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Wind Power News: Scotland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Petition aims to halt Hill of Fare wind farm application
Campaigners are petitioning for the site of the proposed Hill of Fare wind farm in Aberdeenshire in a bid to stop the project. The Hill of Fare Windfarm Information Group called for Dunecht Estates, where the wind farm will be based, to get the project’s developer, RES, to withdraw its application. RES is looking to develop the 105.6MW less than four miles from Banchory. Under its current plan, the wind farm will use a total of 16 turbines, with heights . . . Complete story »
Report recommends further research on impact of offshore wind farms on fish
The Scottish Government have published a report on the impact of off shore wind development on species of fish that undertake regular migrations between freshwater and marine environments. These include Atlantic salmon and sea trout. The report finds that the potential for negative impacts from sound and vibration on these fish associated with offshore wind farms are most likely during construction, with pile driving creating particularly loud sound pulses, which is relatively short term but intense. Potential impacts include behavioural . . . Complete story »
Construction firm fined £860,000 after Tain man’s windfarm death in 2022
The principal contractor of a Shetland windfarm has been fined £860,000 over the tragic death of a 23-year-old Highland man. Liam MacDonald, from Tain, died at the Viking construction site on 5 June 2022 while working for BAM Nuttall. He was killed when the bale arm of a skip crushed him while he was cleaning concrete off the inside. At Lerwick Sheriff Court today BAM Nuttall was fined £800,000, plus £60,000 victim surcharge, reduced from £1.2 million for the timing . . . Complete story »
Moray Council’s objection to wind farm could spark costly public inquiry
An expensive public inquiry could be triggered after Moray Council today objected to an application to build a wind farm between Keith and Buckie. Members of the planning committee unanimously came out against a proposal for 16 turbines at Aultmore. Up to 650ft in height the turbines would be about eight times the size of the Ladyhill monument in Elgin. The council is objecting on the grounds the wind farm will have an “unacceptable and significant visual impact on the . . . Complete story »
Probe underway after another huge turbine blade snaps off at Scottish wind farm
A probe is underway after part of a huge turbine blade sheared off at one of Scotland’s newest wind farms, triggering safety fears. The incident happened at Sneddon Law Wind Farm in East Ayrshire – which operates 15 turbines and only opened earlier this year –when around a third of a 49 metre blade snapped off. Campaigners warned “peoples’ lives are at risk” and have called for the wind farm to be shut down to “allow a thorough review” of . . . Complete story »
Highlanders ‘under siege’ as Scottish aristocrat opens up land for giant battery substation
A Highland community claims it is “under siege” after an aristocrat opened up hundreds of acres of land for a giant electrical substation. Simon Fraser, 16th Lord Lovat, has permitted SSEN and its contractors to explore a site near Beauly for the Fanellan substation, which would support multiple energy developments and upgrades across the Highlands. Tony Davidson, whose Kilmorack Gallery sits close to the Fanellan site, said the landscape was under threat from the development – and people were under . . . Complete story »
Development of further wind farms in The Cabrach in Moray would breach human rights, campaigners claim
A group seeking to prevent the development of wind farms in a “fragile” community claim that building more would be in breach of their human rights. The Cabrach near Dufftown is currently home to 77 operational turbines. However, if all current windfarm applications are approved in the area, including those already built, The Cabrach will become Scotland’s largest onshore wind energy park, with 216 turbines across eight independent developments all within a 10km radius. The Saving The Cabrach group say . . . Complete story »
The ‘Stalinist’ net zero companies accused of desecrating the Highlands
It was named after the French for “beautiful place” – “beau lieu”. But the Highland village of Beauly, near Loch Ness, is threatened with becoming the exact opposite because of the country’s rush towards net zero. Nestled between the west Highlands and the Moray Firth, the gently sloping area has been earmarked as the focus of the low-carbon energy revolution changing the face of the north of Scotland. Furious locals are in despair at plans by energy giant Scottish and . . . Complete story »
Golden eagle killed by wind turbine strike on Scottish territory
A tagged golden eagle has been killed by a wind turbine blade, according to an investigation. The body of the bird of prey, called Sparky, was discovered metres from a turbine at a wind farm in Galloway earlier this year. An investigation into the animal’s death has confirmed the bird’s fatal injuries were “typical of those associated with a wind turbine strike”, according to the Veterinary Investigation Centre at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in Dumfries. I walked through ‘wind farm . . . Complete story »
Golden eagle dies ‘after flying into wind turbine’
A golden eagle has died after flying into a wind turbine in Dumfries and Galloway, a conservation group has said. Three-year-old male Sparky, which was fledged from a nest by the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, was found 15 metres (49ft) from a turbine base at the Windy Rig wind farm in August. One of its wings had been detached. Project leaders say tests carried out on the bird showed its fatal injuries were “typical of those associated with . . . Complete story »
