Communities celebrate South Kyle Wind Farm

Organised by Vattenfall, the free family fun day marked the inauguration of the 50 turbine renewable energy project with bouncy castles, softplay, a climbing tower, crafts, stalls and live music, plus shuttle bus tours to the wind farm.

More than 200 cans of Irn Bru courtesy of AG Barr – whose facilities including its factory in Cumbernauld will be powered by South Kyle Wind Farm – were handed out in the first hour, and across the four hour event more than 200 people took a tour of the wind farm, with hundreds more enjoying the food, fun and live music at Doon Academy.

The community fun day followed the official inauguration of South Kyle Wind Farm by Vattenfall’s Chief Executive Officer, Anna Borg earlier last month, and three years after construction commenced on the project.

Project Director for South Kyle Wind Farm Paul Nickless said:

“Thank you to everyone who joined us at the fun day. We were blown away by the attendance, and delighted to see so many people not only from the Dalmellington area but also from further afield in Ayrshire and from Carsphairn and elsewhere in Dumfries and Galloway. I’d also like to thank our hosts at Doon Academy and Doon Valley Leisure Centre and to all the numerous organisations, vendors, suppliers, performers and local groups who took part and made the day so memorable.”

The Fun Day also displayed artwork by local children as part of a wind farm colouring-in competition. In all, 198 entries were received from Dalmellington, Patna and St Xavier’s Primary Schools plus Carsphairn’s Bairns Banter group.

Carol Kane, Vattenfall’s Regional Liaison Officer for South West Scotland, added:

“We absolutely loved all of the entries to our wind farm colouring in competition, and were really impressed by the creativity, colour and ideas the children came up with. Their display at the fun day brought lots of colour and smiles, so a big thank you from Vattenfall to all of the young people and schools who took part.”

Construction of South Kyle Wind Farm commenced in 2020, with a focus on maximising opportunities for local jobs and local suppliers. Final testing, energisation and restoration works are well underway, and the wind farm is expected to be fully commissioned later this summer, triggering the launch of the £38million South Kyle Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund for Carsphairn, Dalmellington, New Cumnock and Patna. Find out more here.