First solar power farm owned and operated by Scottish council switched on

The first solar panel farm owned by a local council has now been switched on.

The pioneering photovoltaic plant, which will power more than 2,000 homes and is operated by North Ayrshire Council, is one of two being introduced this year.

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.

On Wednesday, North Ayrshire Council leader Marie Burns and councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for green environment and economy, led the big switch-on.

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.

These projects are 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.

Councillor Gurney believes the facility will play a major part in the quest to help save the planet.

He said: “It’s fitting that during Scotland’s Climate Week, we are making a major contribution towards our commitment to cut carbon emissions.

“This is a landmark moment for us in our ambition to become net-zero by 2030.

“Here at Nethermains, the solar PV farm is expected to generate about 7,600MWh of electricity.

“Once Shewalton comes online later this year, that figure will rise to more than 13,000 MWh over the two sites and will result in annual reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 2,700 tonnes.”

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.

Council leader Marie Burns is encouraged that the project can help secure more investment in the community.

She said: “We are thrilled to see the solar PV farm at Nethermains now fully online and producing clean energy, feeding into the national grid.

“The solar farms will provide a welcome revenue stream for the Council which can be re-invested into North Ayrshire, but just as importantly, it also ramps up our ongoing efforts to combat climate change and cut carbon emissions.”

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

Mark Apsey MBE, senior vice-president at the company 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 de-carbonisation 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.”

Susie Leppard, head of renewables at energy company OVO, added: “We’re committed to supporting renewable energy generation across the UK 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.