ScottishPower Renewables has started construction of the 239MW Kilgallioch wind farm in South Ayrshire, Scotland.

Estimated to require an investment of around £300m, the wind farm is expected to meet the energy requirements of around 130,000 households annually.

Construction is underway for development of 55km of tracks at the site, while 14km of existing forest track will be upgraded to connect the turbines at the farm.

Kilgallioch wind farm will be equipped with 96 Gamesa-manufactured turbines, and is expected to be fully operational within the initial half of 2017.

“Tens of millions of pounds will go towards supporting community projects in the vicinity of the wind farm.”

ScottishPower Renewables construction director Stuart Mason said: “Kilgallioch is a major renewable energy development and a significant construction project.

“As well as making an important contribution to Scotland’s carbon reduction targets, tens of millions of pounds will go towards supporting community projects in the vicinity of the wind farm.

“This will be ScottishPower Renewables’ second largest windfarm, and the third largest overall in the UK.

The firm currently maintains more than 1.5GW of installed onshore wind capacity in the UK, and aims to raise this to 2GW.

Kilgallioch project is located between the boundaries of South Ayrshire, and Dumfries and Galloway Council, covering an area of 32km².

Gamesa expects to start turbine deliveries in February 2016, with first power production scheduled from November 2016.