Kilchrenan-based local contractor, A&L McCrae“We have always found GreenPower committed to helping the local community wherever possible. They are a very professional, proactive and efficient organisation to work alongside, and show the utmost care and understanding for the environment.”
Sustainability
We produce green power and green fuels and the way we do it is sustainable too – economically, environmentally and socially. Renewable energy has to be the bedrock of society that values environmental health and social well-being. By definition, if it isn’t renewable, it is not sustainable.
The positive impacts for both people and nature go beyond addressing global climate change – we focus on ensuring our projects deliver maximum benefits at the local level too.
Energy transformation
The science of climate change is clear. Humanity simply must stop burning fossil fuels as quickly as possible. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘transition’, but ‘transformation’ is more appropriate – because we must transform how our homes, transport, industries and communities are powered and heated, with urgency.
Average global temperature rise since the industrial revolution is now shooting past the 1.5 degree threshold that scientists have long warned of. Beyond this lies greater dangers for all of humanity; for our food security and for the economy, and simply having a climate system that we can live within. Climate change at 1.5 degrees is already wreaking havoc on the ecosystems upon which we all depend, and on people and economies all over the world. It is vital that we act quickly.
The positive news is that renewable technologies, energy storage and smart energy systems can provide everything that our society needs. There is no requirement for new nuclear, coal or gas in a sustainable energy system. We believe 100% renewable energy is achievable and will ultimately be the bedrock of a sustainable society. Our goal is to make it happen quicker.
It is a matter of political will and leadership. GreenPower promotes a vision for a renewable world – one of immense economic opportunity, and one where global tension over scarce natural resources is greatly reduced.
Environment
GreenPower is committed to the highest standards of environmental responsibility. Not only do our developments help alleviate the global nature and climate crises, we also make sure they have a positive impact at a local and regional level. We adhere to best practice in environmental construction and management, and we seek to minimise the potential effects of our developments by working constructively with statutory consultees and environmental organisations.
An environmental impact assessment is required for all major developments and we work with leading independent chartered ecologists and environmental advisers to inform our work and help us consider the context of every development site.
Our ethos is to work with nature rather than against it, designing projects that benefit people, places and wildlife whilst tackling the greatest threat of all – climate change.
In 2019, GreenPower won the Sustainable Development Award at the prestigious Scottish Green Energy Awards, for our Drumduff Wind Farm. Constructed on an old open cast coal mine, the project exemplifies the transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable power. We restored the site and wildlife is thriving, demonstrating that biodiversity can and does benefit. GreenPower has also supported the neighbouring Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve by installing low-impact boardwalks, enhancing access for everyone and linking the local community of Blackridge to this stunning area.
Supply chains
GreenPower always seeks to maximise supply chain opportunities for local businesses, which helps to enhance the communities that host our projects.
Through our ‘Support Local’ policy, we seek to engage with local businesses and encourage local skills and local services to get involved. We establish a local business and services contractor register and we host ‘meet the buyer’ events to engage with interested parties and create opportunities for them to tender and secure work on our projects.
GreenPower has invested hundreds of millions in green power projects, with significant new investment anticipated in the coming years. This investment has directly contributed to the Scottish economy; be it the recruitment of staff and consultants during development, civil engineering work during construction, the purchase, delivery and installation of equipment, or ongoing contracts for operations and maintenance teams.
For example, at the Carraig Gheal Wind Farm project in Argyll, local business A&L McCrae, which operates the nearby Barachander Quarry, provided aggregate during construction and now supports the ongoing maintenance along the Wind Farm access tracks. McNaughtons Hauliers supported us through construction, our wind turbine tower sections were built in Machrihanish in Argyll, and turbine maintenance is undertaken by a team based in Oban and Kintyre.
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Contact
Please feel free to get in touch for more information.