ARCHIVE 2012
Projects summary:
SSE Subsea-cable - NEW 22/12/2012
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission have issued an update on grid developments accross Scotland including the Western Isles:
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission: Projects Review
In November 2012 Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission made the following announcment:
"Following an assurance on the programme for development of large generation schemes in March this year, SHE Transmission advanced detailed contractual negotiation with the preferred supplier of the HVDC Link. The first stage of this negotiation concluded in late summer and it became clear that the cost and delivery programme agreed in October 2010 would be substantially altered. The total cost of the HVDC Link (excluding associated infrastructure on Lewis) is now estimated to be no less than £700 million. The current programme estimates a delay in the planned completion date of October 2015 for the HVDC Link of at least 12 months with a real potential it could be later. Further negotiations with the supplier are ongoing."
The full statement can be downloaded at the following address:
2012 - It has been annonced the the company who has bought the rights to the Muaitheabhal windfarm, International Power part of French global company GDF-Suez, will initially underwrite the costs of the interconnector. Previously SSE said its national grid operator subsiduary SHETL has:
"concluded that the lack of financial underwriting from electricity generators (attributed to the level of transmission charges) relating to the link from the Western Isles to the mainland meant it would not be able to conclude a contract for the supply of the necessary electricity cable. As a result, it withdrew its request to Ofgem for authorisation to make the investment. It will, however, prepare a new request for authorisation to invest in the link as soon as these issues are resolved. In practice, this is likely to take at least one year.”
PAIRC WINDFARM, PAIRC ESTATE -NEW 22/12/2012
December 2012. A Hebrides News article reports that SSE PLC have sold their interest in the Pairc Windfarm to International Power, owners of the neighboring Muaithebhal Windfarm.
Correction: Previously (August 8th 2012) we reported that Scottish and Southern Energy have withdrawn their planning application for a windfarm on Pairc Estate. This is not correct and we would like to apologise for any confusion caused. Rather Scottish and Southern indicated that it is nolonger interested in developing the project due to environmental constraints, stating:
We still believe that there is potential to develop a wind farm with fewer turbines on the Pairc Estate. We are exploring opportunities to transfer interests to another developer.
However the application is still listed on the Scottish Government website as a live application by SSE PLC for a 250MW windfarm. And most recently (7 September 2012) in the documentation issued by the Scottish Government in connection with the Stornoway Windfarm consent, the Scottish Government has written:
"The Pairc application is on hold pending information from the applicant (Scottish and Southern Energy) on whether it wishes to proceed with the application..."
And it is apparent that the Stornoway Windfarm consent has been contingent on excluding the estimated impacts of Pairc Windfarm:
"...However, if Pairc wind farm were to be included in the cumulative assessment it could not be ascertained that the combined effect of both Stornoway and Pairc would not adversely affect the integrity of the Lewis Peatlands SPA. Pairc wind farm contributes nearly 50% of the total predicted collision mortality of Golden eagle as indicated in the table above.
Should Pairc proceed to determination, this will require a new Appropriate Assessment and cumulative collision mortality assessment from all proposed and consented wind farms in the Western Isles Natural Heritage Zone (NHZ) including both Stornoway and Pairc."
Both Stornoway Wind Power and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar previously lobbied for the Pairc SSE application to be disregarded in future considerations of the cumulative impacts of windfarm projects on Lewis and Harris.
A previous application by SSE PLC to build a 205MW windfarm on Pairc Estate, Isle of Lewis, was put before Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in 2007. It was decided to recommend that the Scottish Ministers approve only 26 of turbines. Scottish and Southern Energy submitted an ammended application to build a 26 turbine (94 MW) windfarm on Pairc Estate in Feb 2009. This application was recommended for approval by the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar planning committee on 21 April 2009.
NEW PROPOSAL: Druim Leathann Windfarm
2020 Renewables Ltd have submitted a Scoping Report for installation of up to 14 turbines of 3 MWs capacity to the east of Tolsta. A map of the development can be found on the Druim Leathann page in the left menu. 2020 Renewables have recently held a public meeting in Tolsta to present their plans.
NEW PROPOSAL: MUAITHEABHAL WINDFARM South Extension - (Previous applications consented 8 December 2011)
In May 2012 it was revealed that Eishken Estate owner Nicholas Oppenheim investigating a further extension to the windfarm on the Eishken estate under the name Uisinis Power. This time to the south and east of Loch Sealg with current documentation discussing up to 30 turbines. He previoulsy announced that he had been successful in selling the rights to the previously consented Muaitheabhal Windfarm and Muaitheabhal East Extension to International Power part of French global company GDF-Suez.
