An Aberdeen-based company has announced it is about to commence work on a 26-acre solar power project at Kinblethmont Estate near Arbroath.
The solar park will consist of a 5MW ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) project on farmland on the 3,000-acre mostly arable estate owned by Robert Ramsay.
A co-founder of farm technology company SoilEssentials, Mr Ramsay has invested in solar and wind technologies for the site over the last few years and runs a large grain dryer linked to a biomass system. He has also developed the woodland resource on the estate as an energy resource.
Full planning permission for the project was granted by Angus Council last month and construction is due to begin in early December.
The solar park will produce enough energy to power the equivalent of 3,500 homes.
Ron Shanks, owner of BWE Partnership, said: “The construction of our first large-scale commercial solar park is well underway and we’re delighted to have secured our second project, which is also our first site within an estate. Potential sites have to meet a number of requirements and this site was specifically selected for development because of its excellent levels of irradiance and simple electricity grid connection.”
Robert Ramsay added: “I like to think that this is one of the sunniest fields in Scotland and will be the perfect site for a solar park. Additionally, the land will see improvements for farming and grazing due to the rest period. Ultimately, I intend to raise a rare sheep breed and also plant a grass sward rich in a variety of species, including red clover which will help bees with pollination.”
BWE Partnership has said it continues to look for land for large solar energy developments in the east of Scotland with particular interest in opportunities within east Angus, east Aberdeenshire and in Fife. Other areas of Scotland could also be of interest provided they have suitable levels of irradiation and grid availability.