Wind farm to produce Irn Bru

22GWh a year from the officially opened South Kyle farm in Scotland earmarked for AG Barr, including its soft-drinks manufacturing plant at Cumbernauld. 

The 50-turbine onshore wind farm is some 5km east of Dalmellington, on the border between East Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway in south-west Scotland. 

In 2020, AG Barr signed a contract with developer Vattenfall to ensure its plants are powered by  100% renewable energy. As well as the Cumbernauld plant, Vattenfall also signed up to supply green energy to works in Milton Keynes, Forfar, Newcastle, Bolton, Sheffield, West Midlands and Manchester. 

AG Barr produces popular drinks brands including Irn Bru, Ka, Rubicon and Tizer – now powered by the wind.  

The Swedish company Vattenfall is one of Europe’s largest producers and retailers of heat and electricity, with a stated aim to drive the transition to an energy system entirely free of fossil fuels within a generation. The company works mainly in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK. 

The 22GWh to be supplied by the South Kyle site is equivalent to the amount of electricity used each year by 6,000 homes. 

Anna Borg, CEO of Vattenfall, says: ‘Vattenfall has a strong pipeline of onshore wind projects in Scotland, reflecting our confidence that it is a stable environment for ongoing investment. 

‘South Kyle wind farm is an excellent example of investors, national and local authorities, and local communities working together to deliver the infrastructure we need for fossil-free living.’ 

Energy Minister Gillian Martin adds: ‘Projects like South Kyle wind farm are key to helping us deliver on our ambitions for net zero and in creating a lasting legacy for our communities.’ 

Vallenfall is currently proposing the establishment of a second site nearby. South Kyle II Wind Farm would comprise a further nine wind turbines with a combined capacity of 67MWs. 

In related news, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) is taking urgent action to speed up electricity grid connections by up to 10 years, warning energy generators to ‘Get on, get back or get out of the energy queue’.

Photo by Oimheidi