28th December 2010: The Scottish Government issued a press release announcing that it had approved the 6 turbine, 21MW extension to the Muaitheabhal Windfarm (118MW, 33 turbines see below). The proposed extension turbines will be 150m high to blade tip, some of the largest onshore turbines proposed in the UK.
The decision notice can be downloaded from the government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/917/0123862.pdf
The link to the site map also links to the decision notice but a a map showing the proposed layout from the application is on the Mauaitheabhal page (menu left).
14 January 2010: The Scottish Government announced that it had given planing consent for 33 turbines to be built on the Eishken Estate. These are the turbines that were proposed in the last application by Beinn Mor and Crionaig Power in August.
BEINN MHOLACH A.K.A Pentland Road Windfarm - Operational
Pentland Road Windfarm is now under construction.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar approved this, the first windfarm on the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area. The 6 turbine project was first aproved in 2003 amidst great controversy when Scottish Natural Heritage withdrew their objection, following a one day inspection by SNH officers, which they claimed allowed them to conclude that the windfarm would not impact on the interests of the SPA. This was following a catalogue of complaints after the developers had already manifestly failed to conform to SNH's own guidelines for Environmentalk Impact Assesments, compalints which neither SNH or the plannning authorities upheld. The application was then called in following objections from the aviation industry and was potentially heading for Public Inquiry when a suprise announcement was made this year that the aviation issues had been
resolved. The details have not yet been made public.
STORNOWAY WINDFARM - CONSENTED
The Scottish Government has anounced that it has consented the Stornoway Windfarm - 7 September 2012.
Following the removal of 6 turbines along the boundary of the SPA, both RSPB and SNH withdrew their objections. However this was contingent on the Pairc windfarm being excluded from the cumulative impact assessment to prevent unacceptable impacts.
Previously LWP submitted an application to build a 42 turbine windfarm south of Stornoway, to the west of the Lochs Road. A non-technical summary can be downloaded from their website:
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar considered the application prior to the 2012 election. |
22 December 2012
SSE urged to meet ministers over cable
21 December 2012
Affordability question over Lewis sub-sea cable
Wave farm plans are axed
20 December 2012
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission: Projects Review
19 December 2012
Pairc Estate loses first court action land reform row
11 December 2012
First Pentland Moor wind turbine is erected
Interconnector delay will affect Pentland Moor windfarm
10 December 2012
Reaffirmed backing for commercial wave farm
29 November 2012
Allan quizzes UK government over sub-sea cable study
24 November 2012
Tolsta windfarm plans
20 November 2012
AMSC’s STATCOM Systems Selected to Strengthen Power Grid in the U.K.
17 November 2012
Energy Minister vows to push vital connection for ‘jewel in Scotland’s energy crown’
UPDATED at 5 November 2012
STORNOWAY WINDFARM - CONSENT
The Scottish Government has anounced that it has consented the Stornoway Windfarm - 7 September 2012.
Following the removal of 6 turbines along the boundary of the SPA, both RSPB and SNH withdrew their objections. However this was contingent on the Pairc windfarm being excluded from the cumulative impact assessment to prevent unacceptable impacts.
Previously LWP submitted an application to build a 42 turbine windfarm south of Stornoway, to the west of the Lochs Road. A non-technical summary can be downloaded from their website:
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar considered the application prior to the 2012 election.
PAIRC WINDFARM, PAIRC ESTATE - Correction
Previously (August 8th 2012) we reported that Scottish and Southern Energy have withdrawn their planning application for a windfarm on Pairc Estate. This is not correct and we would like to apologise for any confusion caused. Rather Scottish and Southern indicated that it is nolonger interested in developing the project due to environmental constraints, stating:
We still believe that there is potential to develop a wind farm with fewer turbines on the Pairc Estate. We are exploring opportunities to transfer interests to another developer.
However the application is still listed on the Scottish Government website as a live application by SSE PLC for a 250MW windfarm. And most recently (7 September 2012) in the documentation issued by the Scottish Government in connection with the Stornoway Windfarm consent, the Scottish Government has written:
"The Pairc application is on hold pending information from the applicant (Scottish and Southern Energy) on whether it wishes to proceed with the application..."
And it is apparent that the Stornoway Windfarm consent has been contingent on excluding the estimated impacts of Pairc Windfarm:
"...However, if Pairc wind farm were to be included in the cumulative assessment it could not be ascertained that the combined effect of both Stornoway and Pairc would not adversely affect the integrity of the Lewis Peatlands SPA. Pairc wind farm contributes nearly 50% of the total predicted collision mortality of Golden eagle as indicated in the table above.
