Aviva’s Perth office goes off-grid as new wind turbine comes online

Aviva’s Pitheavlis site in Perth has taken a significant step towards achieving Net Zero operations as its wind turbine was officially opened this week by Amanda Blanc DBE, Group Chief Executive Officer of Aviva, and the Rt Hon John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland.

The wind turbine, named Aurora by the pupils of Viewlands Primary School in Perth, completes Aviva’s renewable energy operation at Pitheavlis which is expected to deliver 100% of the site’s electricity demand, including electric vehicle charging. 

The site will generate its own power through a combination of the 77-metre wind turbine and 3,283 solar panels, with Tesla Powerpack batteries storing the energy. The combined output is expected to deliver almost 3,000 megawatt hours (MWh) annually, equivalent to the electricity required to power 1,090 ‘medium’ UK homes for a year¹.

Amanda Blanc DBE, Group Chief Executive Officer of Aviva, said: “It’s fantastic to see the new wind turbine in operation. This means our Perth site is now self-generating all of its energy needs, taking Aviva a step closer to our ambition to be Net Zero by 2040.

“As a major employer in Perth, we’re also proud to support the city’s own Net Zero ambitions, helping the area and its communities get ready for the future. Our colleagues can take great pride in this milestone.”

The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland, said: “The work Aviva has carried out to meet their Pitheavlis site’s energy demands with wind power, significantly reducing their carbon footprint, is demonstration of the opportunity Scotland has to harness our natural resources for our energy needs.

“We all have a part to play in meeting our net zero goals. Collaboration between the public sector and businesses is vital if we are to deliver a just transition to net zero, including investment in skills and expertise - and so it is fantastic to see the learning opportunity Aviva has created by involving Viewlands Primary in their turbine project.”

The turbine was approved by Perth and Kinross council in October 2022 and erected in October 2024.

Any surplus energy generated will be stored by the on-site batteries for later use or be exported to the grid².

The renewable energy operation at Pitheavlis is expected to save 588 tonnes of CO2e emissions annually³. 

References

^{1 Typical annual electricity use for Medium UK home (2-3 bedroom house; 2 to 3 people) is 2,700 kWh. OFGEM. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/average-gas-and-electricity-usage}

^{2 Whenever conditions are not appropriate for the wind turbine or solar array to run, energy needs not met by the onsite battery storage will be taken from the grid. This energy will be from certified renewable sources, in line with Aviva’s other offices and RE100 certification.}

^{3 Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2023 - GOV.UK For 2023 this is 0.20 kg CO2e / kWh.}

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