Scottish judges have cleared the way for 2.1GW of offshore wind developments to progress towards construction, including Mainstream’s shovel-ready 450MW Neart na Gaoithe.
The Court of Session refused an application from RSPB that would have resulted in the UK Supreme Court reviewing consents as part of a long-running legal battle.
Other projects included in the case were SSE and Fluor’s 1050MW Seagreen Alpha and Bravo and Red Rock Power’s 600MW Inch Cape. Neart is the only one of the projects holding a Contract for Difference.
Mainstream chief operating office Andy Kinsella said: “After more than two years and two court hearings, we hope that the RSPB acknowledges a fair hearing and allows us to get on with delivering the very significant benefits this project brings to the Scottish economy and its environment.”
He said the company is looking forward “to working constructively with the RSPB to take the wind farm into construction next year”.
The bird charity had been battling Scottish government consent originally awarded in October 2014 on the grounds that the projects would be damaging to protected species.
RSPB Scotland expressed disappointment at the court’s decision.
RSPB Scotland director Anne McCall said: “We will now take time to consider the details and determine our next steps.
“The existing consents, if implemented, could have a significant impact on Scotland’s breeding seabirds but we are hopeful that by continuing to work with all the developers we will be able to reduce those impacts.”
“The issues under consideration by the Court go beyond simply the impacts of multiple developments on important seabird populations and explore wider issues, we therefore must consider the implications of the decision for all aspects of the case.”
Image: SXC
