Where are the windfarms?
Location of wind turbines across Scotland (Highland Council data, July 2024)
Windfarms in the Kyle of Sutherland (sketch map, 13 November 2024)
Cumulative windfarms across the Kyle of Sutherland (Braelangwell Wind Farm and surrounding region within 15 km, 22 August 2024)
Community interest groups
No Ring of Steel (NORoS) Kyle of Sutherland (Facebook page)
Communities B4 Power Companies (Facebook page)
Windfarm projects – at various stages
Proposal documents and other supporting materials can be accessed through the second link provided for each windfarm. The information provided here is to the best of my knowledge, as of November 2024. Please refer to source links. (Note: ECU = Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit, BESS = battery energy storage systems)
Achany (built) (19 turbines, 100 m, 38 MW) [SSE Renewables UK]
Achany Extension (formerly Glencassley) (approved) (ECU link) (18 turbines, 15o m, 80 MW+) [SSE Renewables UK]
Acheildh (formerly Lairg III) (in planning) (6 turbines, 230m) [Energie Kontour Germany]
Allt an Tuir (in scoping) (ECU link) (8 turbines, 200 m, 50 MW+) [REG Power Developments UK, ESB Ireland] + 12 battery units and 20 ha solar panel development
Balblair (in scoping) (ECU link) (8 turbines, 180 m, 50 MW+) [Force 9 Energy UK, Vestas Denmark, ESB Ireland]
Braelangwell (in scoping) (ECU link) (17 turbines, 220 m, 150 MW) [E Power Ireland] + unspecified BESS
Coille Beith (in scoping) (ECU link) (19 turbines, 200 m, 137 MW) [StatKraft Norway] + unspecified BESS
Garvary (consultation) (25 turbines, 180 m) [Coriolis Energy UK, ESB Ireland]
Inveroykel (in scoping) (ECU link) (29 turbines, 230 m, 199 MW) [RWE Germany] + unspecified BESS
Meall Buidhe (approved) (ECU link) (8 turbines, 150 m, 40 MW) [Meall Buidhe LLP UK]
Rosehall (built) (19 turbines, 90m, 25 MW) [RWE Germany]
Strath Oykel (in appeal) (ECU link) (11 turbines, 200 m, 78 MW) [Energie Kontor Germany] + 5 MW BESS
SSEN powerline pylons
SSEN Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400kV Connection
Additional information
About BESS
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are a key technology in the transition to renewable energy and the decarbonization of the power system, as they can store excess electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind and then release it when demand is higher. [More information forthcoming…]
The need for a ‘just transition’
Government climate policy: Economic impact (17 October 2024) https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/government-climate-policy-economic-impact/ Labour said in its 2024 election manifesto that the expansion of renewable energy would [include] a just transition [in] the implementation of policies… The term [‘just transition’] has also been expanded to refer to support for communities more generally that might be affected. The CCC [Climate Change Committee] argued the term has also been used to refer to the need to address wider inequalities across society. Further information on what might constitute a just transition is provided in the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology briefing (see below, ‘What is a just transition…’).
What is a just transition for environmental targets? (16 October 2023) https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0706/ Justice and human rights issues may arise from action to protect climate and environment. Issues can be ‘procedural’, where affected people have not had an adequate say in the process; or ‘distributive’, where costs and benefits of changes have not been fairly distributed. Failure to adequately consider both types of issues can exacerbate inequalities, affect support for action to address climate change and biodiversity loss, and lead to legal challenges.