Greenburn developers sign Memorandum of Understanding with 9CCG

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has now been signed between REG Greenburn Limited and a local community Trust that will deliver an annual community benefit fund of up to £315,000 per year.

 The 9CCG, a fully incorporated local community body which represents the nine community councils in the area, will be responsible for approving the allocation of the community benefit funds.

 The community benefit fund is expected to start once the wind farm is fully operational, towards the end of 2027 and will continue for the project’s 35-year life.

 Speaking on behalf of REG Greenburn Limited, Project Manager Melvyn McKeown said how pleased the developers were to sign the MOU. He said:

 “This MOU recognises the work and commitment that the local communities have put in to set up the 9CCG: this community body will approve and allocate many millions of pounds of community benefit funds over the next three to four decades as a consequence of the wind farms in this area.

 “It is an inspiring example of ‘best practice’ to communities that host wind farms across Scotland about cooperating across administrative boundaries, to ensure that benefits are delivered to communities.

 “We look forward to a close and productive working relationship with the 9CCG, working together to ensure we maximise the benefit to the communities and leave a long-lasting legacy.”

 Speaking on behalf of the 9CCG, Stephen McCarron, Chair said:

 “We are now seeing the benefits of nine community councils working together. Community benefit from the wind farms that are being and will be built in the area, will help transform many of our communities."

 Since being granted consent by The Scottish Government in April 2023, the developers of the Greenburn project (REG Power Management Ltd and ESB) have been conducting a detailed appraisal of the project.

 A Section 36C application to vary the consented wind farm on land next to the fully restored Greenburn opencast mining site near New Cumnock, was lodged with Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit in November 2024.

 Revisions to the consented project include fewer but taller turbines (14 instead of 16: with blade tip heights increased from 149.9 m up to 180 m, (11 turbines at 180 m and of three turbines at 167.5 m).

Six of the 14 turbines will be fitted with visible aviation lighting.

The S36C application together with the full suite of EIA documents is available on the ECU (Energy Consents Unit) website, at www.energyconsents.scot under application reference ECU00005183.

and on this website.

As previously, the Section 36C application will be determined by the Scottish Government, with East Ayrshire Council as a statutory consultee.

PHOTO CAPTION (Left to Right):  Melvyn McKeown, Project Manager, REG Greenburn Limited; Alex Baird, Chair, 9CCG; Emma Shearer, Assistant Project Manager, Electricity Supply Board (ESB), and Joe Shinkwin, Onshore Wind Project Director, ESB Asset Development, Electricity Supply Board (ESB).

Proposed Variation submitted to Energy Consents Unit

A Section 36C application to vary the consented wind farm on land next to the fully restored Greenburn opencast mining site near New Cumnock, has now been lodged with Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.

Revisions to the consented project include fewer but taller turbines (14 instead of 16: with blade tip heights increased from 149.9 m up to 180 m, (11 turbines at 180 m and of three turbines at 167.5 m). Six of the 14 turbines will be fitted with visible aviation lighting.

The S36C application together with the full suite of EIA documents is now available on the ECU (Energy Consents Unit) website, at www.energyconsents.scot under application reference ECU00005183 and on the project website www.greenburnwindpark.co.uk

 As previously, the Section 36C application will be determined by the Scottish Government, with East Ayrshire Council as a statutory consultee.

Any representations on the variation application may be submitted by email to the Scottish Government via representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation.

Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals) and full postal address of those making representations. Emailed representations should also include the full return email address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement.

All representations should be received not later than 10th January 2025, although Ministers may consider representations received after this date.

Public Exhibition - revised proposals 29 May 2024

A drop in public exhibition was held on 29 May from 11:00-18:00hrs at New Cumnock Town Hall for you to:

• see how the proposed scheme has changed;

• ask any questions that you may have;

• see new visualisations from various locations; and

• meet the team and provide your feedback.

We anticipate submitting a Section 36C application (to vary the existing consent) to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit during autumn 2024.

If you were unable to attend, you can still view the exhibition panels here on this website. Feedback to the project team closed at 17:00hrs on 19 June 2024. You will have an opportunity to make a formal representation about the revised proposals for Greenburn wind park, when an application is submitted to Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit this autumn.

