A Section 36 application for a 9-turbine wind farm proposal which could inject over £55 million into the local economy has been submitted to Scottish Ministers by RES.
The project, which lies approximately 2km east of Tayinloan on Killean Estate, is predicted to deliver £35 million in business rates during its 50-year operational period as well as around £5.9 million of inward investment to the local area during construction.
In addition, the 59.4MW project would provide a tailored community benefit package for the local area worth approximately £14.8 million over the operational life cycle of the project. This package could include RES’ unique Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS) which offers an annual discount to the electricity bills of those properties closest to the wind farm.
Danny McLean, Development Project Manager for RES, added: “We have worked hard over the last year to develop a project which we believe fits sensitively within the landscape and which minimises or mitigates any potential impacts. The design has been shaped by extensive site survey work as well as consultation with the local community – and we are grateful to everyone who took the time to attend our public exhibitions and share their views with us.”
If consented, Killean Wind Farm would generate enough carbon-free electricity for around 51,000 homes once operational, offsetting approximately 47,000 tonnes of carbon emissions based on the grid-mix of fossil fuel, nuclear and renewable generation. It would also achieve full carbon payback within 2 years.
RES seeks to maximise the benefits to the local area from its projects and involves the local supply chain wherever possible. During construction by RES of the 11-turbine 22.5MW Freasdail Wind Farm further north on the Kintyre Peninsula, the project employed a range of local contractors. RES contracted with local firm A & L McCrae to construct the main site access track and used AMAC Harvesting, another Kintyre business, for forestry works on-site. At its peak, over 85 people were employed on-site with the balance of the workforce living locally during the working week, creating significant revenue for local accommodation providers. The total sum of local expenditure at Freasdail reached £6.3m once the wind farm was energised in early 2017.
We are facing a climate emergency and at the same time seeking to enhance the security of our energy supply. Onshore wind can address both of these. It is quick to build and, alongside other renewable energy technologies, can generate the cheapest form of new electricity generation. It also increases energy security by reducing our reliance on imports as well as building our resilience to sudden price fluctuations and the uncertainty of global markets.
