Harthill, Central Scotland | 2 × NPS 100-24
Wind turbines for farms can transform an abundant natural resource into a long-term source of value. At Blairmains Farm in Harthill, Central Scotland, owners Eddie and Moira Ireland installed two NPS 100-24 wind turbines to generate additional income while making productive use of previously underutilised land.
Located on a 70-acre small holding with an average wind speed of 7.2 m/s, the project demonstrates how distributed wind energy can support the long-term financial and environmental goals of agricultural businesses.
The Challenge: Generating Value from Underused Farm Land
As Eddie and Moira Ireland approached retirement, they wanted to take advantage of the strong wind resource available at Blairmains Farm and create an additional source of income.
Part of the property consisted of poorer ground that had not been generating income. Wind energy offered an opportunity to put that land to productive use without preventing the farm from continuing its agricultural activities.
The owners were also looking for a solution that could help reduce exposure to electricity price fluctuations while contributing to cleaner domestic energy generation.
After researching the available options, they selected two Northern Power Systems NPS 100-24 wind turbines.
The Solution: Two 100kW Wind Turbines for Farms
The Blairmains Farm project became the first UK installation of the NPS 100-24 model.
Local planning records also identify the Blairmains Farm development as a two-turbine, 0.2 MW wind energy project in Harthill.
Based on the proven NPS 100 platform, the turbine features a 24-metre rotor designed to improve performance in lower wind regimes. The NPS 100-24 starts producing power at wind speeds of approximately 3 m/s, with peak power generation at around 14–15 m/s.
With an average wind speed of 7.2 m/s at Blairmains Farm, the site offered suitable conditions for this type of distributed wind energy project.
The project included:
- 2 × NPS 100-24 wind turbines
- 200 kW total nominal installed capacity
- 24-metre rotor diameter
- 7.2 m/s average site wind speed
- UK Feed-in Tariff (FiT)
- 24/7 turbine monitoring
- Local service support
Feasibility, engineering and installation services for the Blairmains Farm project were performed by 3R Energy Solutions Ltd.
Why Farm Wind Turbines Made Sense at Blairmains
For Blairmains Farm, wind power was not simply an environmental investment. It provided a way to make previously underused land economically productive.
The project was designed to benefit from the UK Feed-in Tariff available at the time, creating revenue from the electricity generated and exported to the grid.
Because a wind turbine occupies only a limited portion of agricultural land, the surrounding area can continue to support farming activities. This makes wind energy for agriculture particularly interesting where landowners want to combine renewable electricity generation with the existing productive use of their property.
Reliability was another important consideration. The owners needed a system capable of operating without requiring them to become energy specialists or maintain a dedicated technical team.
Wind Energy for Agriculture: Long-Term Benefits
The Blairmains Farm project illustrates several potential benefits of wind energy for agriculture.
Additional Farm Income
Wind generation gave Blairmains Farm an additional revenue source designed to supplement the owners’ existing pensions.
Value from Previously Underused Land
The turbines allowed an area that had previously generated little or no income to contribute to the economic value of the property.
Reduced Exposure to Electricity Price Volatility
Generating electricity on site can help agricultural businesses reduce their dependence on electricity purchased from the grid and limit exposure to changing energy prices.
Lower Carbon Footprint
Producing renewable electricity from wind can reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based electricity and support broader decarbonisation objectives.
Results: Turning Wind Into Long-Term Farm Value
The most important result for Blairmains Farm was the creation of economic value from a resource already available on site: wind.
As owner Eddie Ireland explained:
“We regard the revenue we are generating as a supplement to our existing pensions and it’s good to know that poorer ground which had not been utilised or earned any income for a long time is finally generating value.”
The owners also highlighted the wider benefits of their investment, including its contribution to environmental goals and reduced reliance on power companies and electricity price fluctuations.
Blairmains Farm demonstrates how appropriately selected wind turbines for farms can combine renewable energy generation, land optimisation and long-term economic value within an agricultural operation.
Looking for a 100kW Wind Turbine for Your Farm?
Every agricultural site has different wind conditions, energy requirements and grid constraints. Northern Power Systems develops distributed wind solutions for farms, agricultural businesses and rural energy projects around the world.
Contact Northern Power Systems to discuss your wind energy project and identify the configuration best suited to your site.