The UK’s renewable energy firm Ecotricity has formed a joint venture (JV) with Sweden-based project development and construction company Skanska, for construction of 350MW of onshore wind projects in the UK within the first five years.

The JV, known as Skylark, will invest £500m for the construction of onshore wind projects, which will ensure power supply to 200,000 households by 2018.

Both the partners aim to draw mutual benefits with their expertise in green energy fields and construction.

Three development sites for Skylark’s first phase of investment have been selected under the project, representing a generation capacity of 100MW.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “Ecotricity were the world’s first green electricity company, while Skanska aims to be the greenest construction company in the world – our shared pursuit of sustainability and our complementary skill sets creates a strong partnership.

“Ecotricity will use its expertise in green energy development to design wind parks and gain planning consents, while Skanska will use their expertise in construction to build them.

Skanska infrastructure development EVP Steve Cooper said: “At Skanska, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Wherever we work, we strive to push forward the green agenda in construction and infrastructure development.

“Our green agenda, together with our wish to build what society needs, help to define us as a company.”

Ecotricity operates a ‘bills into mills’ business model, which uses energy bills of customers to fund construction of new green energy plants.

Skanska is a construction firm with major PFI contracts such as Barts & The London Hospitals and the M25 under its portfolio.