Wind farm boost for Scots firms

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More than £200m of contracts are to be placed with Scottish firms during the construction of Europe's largest onshore wind farm in South Lanarkshire.

First Minister Alex Salmond announced the figure during a visit to observe preparatory works at Clyde wind farm.

When complete, the 152-turbine facility near Abington will be capable of powering up to 320,000 homes.

The £600m scheme from Scottish and Southern Energy is expected to create 200 jobs during construction.

The wind farm is expected to be completed in 2011.

The phased build will see turbines erected in clusters on either side of the M74 motorway.

Mr Salmond said the turbine towers for the Clyde wind farm would be supplied by Welcon Towers at Machrihanish - an order worth more than £10m.

'Groundbreaking development'

"The Clyde wind farm will direct more than £200m of investment to businesses in Scotland," he said.

"I am delighted that the towers for this groundbreaking development will be manufactured right here in Scotland.

"Scotland's potential for renewables is up to 60GW - more than 10 times our peak demand."

The largest onshore wind farm in Europe at present is the 140-turbine Whitelee wind farm on Eaglesham Moor in East Renfrewshire.