OnPath Energy has begun installing six next-generation turbines at the Mill Rig Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire, a £155m project designed to power the equivalent of more than 45,000 homes and deliver £5m in community benefits over 30 years.

Working with South Lanarkshire Council and turbine supplier Nordex, OnPath Energy has started bringing turbine components to site overnight to minimise disruption. Initial deliveries through December and into January include tower sections, nacelles, drive trains and hubs, with pre-assembly progressing in parallel to speed up installation.

The wind farm will use six Nordex N163/5.X machines with tip heights of 199.5 metres, contributing to a total capacity of 33.4MW. The 80-metre blades — expected to arrive early in the new year — will be the longest fitted to onshore turbines in the UK to date, ahead of commissioning and full energisation in the spring.

With blades that sweep 50% more area than the largest turbines at the Kype Muir Extension, and benefitting from higher rated power, the Mill Rig units are expected to generate about 33% more energy, increasing overall renewable output and associated community benefits.

Martin Kellerman, Construction Director at OnPath Energy, said: "Welcoming Nordex on site represents a key moment for Mill Rig. Their team brings vast technical expertise and a strong track record of safe and efficient turbine delivery.

"Throughout December, Nordex started pre-erection activity, which includes assembling the lower tower sections and preparing the site for the delivery of the larger components in early 2026."

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Nordex previously worked with OnPath on the Kype Muir Extension and, as an onshore OEM, specialises in the design, sale, installation, manufacture and servicing of wind turbines in the 3 to 6+ MW range. Headquartered in Hamburg, the group has production facilities in Germany, Brazil, India, the US, Morocco, South Africa, Finland, Turkey, China and Spain, and has installed around 61 GW of capacity in more than 40 countries.

Danny Hasledine, Director Sales, UK & Ireland, Nordex Group, said: "We're proud to be partnering once again with OnPath on the Mill Rig project and we are especially excited that this will mark the first installation of our N163/5.X turbine in the UK. It's a significant step forward, not just for Nordex, but for high-performance onshore wind in this region."

"Our continued collaboration with OnPath reflects a shared commitment to delivering impactful, future-ready energy projects."

Initial activity began in November with the bottom two tower sections erected using smaller cranes. The 80-metre blades and upper tower sections are due in early 2026, with the full turbine erection phase scheduled for Q1 2026 using specialist large-scale cranes supplied by Global Port Services. Assembly is forecast to finish by the end of March, followed by commissioning and energisation.

OnPath appointed Natural Power as Owner's Engineer for Mill Rig, providing end-to-end technical and construction management, including principal designer duties under CDM regulations, design safety co-ordination, progress monitoring and contractor oversight.

Angie Smith, Construction Project Manager from Natural Power said: "We were delighted to continue supporting OnPath on this project, building on a wide range of pre-construction site investigations and geotechnical surveys, peatland assessments and seismic studies already delivered. We look forward to seeing the project through the construction phase and on to the handover to operations".

Martin Kellerman added: "These are complex operations that require precision and coordination. Nordex's experience and commitment to safe, staged assembly means we can proceed with confidence.

"Once operational, these turbines will provide clean electricity to the equivalent of 45,000 homes each year – while also feeding millions of pounds in long-term value back into surrounding communities."

The project relies on a specialist international supply chain, with blades shipped from Portugal and other components sourced from factories in Germany and Turkey. Scottish heavy haulage firm McFadyens is managing transport from King George V Dock in Glasgow to the rural site.

In line with its OnPath Together development approach, the company is prioritising local businesses and targeting a 65% lifetime spend in the area. The wider scheme is supporting around 300 jobs, with an estimated £91m of contract value flowing to firms within 60km of the site.

Mill Rig is the latest addition to OnPath Energy's growing UK portfolio of 12 operational wind farms. A £5m community benefit fund linked to the project will support local groups, organisations and environmental initiatives across South Lanarkshire over the life of the wind farm.