SITE investigation works are underway at an East Ayrshire Wind Farm that will generate enough renewable energy to meet the demands of around 110,000 homes annually.
OnPath Energy, formerly known as Banks Renewables, has announced the start of site investigation works at its Lethans Wind Farm which is expected to be carried out over 14 weeks.
The announcement comes shortly after the Hamilton-based developer received consent for Lethans Wind Farm Extension, which will add a further ten turbines to the site.
Together Lethans and its extension will generate enough clean, green renewable energy to meet the average demands of around 190,000 homes annually as well as boost the social, economic and environmental benefits brought forward by both projects.
The milestone marks a crucial step, with developer OnPath Energy carrying out geological and ecological assessments, to enable it to deliver its 22-turbine Lethans Wind Farm, which will be connected by underground cables to Glenmuckloch substation.
The site investigation will be managed by AECOM and delivered by Glasgow-based Dunelm Geotechnical & Environmental.
In line OnPath Energy’s longstanding commitment to use local contractors wherever possible, Duncan Plant Hire from New Cumnock has been appointed as to provide plant and heavy machinery needed to undertake the site investigation work.
The work will include an extensive geological assessment and an environmental study to help the Hamilton-based developer understand the local ecosystem.
Further works will see water quality testing, as well as wildlife and bird surveys undertaken by external experts.
This information will add to several years of existing data and help OnPath understand the local wildlife and how the site design can be finalised to support and enhance local wildlife and biodiversity.
Campbell Taylor Duncan, owner of Duncan Plant Hire said: “Securing a contract this size has been another significant win for us. It’s allowed us to back local tradespeople, strengthen our business, and boost the local economy.
“Being involved in a project that brings so many positives to the area and helps the environment is truly rewarding.
“As a local business located little over two miles from the site, we’re the perfect example of the benefits wind farms can create for local businesses and the positive impact they can deliver for the community. It’s been a great experience for us to be part of such an important green project.”
OnPath Energy will build on its excellent track record of supporting local business’ delivering a significant economic boost for the area.
Local contractors can look to a projected local spend of around £295 million (around 60% within 60km) over the lifetime of the project as a signal of OnPath’s commitment to the local economy in East Ayrshire.
The project received initial planning permission from East Ayrshire Council in March 2018 with additional permission granted in June 2020 to enhance the proposal’s efficiency by increasing the turbine height, extending the rotor diameter, and refining the site layout.
Earlier this year planning consent was granted for Lethans Extension adding an extra 60MW of renewable generation capacity and an additional £9 million in community benefits over its lifetime.
Starting early next year, OnPath will finalise detailed designs and begin to identify and appoint contractors with a view to starting construction early in 2026 with a target commissioning date of autumn of 2027.
Located on land north east of New Cumnock and north west of Kirkconnel, the project will have a generation capacity of up to 132 MW, powering the equivalent of more than 140,000 homes.
Aileen McCreadie, partnerships and community manager with OnPath Energy, said: “Projects like this require careful planning throughout the lifetime of the project.
This starts with detailed planning and community engagement to ensure that our plans take into consideration the views of local people to create a project that is inclusive and fair for everyone whilst maximising the social, economic and environmental benefits.
The site investigation work will identify important environmental considerations to build into our construction plan.
“Once the site investigation is complete, that gives us the green light to move forward – and deliver a project that will have a sizeable impact on national net zero efforts and local prosperity.”
As well as contributing a vast amount of renewable energy to the grid, the project will deliver £15m worth of community benefits over its lifespan having far-reaching benefits for local people for many years to come.
During the first five years of operation around £1.3m will be used to help improve employment opportunities for local people.
An additional £7million has been allocated to the local authority Renewable Energy Fund and the same amount to a local community partnership, the 9CC, OnPath will work together with these parties to support a mixture of projects from community council action plans and larger strategic projects which can help regenerate the area and have real community ownership.
The wind farm will have a lifespan of 30 years, plus two further years for construction and decommissioning.
Lethans Wind Farm will house a maximum of 22 turbines, each with a generating capacity of up to 6MW and tip heights from 176 to 220 meters, with the whole project helping to offset the carbon equivalent of more than 40,000 cars annually.
Recently, OnPath Energy announced the completion of the Kype Muir Extension Wind Farm, the UK’s first project to achieve 200-metre tip heights, together with Kype Extension Wind Farm, both sites generate over 155 MW of electricity annually, enough to supply renewable power to more than 123,000 homes, equivalent to a city around the size of Aberdeen.
OnPath Energy has secured planning permission for 14 wind farms and currently operates 11 onshore wind farms across Scotland and the north of England with a combined installed generation capacity of approximately 280MW.
