UK’s largest community wind farm takes shape in Ayrshire
Households and businesses across Scotland, England, and Wales will benefit from Kirk Hill Wind Farm once operational.
Work on the site in Kirkoswald, Ayrshire, will be completed by April 2024, at which point the facility will claim the title of the UK’s largest community-owned wind farm.
There are currently more than 5,600 individual and organisational-level members in the project, which is run by Ripple Energy. Each stands to save an average of £269 from their utility bills in the first year alone, a figure that will increase as time goes on.
Kirk Hill will bring Ripple’s total UK renewables capacity up to 18.8MW, which is enough to power 20,000 homes and businesses. One household can be powered for an entire year in less than 10minutes of wind farm operation. It is estimated that annual carbon savings from the project could be as high as 31,760 CO2 tonnes. The company already runs renewable sites in south Wales (Graig Fatha Wind Farm), Devon (Derill Water Solar Park), and the new Scottish location, with a fourth set to be announced in the coming months.
‘Kirk Hill Wind Farm represents the future of green energy. It is owned by 5,600 proud individuals who will benefit from the clean, low-cost energy generated by its turbines. From the moment they left the factories and made their journey across the Mediterranean and into the Port of Ayr, our members have been avidly following their journey,’ said Sarah Merrick, founder and CEO of Ripple Energy.
‘There’s a sense of history being made here on the west coast of Scotland as construction gets underway,’she continued. ‘Those who want a zero-carbon future can now part-own renewable energy projects, and directly benefit from lower and more stable electricity bills over the long-term. The future is consumer-owned renewable energy, and thousands of people in the UK have already joined the movement.’
More on wind power:
UK Energy Bill kills oil boiler ban but approves onshore wind
Data reveals countries with fastest growing wind energy sectors
Image: Matt Artz