Site investigations for the 33 MW Mill Rig wind project, located near the border of East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire in Scotland, have been completed. OnPath Energy's contractor, Natural Power, initiated the investigations in May of this year for the six-turbine wind farm.
The Mill Rig wind farm is expected to enter commercial operation in spring 2026, with construction anticipated to begin in March 2025. The project is set to generate a community benefit fund of up to £167,000 annually and inject approximately £91 million into the local economy.
OnPath Energy's Projects Director, Gordon Thomson, remarked, “We have been carrying out a wide range of tests and surveys on the Mill Rig site since May and are pleased with the results from this. Once operational, Mill Rig is a site that will deliver 30 years' worth of clean energy to homes across the country as well as delivering significant benefits for local communities for many years.” He added, “While we are still to confirm a grid connection date, we expect the site to be fully operational in 2026.”
The Mill Rig project will utilize modern turbines, which are expected to be among the most efficient in the UK. The site, located near Darvel in East Ayrshire, received approval from South Lanarkshire Council in 2022.
Sam Fisher, Senior Geotechnical Engineer at Natural Power, expressed satisfaction with the project, stating, “Natural Power was delighted to deliver the site investigation works at Mill Rig near Darvel. As a local supplier, headquartered less than 50 miles from the site, we are very familiar with the challenging ground conditions and access issues the site faces.” He added, “We have specialist drilling rigs for accessing these soft ground and forestry environments and a deep understanding of how the ground conditions encountered will impact the construction phase of the project. We have been fortunate to work with OnPath for several years now and are proud to support them in their vision to power a more sustainable future through renewable energy.”
OnPath Energy has obtained planning permission for 14 wind farms and currently operates 11 onshore arrays across Scotland and northern England, with a combined installed generation capacity of approximately 280 MW.
