ScottishPower to repower UK’s largest onshore wind farm

ScottishPower Renewables has unveiled plans for a £1.5 billion ($1.3 billion) redevelopment of Whitelee Wind Farm, a project that would almost double the site's generating capacity while extending the operational life of what is already the UK's largest onshore wind farm.

The proposed repowering scheme would replace Whitelee's existing fleet of turbines with 124 larger, higher-capacity machines, increasing installed capacity from 539MW to around 1GW. Once complete, the site would generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 650,000 homes – around 300,000 more than it currently does.

Located across East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire, Whitelee has been in operation since 2008 and currently comprises 215 turbines following two expansion phases completed after its original development. 

As many of the site's first-generation turbines approach the end of their operational lives, ScottishPower Renewables says repowering the facility will preserve existing renewable generation while considerably increasing output using fewer, more efficient turbines.

Added value

The company estimates the project will contribute around £330 million ($440 million) in gross value added to the Scottish economy during the decade-long development and construction programme. It also expects the scheme to create hundreds of jobs while generating approximately £500 million ($667 million) in supply chain opportunities.

In what it describes as a landmark development for the energy sector, ScottishPower Renewables is committing to ensuring the community is involved in the project through potential ownership opportunities and an enlarged community benefit fund. 

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Whitelee has contributed £20 million ($27 million) so far to East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire Councils via community benefit, and the new plans will mean increased financial benefit – anticipated to be around £5 million ($6.7 million) every year.

Investment opportunity

These new plans come directly after ScottishPower’s record £24 billion ($32 billion) investment plan to 2028, which is also supporting record supply chain spend – over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in the first half of 2026 alone – with 76% in companies located in the UK.

Alongside UK contract opportunities, a multi-ports strategy for delivery of turbines and other components will mean further economic benefit Scotland-wide.

As well as the £1.5 billion ($2 billion) investment to expand and repower the wind farm, there will also be continued investment over 40 years for the operation and maintenance of the site.

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Chief executive of ScottishPower Renewables, Charlie Jordan said: “Whitelee is one of the largest onshore windfarms in Europe and the jewel in the UK’s renewables crown, powering Greater Glasgow and beyond with clean, green power for almost two decades.”

Jordan highlighted that the firm wants to build on the existing success of its wind farms before they reach the end of their natural lifespan. “Whitelee can set the repowering standard, unlocking the continued potential of existing infrastructure. It also means re-benefitting communities with direct financial benefit as well as a fantastic opportunity for partial community ownership,” he stated.

“At this critical moment in the push for home-grown clean, green energy, it’s important we don’t go in reverse and lose the clean capacity that’s been hard earned over the past two decades as it comes to the end of its operational life. Retaining and increasing the output from Whitelee is good news for the UK and Scotland, good news for jobs and good news for the community and economy,” Jordan added.