Work 'advanced' at North Ayrshire Council's new solar farms

Work on the first of two facilities began earlier this year at Nethermains, a former landfill site, between Irvine and Kilwinning.

Much of the infrastructure on the site has now been installed and work is expected to be complete early next year.

Construction is also under way on a second solar PV farm at the Shewalton former landfill site in Irvine.

The projects are believed to be the first solar farms to be owned and operated by a local authority in Scotland and mark a major milestone in the council’s bid to cut carbon emissions.

Nethermains alone is expected to create enough energy to power more than 2,000 homes. Once complete, it will feature more than 12,000 solar panels and is expected to generate approximately 7,700MWh of electricity annually.

New images show the scale of the construction work at the 24.3-hectare site, which is near Bartonholm Waste Recycling Centre.

Shewalton, once complete, will feature more than 8,500 solar panels and is expected to generate approximately 5,400MWh of electricity annually.

The Nethermains site (Image: NAC) Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for green environment and economy, said: “Work has progressed rapidly at Nethermains, and it won’t be long before the site is producing clean energy which will feed into the national grid.

“As well as providing a welcome revenue stream for the council which can be re-invested into North Ayrshire, it is also ramps up our ongoing efforts to combat climate change and cut carbon emissions.

“We want to lead by example and this solar farm at Nethermains – to be soon followed by a second solar farm at Shewalton – will make a massive difference.”

Ameresco are constructing the solar farms on behalf of the council.

Mark Apsey MBE, senior vice president at the company, said: “We are thrilled to be spearheading this ground-breaking solar installation for North Ayrshire Council.

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

"These solar arrays will not only provide green electricity but also create valuable employment opportunities for local communities, reinforcing our commitment to environmental stewardship and economic growth.” 

The creation of the two solar farms – which represent a £12.465 million investment - 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 and provide community benefits by selling the electricity generated via a power purchase agreement.