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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.
RAF fears fighter jets flying as low as 250ft could hit 650ft wind turbines
Military chiefs have objected to plans to extend a Scots windfarm amid fears RAF jets could crash into its huge turbines. Energy firm Boralex wants to build 22 turbines up to 650ft high to extend the Cabrach wind farm in Clashindarroch, Aberdeenshire. The new blades would reach far higher than the 18 existing 360ft turbines at the site and another 14 turbines measuring 590ft that are due to come online. But the Ministry of Defence has objected due to concerns . . . Complete story »
‘We’d never have moved here if we knew more turbines were coming’
When Trevor Smith and his wife Dawn moved to the Cabrach, they thought they had found the home of their dreams. After falling in love with the tranquillity during four holidays in the north-east, they decided to make the massive move from the increasingly busy Isle of Wight. In summer last year they moved into their perfect home, a converted former church, and began settling into their new community. Just four months later they learned of the large wind farm . . . Complete story »
Battle lines set on Lewis over Spiorad na Mara
The decision to refuse the request from Northland Power for a strip of common grazing close to the shoreline for siting a 120 metre mast was taken unanimously by an unusually well attended meeting of shareholders in New and North Shawbost grazings. Northland hope to develop the “Spiorad na Mara” windpower facility just off the coast of Lewis. One of those who attended told the Gazette: “We were all given an opportunity to say what we felt. Everyone was wholeheartedly . . . Complete story »
Neilston wind turbine plan rejected over ‘significant’ detrimental visual impact
A bid to build an almost 67 metre high wind turbine near Neilston has been rejected after planners warned it would have a “significant” detrimental impact on the landscape. Officials at East Renfrewshire Council recommended the application was turned down as the “scale and design of the proposed turbine” were considered “well beyond what the local area can accommodate”. Andy Brand, of Nether Carswell III Ltd, had applied for permission to erect the turbine on a site to the south . . . Complete story »
Historic cottage demolished in Wick to make way for turbines
A Victorian cottage near Wick railway station is in the process of being demolished to make way for the transportation of wind turbine parts through the town. Bankhead Cottage is on the corner of Thurso Road and Bankhead Road and is described as a “two-bay rubble-built cottage with a similar three-bay structure abutting the rear elevation and W gable”, according to Canmore, a catalogue of Scottish heritage sites compiled and managed by Historic Environment Scotland. The cottage had, however, been . . . Complete story »
Wind farm project loses appeal for second time
A wind farm project in southern Scotland has been rejected at appeal for the second time. The scheme at Garcrogo Hill and Barmark Hill, near Corsock in Dumfries and Galloway, would have involved the construction of seven turbines. A previous bid for nine turbines was refused at appeal in August 2022. A Scottish government reporter has ruled that revised proposals by Energiekontor UK should not go ahead either. ‘Range of benefits’ The company argued that the scheme could deliver a . . . Complete story »
Scots scientist charged over ‘enormous’ £7m wind farm fraud scheme
A Scots scientist has been accused of scamming wind farm investors out of £7.4million. Dr Paul Dougan, a former renewable energy firm boss and Oxford graduate, has been accused of using investors’ cash to buy up a string of properties across Scotland and the UK in an “enormous” case brought by prosecutors in Northern Ireland. The 54-year-old, from Glasgow, faces a catalogue of offences alongside an ex business partner. He is accused of a total of 24 charges, including acquiring . . . Complete story »
EDF wind farm to pay £5.5 million to vulnerable customers after overcharging grid
Energy company EDF will pay £5.5 million into a fund designed to help vulnerable customers after regulator Ofgem found that it had overcharged the grid. Ofgem said that EDF’s Dorenell Windfarm Limited (DWL) charged “excessive prices” when it was asked to reduce its output. “Ofgem considers that DWL charged excessive prices to reduce output where this was required to keep the system balanced, and the breach pushed up costs for consumers,” Ofgem said in a statement on Monday. The regulator . . . Complete story »
Armadale Wind Farm turbines would have ‘startling’ effect on landscape, planning officers says as councillors are advised to object to the development
North councillors are being advised to object to a planning application to build a wind farm which it is feared would “overwhelm” the north Sutherland village of Armadale. Brookfield Renewables is seeking permission to build a nine-turbine wind farm on an area of hill land and common grazings overlooking the village. Members of the North Planning applications Committee will consider the application at their meeting in Inverness next Tuesday, March 5. The final decision will be taken by Scottish Ministers . . . Complete story »
Lethen windpower plan near Grantown is rejected by Ministers
A controversial plan for 17 wind turbies near Lochindorb some 10km north-west of Grantown has been refused by Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit announced the refusal last night. Scotland Against Spin reported: “The Scottish Ministers acknowledge that there are environmental effects from the proposed development resulting in significant visual and landscape impacts as well as impacts on some SLQs (Special landscape qualities) of the (Cairngorms National) Park and on the special qualities of the SLA (Special landscape . . . Complete story »
