UK COAL & Peel Energy sign Co

RNS Number : 0626I

UK Coal PLC

13 November 2008

 



Embargoed until 7.00 am Thursday, 13 November, 2008

Wind Farm Development

UK COAL and Peel Energy sign Collaboration Agreement

UK COAL plc ('UK COAL') and Peel Energy ('Peel Energy'), part of the Peel Group, today announce that they have signed a Collaboration Agreement ('Agreement') which provides a framework to identify, assess and potentially develop wind farms on sites within UK COAL's land portfolio.

Peel Energy  has considerable experience of onshore wind farm development in the UK and the Agreement will give UK COAL access to the resources and expertise to realise over time the potential for wind farm development within its extensive land portfolio. 

The Agreement relates only to wind farm development and has no impact on UK COAL's mining and property businesses. Given the nature of sites attractive for wind farm development, most of the land likely to be considered for wind farms has little value for alternative commercial use.

Initially, the Agreement provides Peel Energy with a two year period of exclusivity to work together with UK COAL to identify and evaluate sites suitable for wind farm development. For each prospective site covered by the Agreement, Peel Energy will, at its expense and subject at each stage to UK COAL's  agreement, undertake a phased programme of initial evaluation, further assessment and pursuit of planning permission. 

If a site is submitted for planning permission, a special purpose company will be formed by Peel Energy, and UK COAL will be granted an option to acquire a 50% equity share . At the same time, UK COAL will grant the special purpose company an option for a 30 year lease over the relevant land at an open market rent. Conditional upon planning permission being granted and subject to each party exercising their respective options, the subsequent development, operation and funding (including UK COAL's contribution) of any particular site will be governed by a joint venture agreement between UK COAL and Peel Energy.

UK COAL has agreed that 14 wind farm sites, already identified by UK COAL, will be covered by the Agreement. These projects are at varying stages of development from inception to planning negotiations and, if all were successful, would have the potential for 54 wind turbines generating up to 133 MW of power.

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.' 

Steven Underwood, Director of Peel Energy, said:

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

Enquiries

UK COAL	Peel
Citigate Dewe Rogerson	M3 Communications
Anthony Carlisle	Ian Latta
Tel: [phone]	Tel: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]	Mobile: [phone]
Stuart Oliver	Steven Underwood
Tel: [phone]	Tel: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]

 

 

 

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