SSE Renewables has submitted an application to the Scottish government to vary the existing consent for the Strathy South wind farm to increase the proposed capacity to 208MW from 133MW previously.
The new proposal also asks to increase tips heights of turbines to up to 200 metres from the 135 metres agreed in the original consent, which was granted in April 2018.
The revised plans also envisage changes to access tracks to avoid areas of deep peat where possible and the replacement of the consented met masts with permanent lidar equipment.
Additional survey work has been carried out, including a further two years of breeding bird surveys, to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment, SSE said.
It added that, if approved and built, the revised wind farm would be expected to support over 50 indirect jobs in the Highlands including Caithness and Sutherland during each year of its operational lifetime.
Strathy South is located to the south of SSE Renewables’ operational Strathy North project, approximately 12km to the south of Strathy village.
A new community benefit fund for Strathy South, estimated at over half a million pounds annually, would build on the existing Strathy North Community Fund which already contributes £170,000 each year to many worthwhile projects.
Strathy South project manager Jon Soal said: “Strathy South has received incredible levels of support from the local community over the years which has been fantastic and is hugely appreciated by the project team.
“If consented, we are confident know that Strathy South can build on the success of the existing Strathy North site and bring benefits to local businesses and communities, both during construction and throughout its lifetime.”
The project’s Habitat Management Plan commits to the removal of 1133 hectares of commercial forestry plantation and the restoration of peatland habitats, while removing indirect impacts to the Caithness and Sutherland Peatland Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation.
SSE Renewables has also committed to additional off-site peatland restoration of 1535 hectares.
This combined onsite and off-site peatland restoration will assist the Scottish Government in meeting its targets for peatland restoration, the company said.