NESTLÉ, the world’s largest food and drink company, has opened a new wind farm at Sanquhar, in Dumfries and Galloway, with which it hopes to supply around half of its UK and Ireland operations' electricity demands.

The farm, developed in partnership with energy business Community Windpower, is made up of nine turbines which will now produce around 125GWh of power per annum.

Speaking at the site's official opening, Nestlé UK and Ireland CEO, Stefano Agostini said: “I’m proud that Nestlé is doing the right thing and directly contributing to the reduction of carbon here in the UK and Ireland. We all have a part to play in reducing climate change and its effects while making sure that we safeguard our planet’s future.

“We already use 100% renewable, grid supplied electricity across all our UK and Ireland operations, but now with the opening of Sanquhar wind farm, we can supply half of our own energy here in the UK and Ireland. I’m delighted we not only using 100% renewable electricity to run our business here in the UK and Ireland, we are now responsible for producing it too.”

Community Windpower managing director, Rod Wood, said: “Nestlé are leading the way procuring a UK source of green energy directly from our latest Scottish wind farm. CWP’s long term partnership with Nestlé has delivered a substantial new investment in Scotland, generating economic benefits, jobs and invaluable community contributions over the next 25 years.

Nestlé added that the project had been 'welcomed enthusiastically' by the local community in Sanquhar, receiving no objections at all throughout the planning process. The scheme will contribute annually to a local community fund which will help provide economic, educational, environmental and social benefits for the lifetime of the wind farm.