Wind News

Monday 10 August 2009

"Renewable energy is a key sector for Scotland and will help drive our economic recovery." Jim Mather, Scottish Government

The Scottish Government has approved plans for two onshore wind farms which will see the creation of a new scheme in the east of the country and the extension of an existing development in Inverness-shire.

The 29-turbine Berry Burn wind farm, on the Altyre Estate near Forres in Moray, is set to have a capacity of 78 Megawatts (MW), while the six-turbine extension to the 20-turbine Millennium wind farm near Fort Augustus in Inverness-shire will increase the capacity of the existing site by 15 MW to 65 MW.

The Scottish Government's energy consents and deployment unit - which oversees applications in excess of 50MW for onshore wind farms - is currently processing 34 renewable project applications, 25 of which are wind farms and 9 are hydro projects.

Scotland has already installed over three gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity with a further 3GW of projects in the planning stages.

Scottish energy minister Jim Mather said: "I am delighted to approve further investment to develop our vast natural potential, create more jobs and fuel the clean, green energy revolution. Renewable energy is a key sector for Scotland and will help drive our economic recovery - new wind farms create jobs and can provide valuable benefits for the communities they serve."

"Our comprehensive climate change laws demand that we continue to support good projects that reduce emissions and help Scotland become a global role model for a sustainable, low carbon economy," he added.

Approvals

Buckinghamshire-based Force 9 Energy and its development partner Catamount Energy applied for consent for the Berry Burn wind farm in September 2004 but had to lodge two addendums - or small changes to its original plans - following issues raised by consultees.

The application was subject to statutory consultation and Moray Council, as the relevant planning authority, did not object, subject to conditions. A total of 227 representations were received - 140 objecting to the development and 87 in support.

Millennium Wind Energy, which is a subsidiary of London-based Falck Renewables, applied for consent to add additional turbines to its Millennium wind farm, which will take its installed capacity from 50 MW to 65 MW. Eleven representations were received during the consultation period, nine objected and two supported the development.

The Scottish Government has determined 30 energy applications, including approval for 24 renewable and one non-renewable project since May 2007 - more determinations than over the whole of the previous four years, in which 19 projects were determined.