Work begins on £300m windfarm

An impression of what the windfarm will look like. Credit: ScottishPower Renewables

Construction is now underway on the UK's third largest onshore windfarm, at the northernmost part of Dumfries and Galloway.

The Kilgallioch Windfarm project is costing around £300 million, and is expected to produce enough power for 130,000 households per year, when it begins operating in 2017.

It'll cover around 32km, including land in Dumfries and Galloway, and South Ayrshire.

ScottishPower Renewables has now started building 55km of tracks, to link the 96 turbines.

The company says that over the anticipated 25-year lifespan of the project, just under £30 million will be made available to support local projects.

It says over 250 jobs will also be supported by the windfarm during construction, and that it's helped develop Wind Turbine Technician training courses in both Dumfries & Galloway and Ayr colleges.