Scottish Energy Minister opens new Muirhall wind farm

A three-turbine extension to Muirhall wind farm in South Lanarkshire has been officially opened by Scottish Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse.

He was later joined by Declan Cullinane and the team from GE which supplied the 2.75MW turbines, and Chris Rodgers from Close Brothers, who provided finance for the development, on a visit to Muirhall Energy’s office in nearby Carnwath.

Having already erected two German-made 3.2MW machines with 147 metre tips at Muirhall Extension (Phase 2) –  then the tallest onshore turbines in the UK at the time – Muirhall Energy and WWS Renewables have now installed three of the UK’s largest rotors at 210 meters at the Muirhall South third-phase.

Wheelhouse said: “I congratulate the Muirhall Energy team on the official opening of this three turbine extension to their facility, meaning the site now contains 11 turbines with a capacity of 26.95MW, that can generate enough electricity to power 13,459 homes.

“Not only will Muirhall extension continue to provide an excellent source of renewable energy but the additional turbines will provide the local community with more than £6,000 extra per installed MW each year for the three new turbines – or more than £48,000 funding per year – to spend on projects that will bring direct benefit to local people.

“Our draft <Scottish> Energy Strategy seeks to identify new ways to ensure that communities across Scotland continue to benefit from onshore wind projects as a mature and well-developed form of renewable energy and looks to maximise opportunities to support local communities in unlocking new sources of revenue so that they can invest for the future.”

Chris Walker, Managing Director, Muirhall Energy, added: “An enormous amount of time and effort goes in to the planning and development of all our wind farms, and it is wonderful achievement to see everyone’s hard work come together”.