricity’s proud heritage over the past decade as a wind farm developer but also marks the company’s natural progression as it embarks upon exploring and delivering new renewable energy technologies. In addition to wind farm developments, we will champion marine, hydro, biomass, and solar in the UK, Ireland and Europe to protect the future of our planet with even more passion, innovation and integrity.”
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