Work on the UK’s biggest on-shore wind farm starts

The start of work on the UK’s biggest on-shore wind farm was being marked today by defence minister Ivor Caplin. The £90 million development at Hadyard Hill, near Girvan in South Ayrshire, is located on the edge of a key RAF low-flying training zone. The 130 megawatt wind farm will provide enough energy to power 80,000 homes when it is expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2005.

The plans for the project, which is being built by Scottish and Southern Energy, were given the green light with help from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in December.Mr Caplin said: “The Hadyard Hill wind farm is a prime example of the MoD working to resolve issues with other agencies and adopting a positive ‘can-do’ attitude. “The MoD fully supports wind farm creation and Government initiatives to increase the use of renewable energy.” Green energy industry body Scottish Renewables said it was “cautiously optimistic” the MoD would continue to support any such projects which fell near defence zones.

Jason Ormiston, senior wind energy officer for the association, said: “Industry figures show the MoD has objected to 48% of wind farm applications in the UK. “The Hadyard Hill scheme demonstrates what can be achieved when the industry, the Scottish Executive and the MoD work together.” After the ceremony marking the start of construction on the project, Mr Caplin will go to Edinburgh to address Veterans Scotland, an umbrella organisation for ex-service bodies, at its first annual general meeting.