Proposed Changes to consented wind park

The application by REG Greenburn Limited for a wind farm and battery storage facility (‘Greenburn Wind Park’) on the former Greenburn coal mining site, west of New Cumnock, East Ayrshire was granted consent by Scottish Ministers in April 2023 under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Since being granted consent, REG and its project partner ESB, have been conducting detailed energy yield studies and a commercial appraisal of the project in order to finalise their plans for implementing the project.  This exercise has identified that there has been a significant increase in the estimated construction costs, including turbine, plant and material prices since the Greenburn Wind Park application was submitted in 2020.  Also, it is now clear that the neighbouring North Kyle Wind Farm, which is now under construction, will have a detrimental effect on the wind resource available to the Greenburn Wind Park, where several of the turbines will be impacted by significant energy generation losses.

REG and ESB are therefore proposing a revision to the consented wind park, reducing the number of turbines from 16 to 14, to delete the turbines with the greatest energy generation losses, while increasing the turbine blade tip heights of all of the consented turbines from 149.9m to up to 180m (a number of which are proposed at 167.5m) These changes will improve the generating capacity of the Greenburn Wind Park, while reducing construction costs, enabling a commercially-viable project to be progressed.  The 14 retained turbines would all be at the same locations as consented baring T11, which has been moved marginally to avoid a Telecoms link.

REG will be submitting a Section 36C application, to vary the existing consent, to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit during autumn 2024.

ESB, who would construct, own and operate the Greenburn Wind Park, is fully committed to delivering the project in time for the contracted grid connection date in October 2027.  The recent secured ‘Contracts for Difference’, awarded in August 2023, was based on the revised proposals of 14 turbines up to 180m height to blade tip.

REG Greenburn Ltd has already committed to paying £5,000 per MW of installed capacity into a community benefit fund over the 35-year operational lifetime of the project.  The community benefit fund would be administered by the 9CC Group.  Whereas the consented Greenburn Wind Park project involved an installed capacity of 67.2MW, the revised proposals would see this decrease slightly to approximately 63MW, generating a CBF of approximately £315,000 a year or £11m over the 35-year operational term.

Greenburn windfarm on former coal mine site consented

An application for a wind farm and battery storage facility on land west of New Cumnock, East Ayrshire has been granted consent by Scottish Ministers.

The permission, granted to REG Greenburn Limited to construct and operate Greenburn Wind Park under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 was confirmed on 21st April 2023.

Located approximately 4.5km to the west of New Cumnock, the wind park comprises 16 turbines with a capacity of 67.2MW, tip heights of 149.9 metres and a battery storage facility of 10MW, to help create a more flexible grid system. It will have a generating capacity in excess of 50MW.

Copies of the decision statement and related documentation are published on the Energy Consents website www.energyconsents.scot; reference number ECU00002037.

The application was first lodged in early 2020, following an 18-month long public consultation with local people, community organisations and businesses.

REG Greenburn has committed to paying £5,000 per MW of installed capacity into a community benefit fund. Based on the candidate turbines  this could mean up to £336,000 a year/£11.8m over the 35-year lifetime of the wind farm, to be divided among the communities within 10km of the site.

REG Greenburn has worked with the 9CC Group – representing nine local community councils – to determine how the community benefit fund will be divided and allocated. An MOU is expected to be signed soon.

It is hoped that the funding will help support a variety of long-lasting initiatives and good causes including apprenticeships and training; local regeneration; open space improvements and support for local clubs and groups.

 Key Facts

·       Number of turbines: 16 turbines

·       Size of turbines: A maximum tip height of 149.9m

·       Battery Storage: co located with the wind farm to maximise use of the grid connection

·       Lifespan: 35 years of operation

·       Current land use: Commercial Forestry (adjacent to the former open cast coal mine)

·       Grid connection: Underground cables to a new substation, on site

Speaking about the project, Melvyn McKeown, Project Manager for REG said how delighted they were to have been granted consent,

 “We would like to thank everyone who helped us achieve this consent and we now look forward to working with local people on the next, exciting phase of this project to ensure that local communities benefit.

“The development will create direct and indirect economic benefits including the potential for local jobs during the construction period and a range of contracts that local firms will be encouraged to bid for. We will – in due course – hold a ‘meet the buyer’ event so that we can maximise opportunities for local companies.”

Greenburn Wind Farm & Battery Storage Application Progresses

East Ayrshire Council’s Planning Committee has decided today (25 September 2020) to raise no objection to the Greenburn Wind Farm and Battery Storage plans.

REG Greenburn Ltd has welcomed the progress of the application through East Ayrshire Council.  As a Section 36 project, the application will eventually be determined by the Scottish Government, with East Ayrshire Council as a key consultee.  The project has received no environmental objection from consultees such as NatureScot (formerly known as SNH), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and Forestry Scotland.  

