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Pre-construction work has begun at Strathy Wood wind farm, just over two years after being approved by Scottish Government ministers.
Energy company RWE says the installation of 11 turbines in Sutherland will generate 63 megawatts and is expected to be completed by 2025. The turbines will have a maximum height of 180 meters.
Construction is already underway on RWE’s 15-turbine, 69 MW Enoch Hill Wind Farm in East Ayrshire and the 10-turbine, 36 MW Camster II in Caithness. Both projects are expected to be completed next year.
Victoria Allen, the company’s director of onshore renewable energy development in Scotland, said: “RWE is heading strongly into 2024, our ambition in Scotland continues to grow and we are very pleased to have achieved structural milestones for Enoch Hill, Camster II and now Laminated Wood.
“Onshore wind has a role to play in helping to meet the UK and Scottish governments’ net-zero targets in the coming years and remains the cheapest form of renewable electricity generation. “
Strathy Wood, located near SSE Renewables’ existing Strathy North wind farm, will begin full on-site construction later this year.
RWE has a portfolio of 33 onshore wind sites with a combined installed capacity of 802 MW and an additional structure of 168 MW in Scotland. In addition, the company’s onshore wind progression portfolio includes 16 projects in Scotland.
RWE says it is committed to supporting neighbouring communities through “flexible community benefits packages”.
The three onshore wind projects that are being structured lately constitute an investment of approximately £25 million, over an operational life of 30 years.
Strathy Wood was given the go-ahead by ministers in December 2021 following a public inquiry into what was then a 13-turbine, 54.6 MW development.
Highland Council had agreed in June 2020 not to accept RWE’s application for a plan making permit.
Plans for the Strathy Wood order date back to 2013. E. ON first requested a maximum of 26 turbines with a maximum height of 145 metres. RWE acquired E. ON’s renewable energy business in autumn 2019.
Objections came from organisations such as RSPB, John Muir Trust and Wildland Ltd.
Concerns have been raised that it is adjacent to the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation, while considerations have also been expressed about the visual impact.