May 20, 2014
Scotland

Plans for new windfarm near Drumderg

By Paul Reoch | The Courier | 19 May 2014 | www.thecourier.co.uk

Perthshire could see a £20 million, 14-turbine windfarm built if proposals come to fruition.

Energy firm ABO Wind UK has lodged a scoping request, along with a planning application for a temporary meteorological mast, with Perth and Kinross Council for a development called Green Burn near Alyth.

The proposed development would on land at Shieldrum, and the turbines would be built approximately 600 metres from the Drumderg site.

ABO Wind UK was established in 2006 but its larger international operation ABO Wind has been running since 1996 with offices in Finland, Germany, Belgium and Ireland.

The scoping process is likely to take several months, with the meteorological mast measuring the wind speed across the site.

Following this, specific plans would be brought forward.

A planning application is not expected to be submitted until the end of this year or early 2015, after full consultations with the local community and the necessary environmental studies have been carried out.

ABO Wind has stated that it is committed to providing £5,000 per MW in community benefits.

Lucy Forte, ABO Wind project manager, emphasised that the Perthshire project is at “an early stage” and said the company had already met members of the community council.

“ABO Wind has submitted a scoping request to the council to help to fully assess the investigation work required,” she said.

“Once we have received feedback, we can then put forward a complete picture of what kind of scale and design of wind development we feel is appropriate for this site.

“We will be holding public exhibitions and undertaking an extensive consultation programme with those living in the local area to explain our proposal and the benefits that the windfarm will bring to the local community.”

Miss Forte added that ABO Wind will ensure that the local community will be kept informed through the programme of extensive community consultation events, newsletters and meetings.

The company will also look to organise “Meet the Buyer” events to allow local businesses to introduce themselves to ABO Wind and to discuss the opportunities available throughout the development, construction and operation of the proposed project.

Drumderg windfarm, which is run by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and has 16 turbines, was completed in 2008 after the then Scottish Executive passed an appeal by the company following a public inquiry.

Perth and Kinross Council had refused its planning application in 2005.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/05/20/plans-for-new-windfarm-near-drumderg/