About the project
Project Specifics
The site is located across four estates, approximately 14.2 km west of Aviemore and 25 km south-west of Inverness, Highland, within the Monadhliath Mountains (‘Monadhliaths’), south of the River Findhorn and north of the A9. View the Location Plan for a detailed map of location.
The Highland Wind Farm proposal now comprises:
Up to 19 turbines, with a maximum height of 230m and a generating capacity of over 130 MW. view the updated site plan here.
Plans to co-locate battery storage with the wind farm to maximise the use of the grid connection
On-site access tracks linking the turbines and connecting to the A9 via existing estate tracks
On-site grid substation
Site office and staff welfare facilities
Meteorological monitoring mast
Landscape and Visual
The revised layout is a compact and coherent group of turbines when seen from key views on important hill summits in the Monadhliath Mountains and the Cairngorms National Park. Varying turbine heights will be chosen to fit with the undulating terrain and match the scale of the landscape. A reduced aviation lighting scheme will also be developed to help minimise night-time effects on the Monadhliath Wild Land Area.
We have proposed 15 viewpoint locations intended to be representative of the visual experience in a general location or from a specific or important vantage point.
Planning and Background
The wider area being assessed incorporates the site of the proposed Allt Duine Wind Farm however having looked carefully at the reasons for refusal of that scheme, the primary development area does not overlap with the original site.
NPF4, the latest national planning framework has strengthened its focus on biodiversity by seeking to restore and enhance natural habitats as part of the development process. This site has the potential to improve biodiversity locally by strengthening and expanding on existing habitat corridors, improving connectivity, restoring peatland and enhancing upland plant species while at the same time generating in excess of 150MW of green power through wind and battery technologies.
A detailed programme of habitat and recreational enhancements will be developed in line with the environmental studies currently being carried out, along with the strategic plans of the estates involved.
Project partners
ESB is Ireland’s part state-owned electricity utility company, which provides power to over 1.5million customers, including businesses and households across Scotland and the rest of the UK. ESB has offices in Glasgow and, as well as operating onshore and offshore wind farms, is heavily involved in electric vehicle infrastructure and renewable heating systems, such as installing the low carbon heating and cooling system in the V&A Dundee.
Ampyr Energy invests, develops, operates and manages renewable energy assets and provides sophisticated financing, supply and risk-management strategies for power users.
