We’ve just revealed the details of our newest renewable energy project: a wind farm in the Scottish Borders that will have the capacity to power around 54,000 homes.
Whitelaw Brae will be built Scottish Borders moorland, around 15 km north of Moffat, close to Tweedsmuir. It is set to be the largest people-owned green energy project in the UK with the potential to save typical households 1,434 kg CO₂ annually, once operation begins in late 2026.
However, by working with BayWa r.e and Vestas, we are aiming to create not only green electricity for thousands of homes and businesses but also the most environmentally responsible renewable energy project possible, from start to finish.
Read on to find out how.
How sustainable is wind farm construction?
Wind farms are essential facilitators in the global shift towards renewable energy generation. However, despite their ability to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, sustainability and environmental impact during construction and decommissioning phases must be priorities.
Wind energy itself is clean, but the building and demolition of wind turbines necessarily involves the use of materials and energy. The manufacturing, transportation, and installation of turbines, as well as the disposal of old equipment, contributes to the overall environmental footprint of wind energy and the projects designed to harness it and we are actively addressing these elements. In fact, we always have and as such, are delighted to be able to construct increasingly green projects.
Since our inception, Ripple has been focused on contributing positively to the environment, extending beyond the green energy our projects generate. From an operational standpoint, we support climate-friendly initiatives wherever possible and have maintained a keen eye on developments within the renewable energy construction arena. Specifically, we have strived to make greater green progress with each project we build, leading us to proudly reveal the cutting-edge technology that will make our newest site our least environmentally impactful yet.
As Ripple is proactive in seeking out suitably sustainability-driven construction partners, Whitelaw Brae Wind Farm will be a sector leading example of what is possible when the planet and progress are put first and transparently discussed.
Whitelaw Brae Wind Farm’s impressive eco credentials
We are delighted to be working with BayWa r.e, a global developer of renewable energy projects. The company has been active in the UK for more than 10 years, being directly involved in the energy transition through its activities.
BayWa r.e. has demonstrated significant presence within the wind sphere by delivering 144 projects worldwide. The developer oversees the entire lifecycle of renewable energy projects from project planning to development, as well as operations and management, hence it has successfully installed around 2.5GW of wind energy globally.
A partner of this calibre, focused on “rethinking energy: how it is produced, stored and can be best used to enable the global renewable energy transition,” brings global experience, reach and knowledge to the Whitelaw Brae Wind Farm project.
Introducing Vestas
Vestas will be our turbine manufacturer and sustainability is at the core of its mission. The company focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of its products and operations and as such, invests heavily in technology and processes that enhance the environmental friendliness of its turbines. As such, averagely by weight, 85% of Vestas turbines can be recycled or reused at the end of their lifecycle.
And we’re not stopping our environmental efforts here.
Further ecological considerations
While thinking about how we can work with sustainable materials, priority is also given to not only maintaining but actively improving the biodiversity of the Whitelaw Brae site. To that end, the following commitments have been made in partnership with BayWa r.e.:
- Cutting the grass around the surrounding water bodies on site will provide a suitable nesting habitat for wader species, such as lapwing, curlew, snipe, and ringed plover
- Removal of scrub area of peatland will encourage the growth of heather, mosses, and other moorland species, promoting biodiversity
- Creation of wader ‘scrapes’, (shallow depressions with gently sloping edges that encourage insects) will provide an important food source for breeding wading birds and their chicks
- Nest box to be added for barn owls, to provide suitable nesting locations
LLandscaping work on site will be extensive but also positive and carefully considered. To this end, around 56 hectares of native woodland, scrubland and marshland will be planted to support the land.
We are looking to support fundamental change in the energy sector, offering consumers a way to take meaningful climate action and reduce their bills, but not at the detriment of the environment during project construction and/or decommissioning. We believe that with Whitelaw Brae, we are making serious strides towards the most sustainable people-owned project ever.
Because this isn’t just about renewable energy. It’s about the greenest renewable energy possible.
