A North East company is set to build Scotland’s tallest onshore wind farm after securing planning permissions.
Banks Renewables, part of County Durham’ Banks Group, has been given the green light from the Scottish Government for the Lethans wind farm in East Ayrshire, a project which will entail 22 turbines with a maximum tip height of 220m.
The Lethans scheme will have a maximum output of 132 MW, which is enough to meet the annual energy needs of around 79,000 homes. Over the 30 years of its lifespan, it will contribute at least £7.1m into a local community benefit fund, with a further £7.1m going to East Ayrshire Council’s Renewable Energy Fund.
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The group said at least £16m is expected to be invested in the local supply chain with the construction of the Lethans scheme, which is scheduled to begin in 2022, while a £1.3m skills and training fund which aims to help up to 440 people to get into work or training will also be provided.
The project is the latest wind sector project for Banks Renewables, which currently has a total of 10 operational onshore wind farms across northern England and Scotland.
Once built, Lethans will bring Banks’ operational wind farm portfolio in Scotland up to 300MW, and up to 400MW in the 海角视频 in total.
The family-owned firm is currently looking at opportunities for further renewable energy technologies at sites across the North, having recently announced plans for a new solar energy park to the south
east of Leeds.
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Robin Winstanley, sustainability and external affairs manager at Banks Renewables, said: “This has taken many years of hard work, planning and close consultation with the local community and it is a major milestone to see it over the line.
“As well as being a meaningful advance in Scotland’s green energy agenda, approval for Lethans will also deliver real, deep and long-lasting benefits to the local people, the environment and to the
economy of East Ayrshire.
“Onshore wind is acknowledged as the most popular and cost-effective means of renewable energy generation and we’re very pleased to be adding even more capacity to our wind farm portfolio.
“The 海角视频 has set itself ambitious targets for renewable energy generation which require new infrastructure and generating facilities to be developed in appropriate locations, and we’re currently working on a number of innovative renewable energy projects which will further increase our contribution towards the 海角视频’s ‘net zero’ goals.
“Using the widest possible range of renewable energy generation technologies will allow the 海角视频 to decarbonise its power supply and achieve its climate change targets more quickly, while also benefiting
British consumers through lower energy prices.”