January 14, 2015
Scotland

Backwater Reservoir wind farm plan put forward

By Richard Watt | The Courier | 14 January 2015 | www.thecourier.co.uk

Developers are expected to submit plans for an 18-turbine windfarm in the Angus glens to the Scottish Government today.

Eneco UK has prepared a section 36 planning application for the proposed 59MW Macritch Hill development on Scottish Water land at Backwater Reservoir, between Glen Prosen and Glenisla.

The firm has scaled back initial plans for up to 33 turbines along the water, following public consultation in 2012.

Developers say the windfarm would help reduce the utilities giant’s electricity bill by generating 138 gigawatt hours of power each year.

Scottish Water’s commercial director Chris Banks previously said Macritch Hill could generate “up to a third” of the firm’s annual energy requirement.

“Renewable energy projects that deliver real benefits, such as energy savings to customers like Scottish Water, are at the heart of Eneco’s sustainability mission,” said Guy Madgwick, director of Eneco UK.

“The Macritch Hill project would not only help Scottish Water reduce its energy costs but will also support the government’s target of generating the equivalent of 100% of Scotland’s own electricity demand from renewable resources by 2020.”

Eneco was awarded the rights to explore the Macritch Hill windfarm development in 2012 and has since undertaken an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and technical surveys to determine the scale and design of the proposed windfarm.

Eneco states that consultations have also been carried out in the community.

The firm had consulted communities around Kirriemuir and Alyth, based on the turbines being of 3MW capacity but today’s application would be of 3.3MW apiece.

A spokesman said: “The final design incorporates changes made as a result of feedback from the community and findings from both the EIA and technical surveys.

“These include reducing the number of turbines from 33 to 18 and dropping the blade tip heights to reduce visual and landscape impacts.”

Known as Macritch Hill after the 475-metre elevation to the east of Backwater Reservoir, the project will stand on the shore-side parcel of land at the 397-metre Little Ley.

Other Eneco UK projects include the operational Tullo and Twinshiels windfarms (42MW) in Laurencekirk and Lochluichart (69MW) in the Highlands, while Highland developments Burn of Whilk and Moy are both under construction.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/01/14/backwater-reservoir-wind-farm-plan-put-forward/