Project updates
These are the latest project updates for Knockronal Wind Farm project
Latest news
The temporary met mast installation for Knockcronal Wind Farm is progressing well.
Today (18/04) our contractors will be using a helicopter to assist with the erection of the met mast. Using a helicopter is an efficient way for this work to be undertaken and is expected to be completed today.
The remaining works on site are scheduled to be completed, i.e. fencing and the site demobilised, by the end of next week.
On site works to install the temporary met mast at the proposed Knockcronal Wind Farm site are due to start next week, 20 March 2023. It is expected, depending on weather, that the works will be complete within 14 days. No other works associated with the proposed wind farm are being undertaken.
The temporary met mast, which will be located close to the southern boundary of the Knockcronal site, will measure up to 140 metres in height and be in place for up to 3 years. The met mast was consented by South Ayrshire Council's Regulatory Panel in June 2022, view the full planning application on their website or under planning documents.
We will provide an update once the works are complete, but if you have any questions in the meantime please get in touch.
Statkraft UK plans to install a temporary met mast at the proposed Knockcronal Wind Farm site in the New Year.
The temporary met mast, which will be located close to the southern boundary of the Knockcronal site, will measure up to 140 metres in height.
The mast will measure the wind resource and be present for up to 3 years. The met mast was consented by South Ayrshire Council's Regulatory Panel in June 2022 and you can view the full planning application on their website or under the planning documents tab.
The work to install the met mast is weather dependent and usually takes 14 days. There are no abnormal loads required for the equipment to be taken to the site and Statkraft is working with SLX Data Structures to install the met mast, alongside local fencing and hospitality providers.
John Wallace, Senior Project Manager, said:
"It is great to see progress on the temporary met mast and we will provide further updates when the construction of the met mast commences and again once it is completed. If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch.”
Statkraft UK will review South Ayrshire Council’s response to the Knockcronal Wind Farm plans after the Council’s Regulatory Panel decided today (23 June) to raise an objection to the plans.
Knockcronal Wind Farm will be considered at South Ayrshire Council’s Regulatory Panel on Thursday 23 June 2022.
A planning application for a temporary meteorological mast (met mast) for the proposed Knockcronal Wind Farm has been submitted to South Ayrshire Council.
For the sixth consecutive year, Statkraft have released its Low Emissions Scenario - an analysis of the energy world towards 2050.
A report has been published on how to maximise the economic benefits of clean power for consumers while ensuring that the UK reaches net zero emissions at the lowest cost.
We are pleased to announce that our application for Knockcronal Wind Farm has been submitted to the Energy Consents Unit, 25 November 2021.
In September and October 2021, we held our second exhibition, including two in-person drop-in sessions in Straiton and Dailly, to share how our plans for Knockcronal Wind Farm had progressed.
We received valuable feedback from local residents and community groups and wish to thank everyone who was able to attend on the day and/or returned the feedback form. We have now responded to all enquires and comments made where GDPR allows.
In addition, we have produced a short 'Consultation Report'. The report has been sent directly to local Community Councils and elected representatives and provides a summary of the feedback received during the second exhibition and sets out our next steps for local engagement.
We plan to submit our application later this year. At this time all the application documents will be available to view on our project website.
We wish to thank everyone who took the time on the 21 and 22 September to attend the Dailly and Straiton community drop-in sessions and everyone who has provided feedback so far on the Knockcronal Autumn Exhibition.
Following our exhibitions in May and June 2021, we will be hosting another series of events between 14 September and 5 October 2021 to present our plans for Knockcronal Wind Farm. We expect to submit an application to the Scottish Government later this year.
One of the most common questions we are asked when developing our projects is 'Why here?".
Thank you to all residents and interested groups who took the time to visit our online consultation regarding our plans for Knockcronal Wind Farm between 19 May and 8 June.
View the documents presented during the online consultation.
We are pleased to announce that the online consultation for our proposed Knockcronal Wind Farm has commenced. The exhibition will run from Wednesday 19 May - Tuesday 8 June 2021.
We are pleased to have submitted a Scoping Request to the Scottish Government to progress our plans for Knockcronal Wind Farm, approximately 4km south of Straiton in South Ayrshire.
The power sector continues to lead efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland, according to the latest report from the Committee on Climate Change (External link)(External link) (CCC).
In its 2019 report to Parliament, the committee, an independent body set up to advise the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets, said reductions must be made economy-wide to avoid missing those targets. Emissions fell by 3% in 2017, compared to a 10% drop the previous year.
Scotland is committed to becoming a net-zero society by 2045 - five years ahead of the rest of the UK. It has set targets to reduce emissions by 56% by this year and by 75% by 2030. The CCC has warned the targets will be extremely challenging to meet and much more needs to be done to drive reductions.
Statkraft aims to play its part in helping to achieve the aims with plans to invest £600 million on wind and solar projects in Scotland within the next five years.
Low-carbon electricity generation, from sources including wind and solar power, must increase by around 50% in the next decade alone to meet net zero targets.
The warning comes from the National Grid which also highlights the need to install low-carbon heating systems in 2.8 million homes and 60,000 charging points for electric vehicles over the next ten years. At the same time, carbon capture usage and storage technology and hydrogen networks will need to be developed.
In its report, Building the Net Zero Energy Workforce (External link)(External link), it says properly skilled workers will be required to transform the energy network. In Scotland alone, 48,700 jobs will have to be created to reach the UK target of net zero by 2050 – although the Scottish target is five years earlier.
Statkraft has an important role to play. Our commitment to invest £600 million in Scotland in the next five years will help reduce emissions and create new jobs.