Technical & planning

siteThe Project – Initial Strategy

The development site is at the head of Glen Urquhart at a height of 455m above sea level, on farmland owned by the Girvan family. The scheme proposes to build five 2MW turbines yielding an annual output close to 27,500MWh – an effective reduction of some 3000 tonnes of carbon compared to other generating methods. The turbines will be approximately 100 feet tall and set 250m apart. They will be a minimum 5km from neighbouring properties and their situation will minimse visual impact.

The turbines connect to the National Grid at Fasnakyle Power Station in Strathglass some 6km from the site. It is proposed that the High Voltage and associated telecommunications cables will be routed entirely underground. The estimated cost of the project is £13 million (June 2009).

Consultation

The Project Development Team has been keen to minimise the impact on both the environment and the local communities. Hence, sensitive issues have been to the fore during the consultation process and the team has actively engaged with all interested parties inluding:

Glen Urquhart & Strathglass Community Councils; The Highland Council; RSPB; Historic Scotland; Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.

Objectives

The Project will provide a number of social and economic benefits for the community to include:

  • Local control due the landowners/community being majority shareholders
  • Soirbheas, the community company, will have access to funds for community projects
  • Finance available to develop further ‘green’ projects
  • Local employment opportunities during construction and maintenance phases
  • The opportunity to inject hundreds of thousands of pounds and support into local community over 20 years following construction

Construction

The summer of 2012 saw the road to the site and transport infrastructure being put in place, ready for the erection of the wind turbines in the autumn.

construction

The track to the wind-farm is a long one at 9.7 kilometres and was completed in August. Then the bases for the turbines were built through September and into early October.

During a break in construction in September 2012, three time capsules were buried at the site of the new wind-farm.

The 2 foot long capsules, were filled by pupils from Cannich Bridge, Balnain and Glen Urquhart Primary Schools and will remain buried until 2037, when the wind farm is due to be decommissioned.

Concrete bases were poured through September and into early October, ready for construction of the turbines in October 2012.

November, December and January proved to be windy and, because erection could not continue when wind speeds were too high, the turbines were not completed until early February. The good news was that this did confirm that the location was very windy!!

The turbines were manufactured in Emden, North West Germany, from where they were taken by sea to Inverness and then on by road to Corrimony.

Connection to the National Grid included the construction of a small sub-station on the site and the laying of a cable to Fasnakyle Power Station – a total of 6.5 kilometres.

Construction completed in March 2013 when the turbines were energised (linked to the national grid) and was followed by a Community Open Day on a very cold, snowy and windy day in late March.

Technical Description and Environmental Study

The full technical description and environmental study submitted with the planning application can be viewed by clicking on the links below relating to the individual sections.

Volume 1:
Section 1: Non-Technical Summary and Project Description
Section 2: Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
Section 3A: Ecology
Section 3B: Appendix 1 Vegetation Tables
Section 3C: Appendix 2 Mammal Survey Reports
Section 3D: Appendix 3 Bird Tables
Section 3E: Appendix 4 Designated Sites
Section 3Fi: Appendix 5a Vegetation Maps & Target Notes
Section 3Fii: Appendix 5b Mammal Maps & Photos
Section 3Fiii: Appendix 5c_Bird Maps
Section 4: Archaeology
Section 5: Geology, Superficial Deposits and Hydrology
Section 6: Environmental Health Studies Noise and Shadow Flicker Assessment
Section 6A: Access Roads and Crane Platforms
Section 6B: Site Access Roadworks, Road and Site Maps
Section 6C: Transportation
Section 6D: Carbon Balance Calculation
Volume 2:
Site Plans, Drawings and Photomontage Images

Planning Documents

Public Comment on Planning Application: Comment 1
Public Comment on Planning Application: Comment 2
Planning Application: Submission from SNH
Planning Application: Response to SNH Submission
Planning Application: Highland Council Decision