Should Pairc proceed to determination, this will require a new Appropriate Assessment and cumulative collision mortality assessment from all proposed and consented wind farms in the Western Isles Natural Heritage Zone (NHZ) including both Stornoway and Pairc."
Both Stornoway Wind Power and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar previously lobbied for the Pairc SSE application to be disregarded in future considerations of the cumulative impacts of windfarm projects on Lewis and Harris.
A previous application by SSE PLC to build a 205MW windfarm on Pairc Estate, Isle of Lewis, was put before Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in 2007. It was decided to recommend that the Scottish Ministers approve only 26 of turbines. Scottish and Southern Energy submitted an ammended application to build a 26 turbine (94 MW) windfarm on Pairc Estate in Feb 2009. This application was recommended for approval by the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar planning committee on 21 April 2009.
Druim Leathann Windfarm - NEW PROPOSAL
2020 Renewables Ltd have submitted a Scoping Report for installation of up to 14 turbines of 3 MWs capacity to the east of Tolsta. A map of the developmnet can be found on the Druim Leathann page in the left menu.
SSE Subsea-cable - NEW 3/11/2012
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission have made the following announcment:
"Following an assurance on the programme for development of large generation schemes in March this year, SHE Transmission advanced detailed contractual negotiation with the preferred supplier of the HVDC Link. The first stage of this negotiation concluded in late summer and it became clear that the cost and delivery programme agreed in October 2010 would be substantially altered. The total cost of the HVDC Link (excluding associated infrastructure on Lewis) is now estimated to be no less than £700 million. The current programme estimates a delay in the planned completion date of October 2015 for the HVDC Link of at least 12 months with a real potential it could be later. Further negotiations with the supplier are ongoing."
The full statement can be downloaded at the following address:
2012 - It has been annonced the the company who has bought the rights to the Muaitheabhal windfarm, International Power part of French global company GDF-Suez, will initially underwrite the costs of the interconnector. Previously SSE said its national grid operator subsiduary SHETL has:
"concluded that the lack of financial underwriting from electricity generators (attributed to the level of transmission charges) relating to the link from the Western Isles to the mainland meant it would not be able to conclude a contract for the supply of the necessary electricity cable. As a result, it withdrew its request to Ofgem for authorisation to make the investment. It will, however, prepare a new request for authorisation to invest in the link as soon as these issues are resolved. In practice, this is likely to take at least one year.”
MUAITHEABHAL WINDFARM South Extension - NEW: (Previous applications consented 8 December 2011)
In May 2012 it was revealed that Eishken Estate owner Nicholas Oppenheim investigating a further extension to the windfarm on the Eishken estate under the name Uisinis Power. This time to the south and east of Loch Sealg with current documentation discussing up to 30 turbines. He previoulsy announced that he had been successful in selling the rights to the previously consented Muaitheabhal Windfarm and Muaitheabhal East Extension to International Power part of French global company GDF-Suez.
28th December 2010: The Scottish Government issued a press release announcing that it had approved the 6 turbine, 21MW extension to the Muaitheabhal Windfarm (118MW, 33 turbines see below). The proposed extension turbines will be 150m high to blade tip, some of the largest onshore turbines proposed in the UK.
The link to the site map also links to the decision notice but a a map showing the proposed layout from the application is on the Mauaitheabhal page (menu left).
14 January 2010: The Scottish Government announced that it had given planing consent for 33 turbines to be built on the Eishken Estate. These are the turbines that were proposed in the last application by Beinn Mor and Crionaig Power in August.
BEINN MHOLACH A.K.A Pentland Road Windfarm - under construction
Pentland Road Windfarm is now under construction.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar approved this, the first windfarm on the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area. The 6 turbine project was first aproved in 2003 amidst great controversy when Scottish Natural Heritage withdrew their objection, following a one day inspection by SNH officers, which they claimed allowed them to conclude that the windfarm would not impact on the interests of the SPA. This was following a catalogue of complaints after the developers had already manifestly failed to conform to SNH's own guidelines for Environmentalk Impact Assesments, compalints which neither SNH or the plannning authorities upheld. The application was then called in following objections from the aviation industry and was potentially heading for Public Inquiry when a suprise announcement was made this year that the aviation issues had been
resolved. The details have not yet been made public.
