Swinlees Wind Farm
Thank you for visiting our exhibition for the proposed Swinlees wind farm.
The Farm Energy Company is committed to giving local people the opportunity to feed back their views and suggestions directly to our project team, at every stage of the development process.
Today’s exhibition provides an early opportunity for you to hear about our initial proposals for the wind farm and for us to listen to your views and take those into account as we continue to develop the project.
Following this first public exhibition, we will review the feedback received and in conjunction with ongoing discussions with key stakeholders and consultees, plan to hold our second event in July 2024.
The Farm Energy Company
The Farm Energy Company is a UK based independent power producer founded in 2011 that specialises in large-scale private wire and off-site projects for significant energy users. The company enables its clients to source renewable energy from a range of technologies (including wind, solar, biogas and battery power) combining both private wire and grid-based solutions.
What sets us apart from a number of other renewable energy companies is that our primary aim is to work with existing businesses with large power requirements to provide direct power via either a wind or solar farm.
These businesses are often at the heart of communities with many employees coming from the local area. It is therefore important that we engage with local communities to hear their views on our projects and address any concerns they may have at an early stage.
We are dedicated to supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy market. To help achieve this target we are working closely with a wide range of existing businesses to provide low cost, green, renewable energy. By providing increased energy security our business partners can deliver increased job security.
In achieving this, our goal is to ensure that the right technology is located in the right location and any opportunities to enhance the environment are maximised.
DSM-Firmenich
DSM-Firmenich is a global purpose-led company in health, nutrition and bioscience, applying science to improve the health of people, animals and the planet.
DSM-Firmenich is one of the region’s most prominent companies, employing over 300 staff and around 150 to 200 contractors at the Dalry production facility. The site has been producing vitamins since 1958 and today the main processes are Vitamin C, Calcium-D-Pantothenate (vitamin B5) and Panthenol (proVitamin B5).
The Dalry site is at the forefront of ambitions to tackle carbon emissions and serves to produce a novel cattle feed additive (Bovaer®) which reduces methane emissions in dairy production.
A 1/4 teaspoon daily in a cow’s feed helps to deliver a significant 30% reduction in the methane generated by livestock, bringing an immediate reduction in the environmental footprint of beef and dairy products.
Rob de Hooge, Site Director, and UK Country Leader for DSM-Firmenich, said:
“If approved, the proposal would help to deliver renewable energy security for the site and would contribute a significant portion to our operational energy needs for the foreseeable future.
DSM-Firmenich is at the forefront of ambitions to tackle carbon emissions in agriculture, with the construction of the new plant in Dalry to manufacture Bovaer®, a novel cattle feed additive which reduces methane emissions in dairy production.
Securing a supply of locally produced renewable energy, which would be directly connected to our plant, would help significantly reduce carbon emissions from the Dalry site.”
Benefits of Swinlees Wind Farm
Supporting Local Businesses in North Ayrshire
If approved, the project would generate around 25.6MW of low carbon, renewable energy, offsetting electricity imported from the grid and delivering stabilised and reduced energy costs for DSM-Firmenich, through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement with the Farm Energy Company.
This investment will allow one of the region’s largest employers to diversify and secure their energy supply for the long-term future.
The project will provide opportunities for local businesses to play a role in the construction, and operations and maintenance of the wind farm.
Community Benefit
The Farm Energy Company is committed to paying Community Benefit, currently at a value equivalent to £2,500 per Mega Watt of installed capacity, for every year of operation (anticipated to be 25 years) to help fund community projects. For illustrative purposes, if a 25.6MW wind farm is constructed, this would be worth £64k per year (index linked) for local communities, for each year of operation.
We are keen to work with the local community to shape the fund and focus on local priorities. If you have any thoughts about where these funds could be directed, we’d like to hear from you.
Wind Power in Scotland
As Scotland aims to reach Net Zero by 2045, demand for electricity is expected to increase significantly. To ensure that Scotland is able to meet this heightened demand using clean, renewable energy is going to be critical to achieving these targets.
With a direct wire connection to DSM Firmenich, the project will be energised almost as soon as it is constructed, helping to meet Scotland’s climate goals while delivering for local business and the wider supply chain.
Additional Benefits
- Compliant with NPF4 in relation to tackling the climate and nature crises, increased provision of renewable energy.
- Reduced carbon footprint – 18,943 tonnes of CO2 per annum or 378,860 tonnes of CO2 for the duration of the 20-year PPA.
- Help North Ayrshire Council combat the recently announced Climate Emergency and meet the objectives of Community Wealth Building.
- Biodiversity improvements across the site.
- Significant investment to the local area.
Assessing Project Impacts
As part of the development process, we have commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment (‘EIA’). The EIA will consider the potential impacts of the wind farm on a wide range of aspects of the environment and will help inform project design.
The potential impacts, which will be examined as part of the EIA include:
A comprehensive assessment is being undertaken to examine the impacts of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding landscape, views from residential properties and recreational areas, as well as public rights of way and transport routes. We are also carefully considering cumulative landscape and visual effects. Areas within 45km of the proposed development have been taken into account in scoping its visual effects and the landscape context.
The project team is committed to minimising potential environmental impacts of the Proposal.
Surveys are ongoing and will be undertaken to establish the bird and animal species which use the habitats on or around the site. Further to this, the potential impact of the windfarm on these species will be thoroughly assessed, and tailored habitat management strategies will be implemented as necessary to support and improve their environmental conditions.
Archaeological and cultural heritage assets on and close to the site will be visited to establish what effect (if any) the windfarm will have on them, or their setting.
Strict guidelines exist concerning noise emissions from wind turbines and the final design of the wind farm will take full account of these guidelines. The potential noise effects include construction traffic noise, construction plant on the wind farm site, as well as noise from the wind turbines once these are operational.
Consultants will conduct a traffic survey to assess the impact of windfarm construction traffic on the local road network. They will propose strategies to minimise disruptions for residents, especially during peak hours.
Site Location
Case study: GSK
The Farm Energy Company have a number of active investments in North Ayrshire and are committed to delivering investment in the local authority area and supporting the long-term operation of businesses in the region while aligning with local and national climate goals.
- Installation of two 4MW wind turbines and 20MW of solar power at a manufacturing site for GSK Project has begun construction.
- All renewables financed, owned, managed, and maintained by The Farm Energy Company.
- 20-year power purchase agreement.
- Approximately 75% of the power is used on site at Tier 1 pricing.
- The remaining 25% is ‘sleeved’ via the grid to other parts of the business at Tier 2 prices.
- Fixed price power with CPI indexation.
- Investment grade credit rating maintained throughout the term (via asset test).
- Grid access to be used in extremis.
- Savings of ~25% from renewables vs grid supply.
Next steps
We are currently gathering information regarding the proposed wind farm, and are engaging in discussions with community councils, local residents and local businesses. These conversations will help inform and shape the design of the project.
We will carefully review all of the feedback received before finalising and submitting a planning application to North Ayrshire Council.
We would appreciate all feedback to be received by 30th June 2024
Contact
If you have any further questions regarding any aspect of the proposals, please contact us via the details below:
Address: The Farm Energy Company, c/o Cavendish, 1 West Regent Street, Glasgow, G2 1WR
Telephone: 0141 264 2831
Project Timeline
November 2023
Scoping Request Submitted to North Ayrshire Council
April 2024
Submission of Proposal of Application Notice to North Ayrshire Council
May 2024
First Public Consultation
June 2024
Second Public Consultation
July 2024
Third Public Consultation
Late Summer / early Autumn 2024
Target Submission
2026
Anticipated Construction start date
2027
Anticipated Start of operation