Ayr's reputation as a hub port for Scotland's renewable energy revolution has taken another step forward with the delivery of more wind turbine components for a project in South Ayrshire.

Twenty-four turbine blades and the section pieces for eight towers were recently unloaded at the port.

They're bound for the Kirk Hill wind farm, near Kirkoswald, and once operational will provide enough power to provide 5,600 households and businesses.

The project to import all eight of the Kirk Hill turbines was completed in less than a month, with four shipments arriving at the Port of Ayr between May 8 and 29.

Kirk Hill is the second Ayrshire wind farm to see components delivered by sea through Ayr, following in the footsteps of the South Kyle development near Dalmellington.

Run by Ripple Energy, it's thought Kirk Hill will be the largest consumer-owned wind farm in the world when it's complete.

Once operational its eight turbines will take less than 10 minutes to generate enough electricity to power a typical home for a whole year and save 31,760 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

Sarah Merrick, founder and CEO of Ripple Energy said: “Kirk Hill is the biggest addition to our wind farm family, and we’re delighted to have reached this exciting milestone in the project, which is expected to be completed in early 2024.

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“It was a precise operation to discharge such large cargo from the vessels, which was expertly handled by a skilled team at ABP and in collaboration with the crane operators from Forsyth and hauliers from Collett.”

Andrew Harston, regional director of Wales and short sea ports for Associated British Ports, which owns the Port of Ayr, said: “As part of ABP’s commitment to supporting the acceleration of the UK’s energy transition, we are pleased to be able to provide the necessary port infrastructure to support the delivery of an important project, which is helping to meet net zero targets.

“ABP itself has committed to becoming a net zero business by 2040, as well as to supporting our customers to achieve their own decarbonisation ambitions.

"We are pleased to be working with Ripple Energy to support the development of a new energy infrastructure in Scotland.

“ABP is also pleased to have the space to accommodate the safe storage of the turbines and blades until they are ready to begin construction.”