By John Davidson
Copyright inverness-courier
A new wind farm is being considered in the hills above Loch Ness with what would be the highest turbines in the area.
European energy company Vattenfall is behind the Glenmarkie project and has just submitted a scoping report to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
The firm says it is in the early stages of exploring a potential wind farm proposal on a site 16km east of Fort Augustus and 8km south-east of Whitebridge, on south Loch Ness-side.
Documents submitted with the scoping report show that the Glenmarkie project would sit directly between the Stronelairg and Corriegarth wind farms to the south-east of Loch Ness.
While the once controversial Stronelairg site, developed by SSE Renewables, is made up of 65 turbines with a maximum blade-tip height of 135 metres, this new development could see up to 65 turbines rising up to 250 metres high.
There are several other wind farm developments in planning or scoping within a 25km radius, but the largest turbines proposed so far in the area are 230m, with built or consented ones no more than 180m high.
The wind farm would also include hard-standing areas, borrow pits, temporary construction compounds and new and upgraded access tracks.
An indicative layout of the site shows two “clusters” of turbines divided by Glen Markie, with 23 in the north area and 42 in the south.
An environmental impact assessment will be carried out and Vattenfall said it would be hosting exhibitions for the public and stakeholders as the project progresses.
It is anticipated that the wind farm would have a capacity of up to 481MW, and a battery storage site is also being considered as part of the plans. An overhead line would likely connect to the grid via Melgarve, close to the Corrieyairick Pass.
A detailed scoping report and further information about the plans can be found at: https://www.vattenfall.co.uk/our-projects/glenmarkie
The report states that the project will seek “to avoid, reduce or minimise landscape and visual effects wherever feasible”.
A scoping report enables early engagement with the planning authority and seeks responses from consultees, with public engagement and consultation to follow at a later date.
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