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Low Carbon reduces number of turbines for High Brenfield Wind Farm following local feedback

  • Low Carbon has confirmed a further reduction of more than 25% in the number of turbines proposed for the High Brenfield Wind Farm project, located on land approximately 2km south-west of Ardrishaig, near Lochgilphead.
  • The new design brings with it many benefits, including the number of properties within 2km of a turbine dropping from 479 in the previous layout to 9 properties within the revised, frozen layout.

UK renewable energy company, Low Carbon, is pleased to announce that following a thorough programme of consultation the High Brenfield Wind Farm project has now reached the ‘Design Freeze’ milestone, which includes a further reduction of more than 25% in the number of turbines for the proposed project.

In October 2024 Low Carbon conducted a second round of public exhibitions in both Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead, at which a 14 turbine 200m tip height layout was presented to gather feedback from the community. 88 people attended the exhibitions across both evenings and 60 feedback forms were received by Low Carbon.

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 & 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 200m tip height, with a maximum generating capacity of 66 MW.

This design evolution decision has been taken to deliver the following key benefits:

  • A reduction in the horizontal and lateral extents of the development when viewed from Ardrishaig, Inverneill and Lochgilphead.
  • An increase in the separation distance between turbines and residential properties, therefore reducing potential residential visual amenity and noise effects. The number of properties within 2km of a turbine has dropped from 479 (previous layout) to 9 (current layout).
  • A reduction in tree felling and ground disturbance achieved through the removal of a significant amount of civil infrastructure (4 crane hardstandings, 1 water crossing and ~1,500m of access track).
  • An improvement ratio of the use of existing access tracks vs the creation of new access tracks. (Approximately half of the access tracks within the development will be upgraded existing forestry tracks).
  • A reduction in the volume of civil infrastructure located within areas of deeper peat.
  • The removal of all residential properties from within the shadow flicker study area (1,550m from a turbine).

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 Community Benefit Funding and Shared Ownership opportunities. This work is being supported by Local Energy Scotland, who are engaging 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.

Since the public exhibitions in October, Low Carbon have completed all their on-site survey activities and are therefore able to confirm the final site access route and on-site substation location. Low Carbon have also confirmed that a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will not feature as part of the Section 36 application. Further updated information and figures related to the project can be viewed here www.highbrenfieldwindfarm.co.uk.

ENDS

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Harry Padfield

Head of PR and Public Affairs

Harry.padfield@lowcarbon.com