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5 November 2012
Western Isles subsea cable costs rise to £700m
£700 million energy cable price tag “requires clarification”
Delayed sub-sea cable will hit community benefit
Pentland Road windfarm construction continues
4 November 2012
Allan expresses anger at interconnector delay
Sub-sea cable cost hits green project
1 November 2012
Delayed sub-sea cable setback for wind farm plans
16 October 2012
First community turbine is ready to turn
16 October 2012
Breaking ground for £230 Eishken wind farm construction
Turf cutting ceremony for Muaitheabhal Windfarm
14 October 2012
Horshader project nominated for awards
4 October 2012
MSP presses MOD over Uist wind turbines
4 October 2012
American giant behind latest large windfarm plan
UPDATED at 7 September 2012
STORNOWAY WINDFARM - CONSENT
The Scottish Government has anounced that it has consented the Stornoway Windfarm - 7 September 2012.
Following the removal of 6 turbines along the boundary of the SPA, both RSPB and SNH withdrew their objections. However this was contingent on the Pairc windfarm being excluded from the cumulative impact assessment to prevent unacceptable impacts.
Previously LWP submitted an application to build a 42 turbine windfarm south of Stornoway, to the west of the Lochs Road. A non-technical summary can be downloaded from their website:
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar considered the application prior to the 2012 election -
PAIRC WINDFARM, PAIRC ESTATE - Correction
Previously (August 8th 2012) we reported that Scottish and Southern Energy have withdrawn their planning application for a windfarm on Pairc Estate. This is not correct and we would like to apologise for any confusion caused. Rather Scottish and Southern indicated that it is nolonger interested in developing the project due to environmental constraints, stating:
We still believe that there is potential to develop a wind farm with fewer turbines on the Pairc Estate. We are exploring opportunities to transfer interests to another developer.
However the application is still listed on the Scottish Government website as a live application by SSE PLC for a 250MW windfarm.
And most recently (7 September 2012) in the documentation issued by the Scottish Government in connection with the Stornoway Windfarm consent, the Scottish Government has written:
"The Pairc application is on hold pending information from the applicant (Scottish and Southern Energy) on whether it wishes to proceed with the application..."
And it is apparent that the Stornoway Windfarm consent has been contingent on excluding the estimated impacts of Pairc Windfarm:
"...However, if Pairc wind farm were to be included in the cumulative assessment it could not be ascertained that the combined effect of both Stornoway and Pairc would not adversely affect the integrity of the Lewis Peatlands SPA. Pairc wind farm contributes nearly 50% of the total predicted collision mortality of Golden eagle as indicated in the table above.
Should Pairc proceed to determination, this will require a new Appropriate Assessment and cumulative collision mortality assessment from all proposed and consented wind farms in the Western Isles Natural Heritage Zone (NHZ) including both Stornoway and Pairc."
Both Stornoway Wind Power and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar previously lobbied for the Pairc SSE application to be disregarded in future considerations of the cumulative impacts of windfarm projects on Lewis and Harris.
A previous application by SSE PLC to build a 205MW windfarm on Pairc Estate, Isle of Lewis, was put before Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in 2007. It was decided to recommend that the Scottish Ministers approve only 26 of turbines. Scottish and Southern Energy submitted an ammended application to build a 26 turbine (94 MW) windfarm on Pairc Estate in Feb 2009. This application was recommended for approval by the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar planning committee on 21 April 2009.
Druim Leathann Windfarm - NEW
2020 Renewables Ltd have submitted a Scoping Report for installation of up to 14 turbines of 3 MWs capacity to the east of Tolsta.
SSE Subsea-cable - TB Updated
It has been annonced the the company who has bought the rights to the Muaitheabhal windfarm, International Power part of French global company GDF-Suez, will initially underwrite the costs of the interconnector. Previously SSE said its national grid operator subsiduary SHETL has:
"concluded that the lack of financial underwriting from electricity generators (attributed to the level of transmission charges) relating to the link from the Western Isles to the mainland meant it would not be able to conclude a contract for the supply of the necessary electricity cable. As a result, it withdrew its request to Ofgem for authorisation to make the investment. It will, however, prepare a new request for authorisation to invest in the link as soon as these issues are resolved. In practice, this is likely to take at least one year.”
MUAITHEABHAL WINDFARM South Extension - NEW: (Previous applications consented 8 December 2011)
In May 2012 it was revealed that Eishken Estate owner Nicholas Oppenheim investigating a further extension to the windfarm on the Eishken estate under the name Uisinis Power. This time to the south and east of Loch Sealg with current documentation discussing up to 30 turbines. He previoulsy announced that he had been successful in selling the rights to the previously consented Muaitheabhal Windfarm and Muaitheabhal East Extension to International Power part of French global company GDF-Suez.
