A MAJOR new solar farm near Kilwinning has been given the go-ahead by the Scottish Government.

Renewable energy company Locogen and development partners Aukera Energy have been given the green light by the Scottish Government’s energy consents unit to develop a 63MW solar farm a couple of miles north-east of the town.

Construction work on the Benthead solar farm will begin late next year, with completion set for 2025. Jobs will be created throughout the construction period and beyond.

The consented site includes a 30MW embedded battery storage facility and, once constructed, is set to become one of the largest solar and battery storage schemes in Scotland.

It is estimated the solar and battery storage project will generate 73GWh of energy, equivalent to the energy demands of 25,000 average UK homes, which equates to approximately 17,000 tonnes of CO2 emission savings.

The decision comes after detailed consultation with the local community and North Ayrshire Council, who confirmed they had no objection to the proposals.

Locogen held two in-person consultation events last year to further engage with locals where they were able to provide their feedback.

These comments were used to help shape and inform the final proposals. The project is offering a community benefit of £400/MW per year equating to an annual payment of £25,200 per year to be made available.

The scheme is expected to bring significant investment to the local area throughout the construction and operation of the solar farm, and will also generate opportunities for local business to support in terms of groundwork, landscaping, civil engineering and construction contracts.

Stuart Hamilton, planning and development director at Locogen Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have received the green light for the Benthead solar farm and would like to extend our gratitude to all those who have supported us throughout this process.

“The input of the local community and key stakeholders has been invaluable in shaping the project.

“Our now consented proposals will deliver a renewable energy solution that aligns with Scotland’s climate goals, contributing to reduced carbon emissions and helping mitigate the impacts of climate change in Scotland; whilst also providing significant investment into the local community’s economy.”

Richard Hillam, Aukera UK’s development director, said: “As partners in this journey, we are thrilled about the approval of our solar and battery storage project near Kilwinning.

“We’re excited to contribute not only to Scotland’s renewable energy goals but also to the growth of the community and surrounding areas. We look forward to entering the construction phase and are committed to operating the solar farm through the lifetime of the project.”

Councillor Tony Gurney, North Ayrshire's cabinet member for green environment and economy, added: “We welcome this renewable energy proposal that supports our own ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2030.

“We look forward to seeing the development progress and have the positive environmental impact that is expected.”