ScottishPower Renewables has completed the repowering of Hagshaw Hill, Scotland’s first commercial wind farm, boosting its output fivefold while cutting the number of turbines almost in half.
The South Lanarkshire site, which first began generating in 1995, has been upgraded from 26 turbines to 14 higher-capacity models with a combined output of more than 79MW – enough to power about 57,000 homes.
ScottishPower Renewables chief executive Charlie Jordan said: “Hagshaw Hill started Scotland’s wind revolution – and now it’s back online, supercharged and ready to lead the next chapter.”
He added: “We’re proud of what this site represents: powering homes, powering communities and powering Scotland’s clean energy future.”
More than 100 jobs were supported during decommissioning and repowering works.
In a first for the company, every blade from the original turbines is being recycled by Plaswire into new construction materials, replacing concrete, timber and plastics.
Plaswire chief executive Andrew Billingsley said: “Plaswire’s recycling process diverts waste from incineration, reducing CO₂ emissions and replacing high carbon construction products.”
The upgrade also delivers a 26-fold increase in annual community funding, with nearly £400,000 now available each year for Coalburn, Douglas, Lesmahagow, and Rigside & Douglas Water.
CDLR chair Iain Lindsey said: “This will enable us to support even more projects that will make a real difference to people’s lives and leave a lasting legacy in our area.”
He added: “It really is fantastic to see Scotland’s first commercial windfarm continue to deliver clean energy and new opportunities right here where it all began.”