Greencoat UK Wind together with a fund managed by Schroders Greencoat has acquired the remaining 50.1% share in Kype Muir Extension wind farm from OnPath Energy.

An initial loan by Greencoat in 2021 converted to a 49.9% shareholding in December 2023. This enabled OnPath Energy to construct the project at a time when UK onshore renewables deployment was extremely challenging. 

The 15-turbine farm near Strathaven in South Lanarkshire is the first in the UK to feature turbines with a 200-metre tip height.

Kype Extension began exporting clean, green electricity to the national grid in December 2022 with annual output expected to be enough to meet the average annual electricity needs of approximately 53,700 households.

It was built as an extension of OnPath Energy’s neighbouring 26-turbine Kype Muir Wind Farm and features four 156m, three 176m and eight 200m-tall wind turbines.

Combined with the Kype Muir Wind Farm, it will offset carbon emissions equivalent to removing 30,700 petrol cars from the road each year.

The combined 41 turbines of the Kype Muir and Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension generate enough to supply renewable electricity to more than 123,700 homes or a city larger than Aberdeen.

Gordon Thomson, projects director at OnPath Energy (formerly Banks Renewables) said: “Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension is a groundbreaking UK project.

“We have worked in close partnership with Schroders Greencoat on the development of this wind farm for several years. The long term social, economic and environmental commitments made to local communities will be honoured in full by its new owners.

“OnPath has ambitious plans to make further additional capital investment in high quality renewable energy infrastructure, amplifying the difference we can make to a net zero future for the UK that will help to lower consumer bills, improve the UK’s energy security and deliver a just transition that is fair and inclusive for everyone.”