SSE Renewables has submitted a planning application to the Scottish Government to build an 80MW extension to the operational 38MW Achany wind farm in the Scottish Highlands.
The 20-turbine extension would mean that combined the two wind farms in Sutherland would generate in excess of 118MW, SSE said.
The reuse of existing site infrastructure has been incorporated into the design, allowing access to the extension through the existing site, SSE said.
The developer’s Section 36 application for the proposal will now be determined by the government’s Energy Consents Unit.
It is the second time SSE has submitted an application to extend the wind farm with the first bid being refused by ministers in 2015.
The developer said the most recent redesign would be located a further 2km from previous proposals and is now closer to the existing wind farm.
The 80MW extension, which has a proposed 25-year operation life, also benefits from an existing 65MW grid connection to the distribution network and a transmission connection offer is under evaluation to potentially increase this to 105MW.
Gillian Wilson, SSE Renewables project manager for Achany Extension, said: “We believe this proposal for Achany Extension Wind Farm will make a significant contribution in the movement towards green energy in Scotland.
“The operational wind farm at Achany has been a considerable success, delivering 38MW of renewable energy towards the Scottish and UK Governments’ net zero emissions targets and contributing hundreds of thousands of pounds to local organisations through our community investment fund.
“Achany Extension is an opportunity to build on that success. The proposal will also create local jobs and opportunities for local businesses to win contracts directly with us or with our supply chain.”
The existing Achany wind farm has distributed over £1m in community funding since becoming operational in 2010.
The proposed extension will also include a community fund which would be granted locally and across the Highland Council area through SSE Renewables’ community investment programme.
Karen Anderson, SSE Renewables consents manager for Achany Extension, said: “We are grateful for the feedback we have received over the course of this consultation which has helped us to shape the design. We look forward to further consultation as the project develops.”