Landfill site set to become £6.7 million renewable energy farm in North Ayrshire

A former landfill site near Kilwinning is set to be transformed into a huge £6.7 million solar farm.

Councillors gave the go-ahead to kick off plans for a renewable energy photovoltaic scheme at the Nethermains site yesterday.

The council is also considering installing another solar farm at the old Shewalton rubbish tip area in Irvine at a later date.

But the council’s head of physical environment Yvonne Baulk said Nethermains has the “ability for greater electricity production and financial return.”

She told a North Ayrshire Council cabinet meeting this week: “Both sites are now considered viable however it should be noted that Shewalton carries a greater infrastructure investment and connection risk so there is more uncertainty in terms of time to deliver and the financial return we would be able to achieve.”

The Nethermains development would see the council get cheaper power using a licensed electricity third-party supplier.

And energy could be sold to the electricity grid.

What it could look like: A solar farm in Nottinghamshire. (Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)

A report presented to ruling Labour councillors at the meeting said the project would create a net income of £12.8 million over 20 years. A total of £2.27m would go to community benefit projects.

CCTV and a fence is to be installed to protect the Nethermains farm from intruders.

Councillor Joe Cullinane, leader of North Ayrshire Council, said: “The installation of a solar pv farm at Nethermains will make a positive environmental impact from an otherwise difficult to develop vacant site and will also contribute a number of positive educational and awareness raising opportunities within our communities on the importance of climate change.

“The farms give us the chance to reduce energy costs and increase revenue streams which we can pass on to our citizens and our communities. And it will also play a significant part in our ambitious net-zero carbon emissions target. We are delighted that we have now reached a stage where we are in a position to move forward to deliver the solar pv farm.”

Council staff are working with Strathclyde University on the green energy plan.