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Wind Power News: Scotland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort 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.
Vandals target Hawick wind turbine blade delivery
Vandals have targeted the delivery of wind turbine blades to a development in the Scottish Borders. Developers Energiekontor said a lifter vehicle involved in transportation to the Pines Burn project near Hawick had been damaged. It led to the cancellation of a delivery planned for Tuesday while repairs were carried out. The company said it hoped it would be able to resume on Friday once the lifter was fixed. The blade delivery was paused in a layby near Selkirk last . . . Complete story »
‘Unfavourable’ weather hits wind power production at SSE
Energy company SSE doubled down on its outlook for the year even as poor weather conditions and delays to a wind farm hit power production at the company’s renewables arm. SSE said it has seen a big drop in production from its onshore wind farms, down from 1.2 terawatt hours (TWh) in the first six months of last year to 788 gigawatt hours (GWh). It was not enough to offset a big rise in the electricity coming from the company’s . . . Complete story »
Campaigners fear over plan for further 2,000 wind turbines
Scotland is on course to almost double the number of onshore turbines to more than 7,500, with the number of wind farms set to increase to almost 600, it can be revealed. Data obtained under Freedom of Information laws shows there are currently 334 operational Scottish onshore wind farms, running 4,273 turbines, with a further 29 wind farms currently under construction which are set to deliver an additional 640 turbines. There are an additional 96 wind farm sites awaiting construction . . . Complete story »
Inquiry begins into Strath Oykel wind farm as residents say ‘enough is enough’
A public inquiry has been launched this week into plans for a controversial onshore wind farm near the Highland village of Rosehall. Residents have hit out over the proposals for the 73MW Strath Oykel wind farm, voicing concerns over the visual and environmental impacts of development near one of Scotland’s most famous fishing spots. The proposals, put forward by the UK arm of German developer Energie Kontor, would see 11 turbines built around a mile south-east of Doune in Sutherland, . . . Complete story »
Machars residents turn out in force to view controversial Galloway Hills windfarm proposal
Machars people turned out in numbers to view controversial proposals for a windturbine development in the Galloway Hills. The public engagement event in Wigtown County Buildings last Wednesday, staged by developers RES, followed a similar exercise at Newton Stewart the previous day. The Hertfordshire-headquartered firm envisage constructing 22 turbines up to 800 feet high in Kirkcudbrightshire, east of the River Cree. The Blair Hill Wind Farm scheme is in its early consultation stage and is proposed for moorland and woodland . . . Complete story »
Increased tempo for renewables brings with it ‘raw unfairness’ for rural communities
Campaigners are calling for a better strategy to match the ongoing influx of windfarm developments and applications. Five public information events are being held in Caithness next month to discuss a newly proposed offshore wind farm. The new site, which will see cables being brought ashore at Sinclair’s Bay if approved, appears to be the latest in a growing list of proposed renewable developments across the Highlands. Residents in the council area are no strangers to planning applications for wind . . . Complete story »
Concerns Moray wind farm could impact water supplies
Energy company Vattenfall is looking to build 16 turbines at Aultmore between Buckie and Keith. And a planning application is expected to be lodged by the end of this year with the Scottish Government. However campaign group Folk Against Mega Aultmore Turbines have concerns. 16-turbine wind farm They say the development will disrupt water supplies to homes in the area. And it could disturb an area of peat. But the wind farm company say their pre-application consultations have gone beyond . . . Complete story »
Windfarm site 200m from ancient graves
Three more major windfarm projects are being proposed for the southern approaches to the Galloway Hills. The proposed sites are at Lairdmannoch near Laurieston, Blair Hill in western Kirkcudbrightshire and Glenvernoch, over the Cree in Wigtownshire. Having featured Lairdmannoch last week, the News visited the Blair Hill site on what was a glorious autumn day. Two expeditions were required – to Garlies Castle in Old Minnigaff, the former seat of the earls of Galloway, and, higher up to the north, . . . Complete story »
Campaigners call for two-mile wind farm buffer zones amid reports of rise in accidents
Scotland Against Spin (SAS), the independent alliance campaigning for reform of the Scottish Government’s wind energy policy, says that as more turbines are built, more accidents are occurring, which it claims pose a threat to public safety. The Scottish Government said there was currently no “recommended minimum distance between onshore wind turbines and residential properties” and that health and safety around wind turbines was reserved to the UK Government. SAS say turbines have been involved in hundreds of incidents since . . . Complete story »
Storm of protest over Kirkcudbrightshire windfarm plans
A revolution appears to be brewing over an industrial wind energy scheme earmarked for Kirkcudbrightshire. Developers RES are looking at building up to 22, 800-foot high turbines in Minnigaff parish towards the Galloway Hills. And plans at an exhibition in Newton Stewart on Tuesday revealed the closest tower would stand just two miles north of the town. Company representatives fielded questions in the hall from hundreds of attendees at the five-hour McMillan Hall session. A Cree Valley Community Council survey . . . Complete story »