Knockroon Estate on the outskirts of Cumnock has been unveiled as the location for a world-leading energy project which will revolutionise how renewable energy supplies are generated, stored and used by communities in the area.

The National Energy Research Demonstrator Project (NERD) will focus on Cumnock as a Regional Community Living Lab for Just Transition to Renewable Power, Heat and Transport and a centre of academic research and innovation thanks to an investment of £17million from the UK Government backed up with £7.5million from East Ayrshire Council as part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal.

The NERD project will develop a centre of excellence for clean energy research, harnessing existing and new renewable energy technologies (such as hydrogen and geothermal heat) to provide solutions to produce and store energy and create a new, more flexible energy grid.

Council Leader Douglas Reid said: “Through the Ayrshire Growth Deal, our investment will bring great benefits to the local economy through new jobs and spending power.

Cumnock Chronicle:

“The latest green energy technologies such as hydrogen, wind and geothermal heating can be applied locally, and create opportunities for Cumnock and surrounding areas. It is absolutely appropriate that a community who provided so much energy for the nation in the form of coal extraction, should benefit from this major investment into green energy and carbon reduction.”

There will also be significant NERD activity within Auchinleck and other surrounding communities over the lifetime of the project, with the NERD project team continuing to work closely with all communities.

Karl Doroszenko, Council Development Planning and Regeneration Manager, said: “Agreeing the location for the Centre of Excellence is the first major milestone for this project and we look forward to working with the appointed design team.”

While subject to planning permission, it is hoped work will begin in 2022, with completion in autumn 2023.