GE Empowers Kennedy Renewables to Develop Company’s First Wind Project

GLASGOW, Scotland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Next month, Kennedy Renewables’ Little Raith Wind Farm will be fully operational in Fife, Scotland. Little Raith, powered by GE (NYSE: GE) wind turbines, marks the culmination of a new relationship between GE and Kennedy Renewables resulting in an important milestone for Kennedy: the company’s first wind project.

“It’s been a pleasure developing a relationship with Brian and using the power of GE to help him realize his dream.”

“We couldn’t have done this without GE,” said Brian Kennedy, owner of Kennedy Renewables. “We formed a new company, in a new industry, in a developing wind region. GE’s partnership and commitment to our success truly helped us realize our vision.”

Kennedy Renewables was founded in 2009 by Brian Kennedy, a U.K. entrepreneur most recognized for achieving success in the home improvement and commercial real estate industries. He also is owner of the U.K.’s Sale Sharks Rugby Club. Little Raith is Kennedy Renewables’ first project and in a new industry for Brian Kennedy.

“Brian is an entrepreneur with a dream to develop wind energy,” said Vic Abate, vice president of renewable energy for GE. “It’s been a pleasure developing a relationship with Brian and using the power of GE to help him realize his dream.”

Nine advanced technology GE 2.75-megawatt (MW) wind turbines will power Little Raith, generating electricity to power 15,000 U.K. homes. The project marks the debut installation of GE’s 2.75-MW platform in the United Kingdom and offers the flexibility in generator size and overall physical parameters required by permitting in the U.K. and Ireland.

Located 20 miles from Edinburgh, Little Raith will support the European Union target for the U.K. to produce 15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Additionally, the county of Fife has set a goal of reducing its carbon emissions 25 percent by 2013.

“With Little Raith due to become Fife’s first commercial wind farm and the 2.75-MW units the first to be installed in the U.K., the project could well become a landmark site for Kennedy renewables, GE and the industry as a whole,” said Bruce Allen, construction director for Wind Prospect Ltd.

This year, GE celebrates 10 years in wind energy with 28 gigawatts of installed capacity and 18,500 wind turbines around the world.

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GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Numerous products are qualified under ecomagination, GE’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that maximize resources, drive efficiencies and help make the world work better. Power & Water’s seven business units include Aeroderivative Gas Turbines; Gas Engines; Nuclear Energy; Power Generation Services; Renewable Energy; Thermal Products and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.

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