UK coal agrees windfarm venture

Britain's biggest coal mining company has embarked on an alternative energy scheme which may see wind farms built at its sites across the country.

UK Coal has agreed a two-year deal giving Peel Energy exclusive access to wind farm opportunities on the mining company's land.

Under the agreement, Peel Energy will lead the development of windfarms through to planning permission, the companies said.

Individual joint ventures between Peel Energy and UK Coal will then construct and operate the wind farms.

Fourteen existing windfarm projects, already initiated by UK Coal, fall within the agreement.

Jon Lloyd, chief executive of UK Coal, said: "We believe there is significant opportunity to develop wind farms on parts of our land portfolio.

"By allying with Peel Energy, we are joining forces with one of the UK's most active and knowledgeable wind power companies.

"This will accelerate our alternative power business whilst maintaining total flexibility on the level of investment we make in it and without distracting us from our core mining and property development operations."

Peel is part of the same company which owns Manchester's Trafford Centre and Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.

Steven Underwood, director of Peel Energy, added: "This agreement is an important step for Peel Energy, significantly expanding its onshore pipeline and gaining access to some of the UK's best potential windfarm locations.

"We look forward to working with UK Coal to realise the wind power potential of its extensive land portfolio."

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