North Ayrshire Council is making significant strides in its commitment to renewable energy with the construction of two pioneering solar PV farms.

The first project, located at the Nethermains former landfill site between Irvine and Kilwinning, is well underway. Much of the infrastructure has been installed, and the site is expected to be fully operational by early next year.

The second solar farm is being developed at the Shewalton former landfill site in Irvine. Both projects are believed to be the first of their kind in Scotland, with the council owning and operating the facilities.

The Nethermains solar farm, spanning 24.3 hectares, will feature over 12,000 solar panels and is projected to generate approximately 7,700 MWh of electricity annually, enough to power over 2,000 homes.

The Shewalton solar farm, once completed, will consist of more than 8,500 solar panels and is estimated to generate around 5,400 MWh of electricity per year.

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"Work has progressed rapidly at Nethermains, and it won’t be long before the site is producing clean energy which will feed into the national grid," said Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy.

"As well as providing a welcome revenue stream for the council which can be re-invested into North Ayrshire, it is also ramps up our ongoing efforts to combat climate change and cut carbon emissions.

"We want to lead by example and this solar farm at Nethermains – to be soon followed by a second solar farm at Shewalton – will make a massive difference."

Ameresco are constructing the solar farms on behalf of the council. Mark Apsey MBE, Senior Vice President at Ameresco, said: "We are thrilled to be spearheading this groundbreaking solar installation for North Ayrshire Council.

"By transforming previously unusable landfill sites into shining examples of sustainability and clean energy, we are making a substantial impact on the region's carbon footprint. These solar arrays will not only provide green electricity but also create valuable employment opportunities for local communities, reinforcing our commitment to environmental stewardship and economic growth."

The creation of the two solar farms – which represent a £12.465 million investment - are key elements of delivery of the council's Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy and will have the added bonus of earning income for the council to help sustain local services and provide community benefits by selling the electricity generated via a Power Purchase Agreement.

Work on the Shewalton solar PV farm is already underway and, like Nethermains, is on track to begin producing energy early next year.

The annual reduction in CO2 emissions is estimated at 2,700 tonnes of CO2 per year based on the combined annual energy generation of over 13,000 MWh.