Renewables firm recognised for community engagement

One of the country’s leading renewable energy developers has been shortlisted for its community engagement at a national awards ceremony.

OnPath Energy, formerly Banks Renewables, has been nominated for the Best Engagement Award at the Scottish Green Energy Awards on the back of its work at the Kype Muir Extension wind farm in South Lanarkshire.

The development has added more than 67.2 MW of generation capacity to the area’s renewable energy resources, enough to power over 53,000 homes.

Robin Winstanley, sustainability and community director at OnPath Energy said: “This nomination is testament to the great team that has been involved in this project over the years. It is also a brilliant endorsement of our values and the excellence in execution that we have delivered in renewable energy developments over the last two decades.

The importance of community engagement in any green energy development cannot be understated, and we’re very pleased that our efforts have been recognised.”

Located approximately 5km south of the town of Strathaven, Kype Muir is one of eleven onshore wind farms developed by OnPath Energy, generating a collective 840Gwh of energy per year.

Both the Kype Muir and Kype Muir Extension wind farms are set to deliver community benefits equating to more than £770,000 each year made available to surrounding communities.

It features 15 ultra-powerful turbines: four at 156m, three at 176m, and eight at 200m – the first UK onshore wind project to achieve this milestone tip height.

The project has established a deep and meaningful connection with surrounding communities affected by deindustrialisation. Throughout the development, neighbouring communities have been front of mind, with commitments shared upfront across procurement, training and consultation.

A bespoke Community Partnering proposal at Kype Muir Wind Farm was initially developed in 2019, with the aim of ensuring communities take their own share of the wind farm revenues to invest in their local area, tackling the issues specific to them.

Named the Kype Muir Community Partnership (KMCP), it receives funding from both Kype Muir and Kype Muir Extension wind farms.

The KMCP represents the five community council areas which are local to the area, each with two representatives on the panel.

Robin added: “The Kype Muir Extension project truly demonstrates the power of community partnering to maximise the social, environmental, and economic benefits of onshore wind farms. Executed correctly, benefits are shared fairly between the operator, local authority and the communities surrounding the project.”

The Scottish Green Energy Awards will host its finalists reception later this week, and winners will be announced on Thursday, 5th of December in Edinburgh.