Banks Renewables has agreed a £1.5m contract with Euroforest Scotland to clear a commercial plantation and start replanting elsewhere to prepare the 139MW Kype Muir wind farm site ahead of construction.
The work at the sitka spruce plantation in South Lanarkshire will involve the felling of more than 60,000 tonnes of timber to make way for the wind farm site.
The job is expected to be complete in late 2018 and replanting will occur elsewhere so there is no net loss of trees.
Euroforest Scotland Central area manager Stuart Hansom said: “This is a significant contract and one that will not only provide work for Scottish workers but pave the way for more direct local employment through the main construction contractors.”
Kype Muir will consist of a total of 41 turbines, with Banks Renewables recently having had plans accepted to increase the project by 15 machines.
The initial project was awarded a Contract for Difference by the UK government and will feature 26 Senvion 3.4MW turbines when it goes live in 2019.
Community partnership revenues will also be increased to 2.5% of the revenue from the combined project once the Kype Muir extension is built from 1.5% originally.
Banks Renewables development director Colin Anderson said: “With the Kype Muir wind farm on track to be operational in 2019 we are delighted to be making progress towards construction, through our work with Euroforest Scotland.”
Image: Banks Renewables
Banks shouts ‘timber’ at Kype
£1.5m contract with Euroforest Scotland to help clear project site
By EBS