UK renewable energy company Low Carbon has reduced the number of turbines at its High Brenfield wind farm project in western Scotland following consultation.
In October 2024 Low Carbon conducted a second round of public exhibitions in both Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead, at which a 14-turbine 200 metre tip height layout was presented to gather feedback from the community.
Following October’s exhibitions, Low Carbon sought further pre-application consultation with key statutory consultees regarding the wind farm design.
The aim was for feedback provided by both the community and consultees to be fully considered within the “Design Freeze” decision-making process.
Taking on board this feedback, Low Carbon decided to remove the four turbines closest to the settlements of Ardrishaig, Inverneill and Lochgilphead from the development (Turbines 10, 11, 12 and 14).
As such, the High Brenfield Wind Farm layout which will be assessed within the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) for determination will consist of 10 turbines at 200 metre tip height, with a maximum generating capacity of 66MW.
This design decision reduces the horizontal and lateral extents of the development when viewed from Ardrishaig, Inverneill and Lochgilphead.
It increases the separation distance between turbines and residential properties, therefore reducing potential residential visual amenity and noise effects.
The number of properties within two kilometres of a turbine has dropped from 479 (previous layout) to 9 (current layout).
A reduction in tree felling and ground disturbance is possible through the removal of a significant amount of civil infrastructure, while half of the access tracks within the development will be upgraded existing forestry tracks.
Angus Thomson, Project Development Manager at Low Carbon, said: “The feedback we received from the community and statutory consultees has been at the core of our design decision making process.
“We have worked closely with our multi-discipline EIA team to refine the wind farm layout in order to address the specific concerns raised during the pre-application consultation process.
“Although we are now proposing fewer turbines, the project will still make an important contribution towards Scotland’s renewable energy and climate change targets, while also delivering a significant community benefit fund to be invested in the local area.”
Low Carbon has made good progress with the communities regarding the community benefit funding and shared ownership opportunities.
This work is being supported by Local Energy Scotland, which is engaged with community groups that have expressed an interest in a shared community investment in High Brenfield Wind Farm.
Low Carbon have also partnered with Foundation Scotland to support the community consultation process regarding how the project’s community benefit fund should be structured, managed and distributed.
Low Carbon has also confirmed that a battery will not feature as part of the Section 36 application.