Statement from Xi Engineering Consultants in Response to Recent EKA Press
12 March 2026
Xi Engineering Consultants has issued the following statement in response to claims made in a recent press release concerning the company’s technical work related to the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array and wind farm developments in the surrounding area.
Founded in 2011, Xi Engineering Consultants is an advanced engineering consultancy specialising in vibration, acoustics, high-precision measurement and Multiphysics simulation. The company supports governments, regulators and industry by combining measurement, modelling and data analysis to provide robust technical evidence for complex infrastructure decisions.
Xi’s work around Eskdalemuir forms part of a long-standing programme of technical studies examining the seismic signatures produced by wind turbines and how these interact with sensitive monitoring infrastructure.
Mark-Paul Buckingham, CEO of Xi Engineering Consultants, said the company’s role has always been to provide objective engineering analysis.
“Xi Engineering exists to establish the facts. Our work is driven by measurement, physics and evidence — not by the interests of any individual organisation. The data is the data. Sometimes it supports development and sometimes it does not. Over many years we have provided expert technical evidence both for and against wind farm developments depending entirely on what the engineering analysis demonstrates.”
On the specific allegation that Xi Engineering failed to declare a conflict of interest, the company states clearly: there was no conflict of interest to declare. Xi’s work advising Scottish Government bodies pre-dates its technical consultancy engagement with Invenergy. The two roles are distinct in scope: the government work concerns the fundamental engineering question of how wind turbines affect seismic monitoring; the Invenergy engagement is standard technical consultancy work. Xi has no advisory role on policy, no influence over planning outcomes, and no role in operating or influencing the Ministry of Defence’s seismic capacity allocation system.
Xi is fully transparent about its work in this field. All outputs approved for publication by the relevant parties – including the Scottish Government, Ministry of Defence, industry participants and public interest groups – are published and accessible. The company operates openly precisely because the integrity of evidence in nationally important decisions depends on it.
Xi also noted that its work in this area is subject to scrutiny by the Ministry of Defence and by specialists within the Defence Nuclear Organisation and the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
“When dealing with nationally important infrastructure such as the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array, engineering work is subject to rigorous technical scrutiny by the Ministry of Defence and its specialist agencies. That process ensures the analysis is robust, transparent and independent. These are not organisations that accept anything other than rigorous, evidence-based work.”
The company noted that its work in this area has involved sustained engagement with a wide range of stakeholders over many years, including government bodies, regulators, infrastructure operators and developers. In a number of cases Xi has provided technical evidence in formal inquiries and legal proceedings where different parties held strongly opposing views.
“Our responsibility is always to the evidence. Over the years we have provided analysis and expert testimony in situations where the conclusions supported different stakeholders — including at times government bodies and at other times developers. That is simply the reality of independent engineering work: the conclusions are determined by the data, not by who commissions the work.”
Xi Engineering emphasised that it does not determine planning outcomes or government policy. Its role is strictly limited to providing measurement, modelling and engineering analysis so that decisions can be informed by reliable scientific evidence.
The Eskdalemuir Seismic Array forms part of the international monitoring system used to detect nuclear tests and seismic activity worldwide. Xi’s technical work focuses on understanding the physical mechanisms by which wind turbines generate seismic signals and identifying the levels at which those signals can be managed while safeguarding the integrity of the monitoring network.
Buckingham also emphasised that Xi Engineering supports renewable energy development when it is undertaken responsibly.
“Wind energy is an important part of the future energy system and we firmly believe wind farms can be a positive development. Like any major infrastructure, however, they must be located in the right place and designed properly. Engineering evidence is what helps ensure that happens.”
Buckingham concluded:
“Good engineering does not take sides. Physics does not change depending on who asks the question. Our responsibility is simply to measure reality and report what the data shows so that others can make informed decisions.”
Xi Engineering said it remains committed to providing rigorous, transparent and independent engineering analysis in support of critical infrastructure and evidence-based public policy.
ENDS