A state-of-the-art wind farm which is set to generate enough renewable electricity to meet the annual needs of around 53,700 homes for the next 30 years has been officially opened.
(L-R) Robin Winstanley, Mathew Ramsay pupil Newfield Primary School, Richard Dunkley CEO of OnPath Energy, Joani Reid Labour MP, Orla Kier Bowers pupil at Newfield Primary School, Gordon Thompson Projects Director, Stephen Lilley Partner Greencoat - UKWind, & Harry Scott from Newfield Primary. Image Credit: OnPath Energy
Earlier this year renewable energy developers OnPath Energy (formerly Banks Renewables) announced that the new 15 turbine site was exporting clean, green electricity to the national grid.
Today members of the OnPath team welcomed local community members, business partners and government officials to Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension to celebrate its official opening, with Joani Reid Labour MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven formally opening the groundbreaking wind farm.
Joani Reid MP said: “I welcome the opportunity to open the Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension, it is another key building block towards a just transition to net zero as well a boost to the local economy.
“It is also great to see pupils from Newfield Primary being part of the celebration and the naming of the turbines.”
Kype Muir Extension will be a significant addition to OnPath Energy’s 26-turbine Kype Muir Wind Farm site.
In 2022, the First Minister at the time, Nicola Sturgeon, officially marked the connection of the UK’s first 200 m turbine at Kype Muir Extension, recognising it as a key moment for Scotland’s renewable energy industry.
Kype Muir and its extension are expected to deliver more than £21 m worth of community benefits during its lifetime and will directly and indirectly support around 800 jobs. Combined with Kype Muir Wind Farm, the two sites will generate over 155 MW annually, providing renewable energy for more than 123,000 homes, equivalent to a city the size of Aberdeen.
Gordon Thomson, projects director at OnPath Energy said: “The official launch of Kype Muir Extension is a major milestone for all involved in this project.
“The site is going to deliver vast amounts of clean renewable energy, while financially benefiting local communities for generations through our Kype Muir Community Partnership.
“In addition to this, it has supported hundreds of jobs in the local area which represents a significant boost to the local economy.
“Speaking on behalf of our team, we were delighted to welcome everyone to the site to celebrate this landmark achievement in OnPath’s history and discuss with community members how we can ensure that the site continues to deliver for them over the next 30 years.”
The estimated lifetime regional spend from the first Kype Muir Wind Farm alone is expected to be around £123 M and, and as part of OnPath’s commitment to local businesses, local contractors were prioritised in the same way when developing Kype Muir Extension Wind Farm.
Together, Kype and Kype Extension will displace around 307,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to removing approximately 30,700 petrol cars from the roads each year, further underscoring the importance of this milestone for the UK's net-zero ambitions.
The extension features four 156 m, three 176 m, and eight 200 m-tall wind turbines. Scottish civil engineering firm RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd were the principal contractors for both Kype Muir and Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension, together both projects delivered £188 million investment in the Scottish economy with £159 million of that investment within a 60 km radius of the site.
The event featured a plaque unveiling at the site as well as the winners of a local school turbine naming competition.
Children form from Stonehouse based Newfield Primary School were asked to think of creative names for the local developer’s wind turbines, and out of the thirty eight entries three winners were Harry Scott with Sir Winds A Lot, Orla Kier Bowers with The Topsy Turney and Matthew Ramsay with Renewable Ronnie.
Additionally, community members and key stakeholders, had the unique opportunity to tour the site, gaining insights into the technology behind the powerful turbines and the innovative approach that made this project possible.
Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “The official launch of the Kype Muir extension marks a significant increase in the amount of clean, renewable energy that can be produced.
“It’s great news for the environment, and I am delighted that the local economy is also being supported in terms of the jobs that have been created. It is a significant long-term commitment by OnPath and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone involved in the project.”