The Clyde Wind Farm, near Abington in South Lanarkshire, is one of the UK’s largest onshore wind projects. Built by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and approved in 2008, it spans both sides of the M74 motorway with 152 turbines generating 349 MW — enough to power around 200,000 homes. Construction began in 2009, cost £600 million, and the site was officially opened by First Minister Alex Salmond in 2012.

Much of the work took place in Scotland, including tower manufacturing by Welcon Towers in Campbeltown. The project boosted local industry and became a clear visual landmark for travellers through the Clyde Valley, showcasing Scotland’s early leadership in renewable energy.

A later extension, approved in 2014, added 54 turbines producing 173 MW, bringing Clyde’s total capacity to over 520 MW by 2017. Today, it remains a key symbol of Scotland’s clean energy ambitions — combining scale, engineering achievement, and local economic benefit.