Green for go – Solar PV farm is a first for Scotland

A pioneering solar PV farm – the first to be owned and operated by a Scottish local authority – has been officially switched on.

The massive facility at Nethermains – between Irvine and Kilwinning – features more than 12,000 solar panels and will create enough energy to power more than 2,000 homes.

North Ayrshire Council Leader Marie Burns and Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, led the big switch-on yesterday (Wednesday, 1 October).

This will be the first of two solar PV farms to be built by North Ayrshire Council with the final touches being made on a second solar facility at Shewalton former landfill site in Irvine, scheduled to be switched on later this year.

The 24.3-hectare site at Nethermains, which is near Bartonholm Waste Recycling Centre, is a former landfill site which was unsuitable for alternative development.

Alongside the sister site at Shewalton, the creation of the two solar farms represents a £12.465 million investment by the Council.

The sites are key elements of delivery of the Council's Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy and will have the added bonus of earning income for the Council to help sustain local services by selling the electricity to OVO via a Power Purchase Agreement.

Some of the income from the solar farm will be used to help with community projects, tackling fuel poverty and encouraging renewable energy projects at a local level.

Ameresco have delivered the solar farms at both Nethermains and Shewalton.

Mark Apsey MBE, Senior Vice President at Ameresco, said:

“Ameresco is proud to have delivered this ground-breaking solar installation for North Ayrshire Council, with the recent energisation of the array marking a significant milestone on North Ayrshire's decarbonisation journey.

“By transforming previously unusable landfill sites, such as this one at Nethermains, into shining examples of sustainability and clean energy, we are making a substantial impact on the region's carbon footprint.

“This solar array, along with its sister project at Shewalton, will not only provide green electricity for many years but has also created valuable employment opportunities for local communities, reinforcing Ameresco's commitment to environmental stewardship and economic growth.”

Susie Leppard, Head of Renewables at OVO, added:

“We’re committed to supporting renewable energy generation across the UK, striving to bring more renewables onto the grid and taking huge steps towards reaching net zero. Our new partnership with North Ayrshire Council has a key role to play in accelerating the UK towards a fossil fuel free energy system.”

The second site at Shewalton will feature more than 8,500 solar panels and is expected to generate approximately 5,400MWh of electricity annually once it comes online.