A MAJOR £155m renewables project in South Lanarkshire, set to deliver £5m in community benefits over the next 30 years and power to over 45,000 homes has taken its next step to energisation.
OnPath Energy, working in close collaboration with South Lanarkshire Council, has commenced delivery of turbine components for Mill Rig Wind Farm’s six N163/5.X turbines managed by leading global turbine manufacturer Nordex.
Deliveries have been carefully planned to take place through the night to minimise disruption with components including initial tower sections, nacelles, drive trains, and hubs to be delivered throughout December and into January. Pre-installation of the components will take place in parallel with deliveries to maximise efficiency.
Delivery of Mill Rig’s 80m wind turbine blades, the longest that will be fitted to turbines in the UK to date, is expected early in the new year ready ahead of commissioning and full energisation of the 33.4MW South Lanarkshire wind farm in the spring.
The new wind farm will feature six turbines with tip heights of 199.5m. With blades that sweep 50% more area than the largest turbines at Kype Muir Extension, the Mill Rig turbines, helped by their higher rated power – produce around 33% more energy. This means the new site will deliver a greater yield of renewable electricity while also driving an increase in community benefits.
Martin Kellerman, construction director at OnPath Energy, said, “Welcoming Nordex on site represents a key moment for Mill Rig. Their team brings vast technical expertise and a strong track record of safe and efficient turbine delivery.
“Throughout December, Nordex started pre-erection activity, which includes assembling the lower tower sections and preparing the site for the delivery of the larger components in early 2026.”
The onshore Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specialises in the design, sale, installation, manufacture and servicing of wind turbines in the 3 to 6+ MW market. To date, Nordex has installed wind turbines with a total capacity of around 61GW in over 40 countries worldwide.
The full turbine erection phase is expected to begin in the Q1 2026, with the final components assembled using specialist large-scale cranes supplied by Global Port Services.
OnPath worked with trusted partner Natural Power to provide Owner’s Engineer services for Mill Rig Wind Farm, providing end-to-end technical and construction management expertise. They were responsible for co-ordination of design safety in their role as Principal Designer under the construction, design and management (CDM) regulations, monitoring progress of the works, and the co-ordination of contractors to maintain quality and compliance throughout the build.
The wider Mill Rig development is supporting around 300 jobs, with an estimated £91 million of contract value directed to firms within 60km of the site.
Mill Rig is the latest in a series of major renewable energy projects by OnPath Energy, and forms part of its growing operational portfolio of 12 wind farms across the UK.
The project also features a £5 million community benefit fund that will support local groups, organisations, and environmental projects across South Lanarkshire over the lifespan of the wind farm.
