ScottishPower is to replace 214 turbines at the UK’s largest onshore wind farm with 124even higher turbines to increase its generating capacity.
The company is investing £1.5 billion to repower and double capacity at Whitelee in East Renfrewshire from 533MW to over 1GW and making it one of the largest in Europe.
It would generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 650,000 homes, at the same time as boosting the UK’s energy security, creating jobs and supply chain opportunities. Whitelee was constructed in 2008.
ScottishPower announced the plan alongside a £253 million half-year increase in EBITDA to £1.7bn, up 17%, driven by record UK infrastructure investment.
The strong performance in the six months to June 2026 follows sustained investment in the grid and clean power assets, including the acquisition of Electricity North West, as it supports the biggest British rewiring since electrification in the 1900s.
Higher renewables output compared to the first half of 2025 and the disposal of non-core assets, including the sale of its metering business, also supported the increase.
On an underlying basis, profitability at its retail customer business declined, due to lower gross margins, lower energy use and higher costs following policy changes to energy efficiency schemes.
ScottishPower’s record £24bn investment plan to 2028 is supporting record supply chain spend – over £1bn in the first half of 2026 alone – with 76% in companies located in the UK.
In a landmark development for the energy sector, ScottishPower is also committing to community ownership opportunities alongside an enlarged community benefit fund, anticipated to be over £5m every year – almost 5 times the current fund.
It has already contributed £20m to East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire Councils and the new plans will mean extensive additional benefits.
ScottishPower CEO, Keith Anderson, said: “Repowering and doubling the capacity of the UK’s largest windfarm, Whitelee, marks a critical phase in electrifying our energy system.
“Around half of Britain’s onshore windfarms will reach the end of their operational lives in the next decade. Repowering these assets using existing infrastructure is the quickest way of maintaining and increasing energy generation and is a no-brainer for boosting UK energy security and jobs and supply chains.
“So far this year, we’ve invested a record £1bn – 76% with UK companies – directly supporting and growing businesses right across the country.
“As a long-term investor, committed to delivering the affordable clean power and electricity networks the country needs, we look forward to working with the Government to build on its successes and continue delivering this critical national infrastructure.”
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