ScottishPower has announced plans to repower and double capacity of the UK’s largest onshore windfarm, Whitelee, as it reported a £253m increase in EBITDA to £1.7bn, up 17%, driven by record UK infrastructure investment.

The strong performance in its half-year results 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.

Businesses and communities stand to benefit from the £1.5bn repowering of Whitelee Onshore Wind Farm.  Under the plans, the current 214 turbines could be reduced to 124 larger turbines, taking its installed capacity from 533MW to over 1GW and making it one of the largest in Europe.

As the first generation of onshore wind farms reach the end of their operational life, it is important the UK does not lose gigawatts and go backwards in its renewable generation capacity. The repowered Whitelee 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.

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 £20million 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.”

Whitelee has become a national treasure since it was first constructed in 2008, with extensive public use.  The work would be carried out in three phases to ensure access is maintained and there will be improvements to its hugely popular visitor centre, which has welcomed over 1 million visitors through its doors since opening.  ScottishPower is working closely with landowners and the local community, including Forestry Land Scotland and Scottish Water, as it continues to develop its plans.

SCOTTISHPOWER HALF-YEAR RESULTS 2026

EBITDA of £1,707m, up £253m (+17%) vs H1 2025

Increase partially driven by inclusion of ENW from March 2025 onwards, contributing an increase of £98 million year-on-year, and by the impact of the EA3 and Dataserve transactions, resulting in a further increase of £77 million year-on-year.

Excluding ENW timing and transaction impacts, the increase reduces to 5% (£78 million), with the key drivers being wind volumes and networks margins.

Networks: EBITDA of £924m, up £180m (+24%) vs H1 2025                                     

EBITDA increased £180 million year‑on‑year, driven primarily by the consolidation of ENW from 1^st March 2025 (£98 million).

UK networks contributed a further £82 million, supported by strong gross margin from transmission pricing, partially offset by lower distribution margins and higher business growth spend.

Production: EBITDA of £502m, up £76m (+18%) vs H1 2025                                                      

EBITDA increased by £76 million year‑on‑year across renewables, driven primarily by the EA3 transaction in the prior year (+£68m).  The underlying increase of +£8 million results from higher wind output, which contributed +£161 million. This was partially offset by lower energy prices, reducing EBITDA by £62 million (includes lower Electricity Generator Levy costs). Higher operating and maintenance costs and other items further offset the increase.

Customer: EBITDA of £272m, up £6m (+2%) vs H1 2025

EBITDA increased by £6 million, which includes +£26 million impact from the Dataserve transaction (offset at SP level by goodwill write-off, resulting in an overall gain of £9m).

The underlying EBITDA decrease of £20 million is largely due to lower gross margin, driven by lower volumes which are partly offset by price cap allowances.

Additionally, there are higher costs resulting from the expansion of the Warm Home Discount scheme and impacts of the MAP business sale in 2025. The ECO close-out also has an impact on both margins and costs.

ScottishPower retail customer numbers at H1 2026 are 4.2 million.

Year to date H1 2026 volumes versus H1 2025 volumes: Electricity -6% and Gas -3%.