Concrete was poured on the 50th and final turbine foundation at South Kyle Wind Farm recently as construction reached a significant milestone eight months ahead of schedule.

The completion of the final foundation marks a change in the emphasis of the works onsite, which turn to the electrical works. Over the coming months 72km of 33kV cable will be laid and work will continue at the new South Kyle substation and on the grid connection.

Civil works will now focus on finishing the foundations and environmental restoration of the areas where rock has been extracted for use at the site as well as preparing the access route and site for wind turbine deliveries which are scheduled to commence in Spring 2022.

A local company, Foundation Solutions HV, has also been integral to operations. The specialist foundation contractor, based in Auchinleck, employs over 30 people locally and is leading the operation along with RJ McLeod based in Glasgow.

Paul Nickless, Vattenfall’s Project Director for South Kyle, said: “Reaching this important milestone eight months ahead of schedule is a great achievement and the result of lots of hard work from all of our contractors including RJ McLeod and Foundation Solutions HV, who are based just a few miles from South Kyle.

“What they have managed to achieve, despite recent materials and driver shortages as well as the ongoing pandemic, is extremely impressive.

“It’s exciting to think that by 2023, South Kyle Wind Farm will be generating fossil-fuel free power and making a significant contribution to Scotland’s net zero goals.”

South Kyle Wind Farm is set to be fully commissioned and producing electricity from Spring 2023. Once energised it will be generating enough electricity to meet the equivalent demand of approximately 170,000 UK homes annually, more than all of the homes in East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway combined.