Highland Wind Farm plans launched
Ampyr Energy and ESB Asset Development UK, in partnership with four Highland estates are currently investigating the potential their land offers to help deliver net-zero for Scotland through renewable energy generation.
Scotland has new targets in place to address the climate emergency and this project will significantly contribute towards Scotland’s target of 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045 and an onshore wind capacity target of at least 20 GW by 2030, an increase of over 11GW on current installed onshore wind capacity.
The proposal will comprise up to 24 turbines and battery storage to help balance the energy on the grid, with a total generating capacity in excess of 150 MW. Access is proposed directly from the A9 into the site, utilising existing access tracks where possible.
In addition, the Scottish Government’s latest national planning framework, NPF4, which was adopted in February 2023, has strengthened its focus on biodiversity by seeking to restore and enhance natural habitats as part of the development process. The Highland Wind Farm project has the potential to improve biodiversity locally by strengthening and expanding on existing habitat corridors, improving connectivity, restoring peatland and enhancing upland plant communities while at the same time generating in excess of 150 MW of green power through wind and battery energy technologies.
A detailed programme of habitat and recreational access enhancements will be developed in line with the environmental studies currently being carried out, along with the strategic plans of the estates involved.
Whilst the former, Allt Duine Wind Farm was sited on land owned by three of the four estates, the current proposal is a wholly different siting, and addresses directly the concerns cited in the previous planning inquiry, in particular in relation to proximity to the Cairngorms National Park. The turbine area is located on a different estate and is approximately 4 km from the Cairngorms National Park boundary – over 3 km further away than the Allt Duine proposal.
The initial turbine 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.
In addition, the project will deliver significant economic benefits through local supply chain involvement as well as a community benefit fund which could see in excess of £20m being invested locally over the lifetime of the development. The local community will play a key role in helping shape the development of this project with consultation events planned for later this year.
Initial discussions have been held with The Highland Council and other statutory consultees and will continue throughout the planning process, with a request for an EIA Scoping Opinion having now been submitted to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit.. More information about the project will be made available to the general public in the coming months.