Banks files to extend UK wind project to 160 MW

Oct 22, 2014 - UK firm Banks Renewables has filed an application for a 72-MW extension to its approved Kype Muir wind scheme in South Lanarkshire, which would boost the project’s total capacity to 160.4 MW.

The renewables unit of UK property developer Banks Group said in a statement yesterday it had received positive feedback from the local community regarding the proposal, after holding a number of public exhibitions. A final planning application was then submitted to the Scottish government’s Energy Consents Unit on October 6.

The plan is to raise the number of turbines that will make up the community wind park from 26 to 44. The original project was cleared by the planning committee of the South Lanarkshire Council in April 2012 and received planning permission from the Scottish government two years later, in May 2014.

Banks Renewables has committed to provide 4% of the revenue from the extension, or a total of GBP 21 million (USD 33.7m/EUR 26.6m) over the life of the project, to the local communities. Their share of the revenue generated by the entire wind park would amount to 2.5%, corresponding to a total of GBP 33 million.

The extension alone will be able to produce enough power for 38,000 households. The original project’s output was previously estimated to be enough for up to 49,000 local homes.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.605/EUR 1.265)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!