UK's largest onshore windfarm plans to double capacity with taller turbines

The UK's largest onshore windfarm is set to double in generating capacity as part of a massive £1.5bn rebuilding project.

ScottishPower unveiled its plans on Wednesday, saying Whitelee Windfarm on the Eaglesham Moor in East Renfrewshire, could generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 650,000 homes - 300,000 more than its current capabilities - and create hundreds of new jobs.

This would involve replacing the existing turbines with a smaller number, which stand considerably taller.

Under the proposals, the current turbines will be replaced and reduced from 215 to 124 larger structures - increasing to 250m (820ft) in height and taking capacity from 539MW to 1GW - making it one of the largest in Europe.

The current generation of turbines measure up to 140 metres tall at blade tip, but are reaching the end of their lifespan, while the new models could reach well above 240 metres at blade tip height.

Charlie Jordan, ScottishPower Renewables chief executive, 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."

Whitelee - which straddles East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire council areas - was commissioned in 2008 and opened to the public a year later.

It is popular with dog walkers, runners, nature lovers, and schools for educational trips.

It has been estimated that the project will generate £330m of Gross Value Added (GVA) for the Scottish economy over 10 years of development and construction.

ScottishPower said the proposed development would be carried out in three phases to maintain access to the visitor centre.

The plans, which include a new substation, have now been lodged with the Scottish government's Energy Consents Unit and will be published online in the coming weeks.

A planning application is set to be submitted in December 2027, and it is hoped the upgraded windfarm will be operational by 2035.

Mr Jordan added: "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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The plans come as the firm announced its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) rose by 17% to £1.7bn in the first six months of 2026, compared with a year earlier.

The group said this came on the back of investment into its grid and clean power assets, including its takeover of Electricity North West.

This was also supported by a stronger output from its renewables division and the sale of some assets, including its metering business.

However, the firm reported that underlying profits from its retail business decreased due to a fall in margins, lower energy use and rising policy costs linked to "energy efficiency schemes".

(c) Sky News 2026: UK's largest onshore windfarm plans to double capacity with taller turbines