ScottishPower has unveiled plans for a £1.5 billion project to repower and expand Whitelee Windfarm, the UK's largest onshore windfarm.
The proposed scheme would double the site's generation capacity to one gigawatt, enough to power around 650,000 homes – an increase of 300,000 compared with its current output.
The ambitious programme is expected to take around 10 years to develop and construct, delivering an estimated £330 million in gross value added (GVA) to the Scottish economy while supporting hundreds of jobs.
ScottishPower also estimates the project will generate around £500 million in supply chain opportunities, alongside wider economic benefits through a multi-port strategy for turbine delivery and components.
As part of the plans, the existing 215 turbines would be replaced with 124 larger, more efficient turbines, each standing around 250 metres tall.
The company says the project will help preserve and increase Scotland's renewable energy capacity while making use of existing infrastructure.
Communities surrounding the windfarm are also expected to benefit from an expanded community fund worth an estimated £5 million each year, alongside opportunities for partial community ownership.
Since Whitelee became operational, more than £20 million has been invested in community benefit funding across East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.
Originally commissioned in 2008 before opening to the public in 2009, Whitelee has grown through two extension phases and now covers around 83 square kilometres.
ScottishPower Renewables is developing the proposals alongside landowners Forestry Land Scotland and Scottish Water.
A planning application is expected to be submitted in December 2027, with the upgraded windfarm targeted to become operational by 2035.
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Charlie Jordan, chief executive of ScottishPower Renewables, 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.
"We want to build on the existing success of our windfarms before they reach the end of their natural lifespan and we lose the benefit of their clean power capacity.
"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.
"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 last 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."
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