The proposals, on land adjacent to the former Greenburn open cast coal mine near New Cumnock, are for 16 turbines with a capacity of 67.2MW and a battery storage facility of 10MW, which will help create a more flexible grid system. 

The site is located in East Ayrshire Council’s preferred area for wind development and takes in some of the land earmarked for the East Ayrshire Coalfield Communities Landscape Project, approximately 4.5km to the west of New Cumnock.

If the project is consented and constructed, REG Greenburn Ltd has committed to paying £5,000 per MW of installed capacity into a community benefit fund. Based on current technology, this could mean up to £336,000 a year/£11.8m over the 35-year lifetime of the wind farm, to be divided among the communities within 10km of the site.  The funding could be used to help support a variety of long-lasting initiatives and good causes including apprenticeships and training; local regeneration; open space improvements and support for local clubs and groups. REG Greenburn Ltd has reached agreement on the distribution of the community benefit fund between nine local community councils and the East Ayrshire Coalfields Community Landscape Partnership.

Melvyn McKeown, Project Manager for REG Greenburn Ltd said:

"We welcome the decision by councillors to raise no objection to our Greenburn proposals - this decision underlines the Council’s support for the green recovery and local jobs.  We have worked extremely hard to bring forward an acceptable proposal and the site is in East Ayrshire Council’s preferred area for wind development.  

“We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to speak with us on our proposals and help shape the project to date.

“The development, if consented and constructed, will create direct and indirect economic benefits including the potential for local jobs during the construction period and a range of contracts that local firms will be encouraged to bid for.  We have also engaged extensively on community benefit and investment programmes with community representatives and appreciate their input into the project.

“The wind farm and battery storage scheme will be sited on a former open cast coal mine, next to the restored land, to harness clean energy and help Scotland to achieve its ambitious net-zero emissions goal by 2045.”

Wind Farm & Battery Storage application lodged

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An application under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for a wind farm and battery storage facility on land adjacent to the former Greenburn open cast coal mine near New Cumnock, East Ayrshire, has been lodged by REG Greenburn Limited.

The Section 36 application was submitted on 31 March 2020, following an 18-month long public consultation process that included a series of exhibitions in Cumnock, New Cumnock, Auchinleck and Ochiltree and meetings with community councils, community development trusts, local businesses and residents. REG Greenburn Limited also consulted with all statutory bodies including Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Forestry.

The current restrictions in place relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, prevent the public inspection of hard copies of the Section 36 application, the plan showing the land to which it relates and the accompanying Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report, which would normally be available at the New Cumnock library and East Ayrshire Council offices in Kilmarnock. Therefore, as an interim measure, REG Greenburn Limited has sent a digital copy of the full application submission to all community councils neighbouring the proposed Greenburn Wind Farm. Hard copies of the Non-Technical Summary will be sent to all community councils in the area and a hard copy of the visualisations will be sent to the ‘9CCG’ group, as soon as restrictions are lifted and large items can be packaged and posted more easily.

The Section 36 application and all associated documents are available to be viewed or downloaded from the Documents page of this website.

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Key Facts

Number of turbines: 16 turbines (NB: reduced by 4 turbines as a result of the consultation and EIA design process, compared to the original proposals).

Size of turbines: A maximum tip height of 149.9m

Battery Storage: Plans to co-locate battery storage with the wind farm to maximise the use of the grid connection

Lifespan: 35 years of operation

Current land use: The western part of the Site covers Carsgailoch Hill in the north and Black Hill in the south. The land cover of this area is commercial forestry, dissected by access tracks. The eastern part of the Site covers Carnivan Hill where the land cover is open grass moorland.

Grid connection: Underground cables to a new substation, on site. The connection of the proposal to the National Grid will be subject to a separate application.

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The Section 36 application public consultation period is now open.

Any representations to the application may be submitted via the Energy Consents Unit website at www.energyconsents.scot/Register.aspx; by email to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit mailbox at representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, using reference  ECU00002037 and specifying the grounds for representation. Please note that during Covid-19 restrictions there will be a delay in receiving representations by post.

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Public Exhibitions and Engagement

We continue to engage with local stakeholders, community councils and other community representatives in the areas around the proposed development, to discuss the community benefit fund. Public exhibition events were held in February and June 2019, in Cumnock, New Cumnock, Auchinleck and Ochiltree. Thank you to everyone who came along; we appreciate the feedback and comments on the proposals.  You can view and download copies of the panels from last June’s public exhibitions, on the Documents page.

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Met Mast

The Meteorological Mast is due to be decommissioned in March 2025.

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