GHG Emissions, Commercial, Solar  -  January 22, 2025

North Ayrshire Council Adopts Two Solar Projects

The construction of two groundbreaking solar projects on former landfill sites in North Ayrshire, Scotland, are progressing and will lower regional CO2 emissions by approximately 3,030 tons annually.

The Nethermains and Shewalton solar farms, developed in partnership with Detra Solar, represent a significant milestone in North Ayrshire Council’s strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Ameresco, Inc., a cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, announced the progress of the projects.

The two sites with a combined DC capacity of 12.91 MW will house 20,650 solar panels and will generate approximately 13,177 MWh of clean energy annually. 

These projects transform previously unusable land into a source of renewable energy. Construction on the sites is progressing rapidly, with both farms on track to begin energy production early this year. 

The Nethermains site presented a unique challenge when badgers were discovered late in the design phase, necessitating a comprehensive redesign to protect their habitat. This unexpected obstacle highlighted the delicate balance between advancing clean energy and preserving biodiversity. 

The solar farms will deliver multiple benefits to the local community and environment. In addition to advancing net-zero goals, the projects will generate a long-term revenue stream for North Ayrshire Council through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

“A huge amount of work has taken place at Nethermains and Shewalton, and it won’t be long before both sites are producing clean energy which will feed into the national grid,” said Councilor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy at North Ayrshire Council, in a statement. “As well as providing a welcome revenue stream for the Council which can be reinvested into North Ayrshire, it also ramps up our ongoing efforts to combat climate change and cut carbon emissions.”