North Kyle celebrates milestones and looks to future

CARRADALE, UK. December 20th, 2024 - Brockwell Energy, the Edinburgh-based renewable energy developer, has reached significant milestones at its flagship North Kyle wind farm in East Ayrshire, marking a pivotal moment in the regeneration of one of Scotland’s largest former coal mining sites.

The development, which began construction in 2023, has seen the installation of its first 20 turbines, each standing at a maximum tip height of 149.9 metres. Once fully operational, the 49-turbine wind farm is expected to generate green energy equivalent to the annual demands of 168,000 homes.

“This groundbreaking project has been delivered to a tight programme through challenging circumstances, whilst maintaining an excellent health and safety record” said Richard Buckland, Senior Project Manager at Brockwell Energy.

He also highlighted the extensive stakeholder engagement delivered by the project, which will provide at least £65 million in community benefits over its 40-year lifespan.

North Kyle, built on a former surface coal mining site, exemplifies how renewable energy projects can drive both ecological and community restoration. According to Mr Buckland, restoration benefits from construction alone are estimated to be worth at least £2.6 million, with substantial additional investments including a further £2.6 million in funding to East Ayrshire Council and £600,000 for broadleaf tree planting.

The company’s proactive approach has already delivered results, with wildlife returning to the site and extensive restoration work being carried out.

“There is good reason to be optimistic about the site’s future ecological improvements, and the regeneration of areas scarred by mining will leave a genuine legacy for the area” Mr Buckland noted.

Elaine Stewart, MP for Ayr, Carrick, and Cumnock, praised the project during an event to mark the installation of the first turbines, calling Brockwell Energy’s collaborative approach “an example to learn from”.

She further commended the 9CC Group, a charitable trust set up to oversee the community benefit fund across nine local communities, as a model for distributing wind farm benefits equitably.

“This project underscores the importance of placing local communities at the heart of renewable energy development,” Ms Stewart remarked. “It is critical that the clean energy transition is fair, supportive, and deeply rooted in the needs of those it impacts.”

As we approach 2025, Mr Buckland talks to the key challenges faced by North Kyle, explaining weather risk and key contractor programme delivery are the key risks. Common to the renewable energy sector, particularly are, potential delays in grid connections. SP Energy Networks (SPEN), responsible for the distribution and transmission infrastructure required to transport power to homes and businesses, has been scaling up e]orts to modernise the UK grid.

However, Mr Buckland noted: “While we are encouraged by SPEN’s progress, grid connection delays represent a significant barrier to deploying renewable energy at scale. Specifically for North Kyle, it is of vital importance that SPEN deliver their programme to ensure the local and national benefits of North Kyle are realised on time.”

Mr Buckland continued: “Looking ahead to 2025, and against the backdrop of the UK government aiming to double generating capacity by 2060 and expand onshore wind capacity substantially by 2030, Brockwell Energy’s achievements in East Ayrshire highlight real achievements in the renewable energy landscape.

“Our commitment at Brockwell Energy is unwavering: to overcome our final challenges and bring this project to full operational capacity. North Kyle is more than a wind farm – it’s a blueprint for sustainable development, delivering substantial environmental and social benefits."