OnPath Energy has appointed three key contractors to support the development of its Mill Rig Wind Farm project, located on the border of South Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire, near Darvel, Scotland. The project will consist of six wind turbines and is expected to have an installed generation capacity of approximately 33.4MW, enough to supply electricity to more than 45,000 homes annually.
Nordex will supply and install six N163.5/X turbines with a tip height of up to 200 meters, while energy consultancy Natural Power will provide construction management services. Glasgow-based contractor R J McLeod will be responsible for the balance of plant contract, which includes civil engineering work, cabling, and off-site highway construction.
The development work is expected to begin before Easter, with turbine delivery scheduled for the autumn. Construction and commissioning are set to be completed by spring 2026. OnPath Energy has been preparing for the construction of the six-turbine project since securing planning approval in 2022.
The £91 million investment in the Mill Rig Wind Farm will benefit businesses and services within a 60-kilometer radius of the site and is expected to directly support around 300 jobs during the project’s lifetime, with additional employment opportunities in the wider supply chain. The wind farm will also establish a community fund, contributing up to £167,000 annually for local charities and community groups, or approximately £5 million over the project’s 30-year lifespan. Furthermore, an investment of £450,000 will be allocated to local training and employment initiatives during the first five years of operation.
OnPath Energy’s construction director, Martin Kellerman, said: “The Mill Rig Wind Farm will bring a wide range of direct environmental, energy security, and community benefits to the local area, as well as a £91m investment in the local economy, and will further increase the contribution that OnPath Energy is able to make towards helping Scotland and the wider UK achieve its crucial net-zero ambitions. RJ McLeod and Natural Power have been trusted partners for many years, helping us to successfully deliver several onshore wind farms across Scotland and England, while the Nordex turbines we’ve specified here will be among the most efficient operating anywhere in the UK. We’re very pleased to have access to our chosen contractors’ combined expertise as we work towards commissioning the Mill Rig Wind Farm next year and look forward to development and construction work progressing smoothly on site over the coming months.
The Mill Rig Wind Farm is part of OnPath Energy’s broader portfolio, which also includes the seven-turbine Pates Hill Wind Farm in West Lothian, and the Kype Muir and Middle Muir Wind Farms in South Lanarkshire and South-East Douglas, respectively.
