January 10, 2014
Scotland

Turbines blown off wind plan; Italian windfarm firm scaled back plans for Mochrum turbine project

By Stuart Gillespie | Daily Record | 10 Jan 2014 | www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Plans for a new wind farm in the Glenkens have been scaled down.

Italian firm Falck Renewables Wind have recently applied for permission to build 11 turbines at Mochrum Fell between Corsock and Parton.

That’s four turbines less than they had originally wanted to build when they unveiled their proposals in December, 2012.

The turbines would be a maximum of 126m high – 10 metres shorter than Falck and Coriolis Energy, who have an office in Glasgow, had intended.

Lynne Sweeney, Mochrum Fell project manager for Coriolis Energy, said: “We have made considerable efforts to present a well designed project in an appropriate location and have changed our application from the design we presented at our exhibitions in Corsock and Parton.

“Further studies and feedback from the community and consultees has driven a layout which has fewer turbines at a reduced height. This has had the effect of reducing the visual and ecological impacts and has also improved the design where viewed from residential properties.”

The environmental statement lodged with the council reveals the number of turbines was cut from 15 to 14 after public exhibitions “to optimise the spacing between the turbines and extend distances between turbines and the closest residential dwellings”.

The height was also reduced to limit the impact on the landscape.

Another three turbines were removed due to “potential environmental constraints” and other issues from the consultation and environmental impact assessment.

In its current layout the Mochrum Fell development would be capable of generating 33 megawatts. The main report the firms have submitted reveals the cost of developing and building the wind farm would be around £51million and would help create jobs both locally and nationally.

Approval for an 80m wind monitoring mast for the site was given in April despite a string of objections – some from as far afield as Geneva in Switzerland.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/01/10/turbines-blown-off-wind-plan-italian-windfarm-firm-scaled-back-plans-for-mochrum-turbine-project/