AN AMERICAN firm has been chosen to lead the building of two new solar farms on former landfill sites near Irvine.

Ameresco Limited will be taking charge of the plans to build the new facilities on sites at Nethermains and Shewalton.

The firm has over 20 years’ experience in the renewable and efficient energy industry and will take on the £12.8 million project for North Ayrshire Council (NAC).

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for economy and climate change at NAC, said: “Both Shewalton and Nethermains are both former landfill sites - with limited scope for alternative uses - so to see them transformed into a source of green energy will be wonderful.

“We have taken great strides in our efforts to curb climate change and have reduced our own carbon emissions by more than 68 per cent across the Council’s estate since 2005.

“While that shows progress has been made, we know we will need to go further and faster.

“That’s why ambitious projects such as the solar farms will be so important as we continue to move towards our target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.”

Ameresco was founded in 2000 and has spearheaded energy efficient and energy renewable projects across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe.

The company specialises in developing, constructing and operating renewable energy plants, as well as providing financial solutions to customers.

Stewart Dunn, business development manager at Ameresco, said: “We are excited and proud to partner with North Ayrshire Council to deliver these important solar PV farms that will contribute significantly to decarbonisation of their operations.

“As a leading independent clean technology company, we have a track record of implementing solar PV on landfill sites to generate renewable energy and look forward to energising these systems.”

The council hopes that the Nethermains site will be competed in spring 2024 and Shewalton in the autumn of the same year.

The plans form part of the council’s environmental sustainability and climate change strategy.