OnPath Energy (formerly Banks Renewables) has officially inaugurated a new 15 turbine extension to increase the capacity of its Kype Muir Wind Farm to more than 155MW.
The project in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, was officially opened by Joani Reid, Labour MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven.
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.”
The extension will be a significant addition to OnPath Energy’s 26-turbine Kype Muir Wind Farm site, OnPath said.
The wind farm and its extension are expected to deliver more than £21m worth of community benefits during its lifetime and will directly and indirectly support around 800 jobs.
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 £123m.
As part of OnPath’s commitment to local businesses, local contractors were prioritised in the same way when developing Kype Muir Extension Wind Farm, the developer said.