Renewables investor Galileo is to consult on proposals for a 533MW wind farm with up to 74 turbines, a battery energy storage scheme, and plans to enhance and restore a significant area of degraded peatland in Scotland.
The developer of the Dorenell Extension Wind Farm and Biodiversity Enhancement Plan on the Cabrach and Glenfiddich Estates, has announced details of its updated project proposals ahead of a series of community consultation events later this month.
The wind farm is expected to generate the equivalent of the annual demand of some 575,000 homes and support a community benefit fund of £2.7m to be invested in the local community each year – more than £100m over the lifetime of the wind farm.
The initial plans for the biodiversity enhancement plan would see restoration and enhancement of 870 hectares of damaged and degraded peatland, an area equal to 1,200 football pitches.
The plans would result in the blocking of 140km of “moor drain” – twice the distance from Dufftown to Aberdeen.
Analysis of the proposals by independent economic consultants suggests that the wind farm construction alone would contribute £85m to the Moray economy.
Ahead of the public consultation events, Jason Morin, senior project manager at Galileo, said: “The project would make an important contribution to Scotland’s 2045 net zero climate change emissions target, with the wind farm expected to displace some 690,000 tonnes of CO2 per year by reducing the use of gas-fired power generation – equivalent to taking 400,000 cars off the road.
“It would also promote greater energy security, with the wind farm generating the equivalent of the annual power needs of 575,000 homes and the battery storage system providing much-needed flexibility to the local and national electricity grid.
“In addition, we are planning to restore a huge area of damaged and degraded peatland, which would have significant benefits for biodiversity and also result in further carbon savings.”
Morin also highlighted the local economic opportunities from the associated annual community wealth fund of some £2.7m to be invested in the local area, and the employment impacts of the wind farm’s construction and operations.
“The project would support a community wealth fund of more than £100m over its 40-year lifespan, which would be the biggest fund of its kind anywhere in the UK.
“We want to dedicate a significant part of this to provide free electricity to the households closest to the project, but we hope the scale of funding could also be transformational for community initiatives covering things like training, affordable housing and energy efficiency improvements for local homeowners.
“Analysis of our plans suggest that construction of the wind farm would create 1,200 ‘job years’ in the Moray Council area alone, with 50 ongoing full time equivalent roles during operations across the council area.
“We look forward to engaging with local people at our exhibitions, where local communities will have the opportunity to find out more and to provide their feedback.”