28th December 2010: The Scottish Government issued a press release announcing that it had approved the 6 turbine, 21MW extension to the Muaitheabhal Windfarm (118MW, 33 turbines see below). The proposed extension turbines will be 150m high to blade tip, some of the largest onshore turbines proposed in the UK.
The decision notice can be downloaded from the government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/917/0123862.pdf
The link to the site map also links to the decision notice but a a map showing the proposed layout from the application is on the Mauaitheabhal page (menu left).
14 January 2010: The Scottish Government announced that it had given planing consent for 33 turbines to be built on the Eishken Estate. These are the turbines that were proposed in the last application by Beinn Mor and Crionaig Power in August.
BEINN MHOLACH A.K.A Pentland Road Windfarm - under construction
Pentland Road Windfarm is now under construction.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar approved this, the first windfarm on the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area. The 6 turbine project was first aproved in 2003 amidst great controversy when Scottish Natural Heritage withdrew their objection, following a one day inspection by SNH officers, which they claimed allowed them to conclude that the windfarm would not impact on the interests of the SPA. This was following a catalogue of complaints after the developers had already manifestly failed to conform to SNH's own guidelines for Environmentalk Impact Assesments, compalints which neither SNH or the plannning authorities upheld. The application was then called in following objections from the aviation industry and was potentially heading for Public Inquiry when a suprise announcement was made this year that the aviation issues had been
resolved. The details have not yet been made public.
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7 September 2012
Stornoway Wind Farm given go-ahead by Scottish ministers
Wind turbines at islands approved
Western Isles wind farm to bring £40m to economy and create 75 new jobs
Scotland says yes to EDF's 130MW Isle of Lewis wind farm
Welcome For Stornoway Wind Farm Consent
Giant windfarm for Stornoway gets go-ahead
Island wind farm set to power more than 60,000 homes approved
Stornoway Wind Farm: Lewis turbines given green light
Stornoway wind farm granted approval after number of turbines reduced
8 August 2012
Controversial wind farm plans dropped by developer after ten years
SSE Renewables withdraws from Pairc Wind Farm
RSPB Scotland welcomes decision by SSE to drop Pairc windfarm
Island of Lewis wind turbine plan scrapped
Power firm pulls out of Western Isles wind farm plan
21 June 2012
Stornoway Wind Farm: RSPB Scotland and SNH withdraw objections
Windfarm objections lifted
Objections dropped against Stornoway windfarm
13 June 2012
Realising the Potential of Hebridean Renewables
The Muaitheabhal Community Windfarm Trust
UPDATED at 15 June 2012
STORNOWAY WINDFARM - TB Updated
LWP have submitted an application to build a 42 turbine windfarm south of Stornoway, to the west of the Lochs Road. A non-technical summary can be downloaded from their website:
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar considered the application prior to the 2012 election -
SSE Subsea-cable - TB Updated
Previously SSE said its national grid operator subsiduary SHETL has:
"concluded that the lack of financial underwriting from electricity generators (attributed to the level of transmission charges) relating to the link from the Western Isles to the mainland meant it would not be able to conclude a contract for the supply of the necessary electricity cable. As a result, it withdrew its request to Ofgem for authorisation to make the investment. It will, however, prepare a new request for authorisation to invest in the link as soon as these issues are resolved. In practice, this is likely to take at least one year.”
NEW: MUAITHEABHAL WINDFARM South Extension ? - Previous applications CONSENTED December 8 2011
In May 2012 it was revealed that Eishken Estate owner Nicholas Oppenheim investigating a further extension to the windfarm on the Eishken estate under the name Uisinis Power. This time to the south and east of Loch Sealg with current documentation discussing up to 30 turbines. He previoulsy announced that he had been successful in selling the rights to the previously consented Muaitheabhal Windfarm and Muaitheabhal East Extension to International Power part of French global company GDF-Suez.
28th December 2010: The Scottish Government issued a press release announcing that it had approved the 6 turbine, 21MW extension to the Muaitheabhal Windfarm (118MW, 33 turbines see below). The proposed extension turbines will be 150m high to blade tip, some of the largest onshore turbines proposed in the UK.
The link to the site map also links to the decision notice but a a map showing the proposed layout from the application is on the Mauaitheabhal page (menu left).
14 January 2010: The Scottish Government announced that it had given planing consent for 33 turbines to be built on the Eishken Estate. These are the turbines that were proposed in the last application by Beinn Mor and Crionaig Power in August.
NEW: BEINN MHOLACH A.K.A Pentland Road Windfarm - under construction
Pentland Road Windfarm is now under construction.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar approved this, the first windfarm on the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area. The 6 turbine project was first aproved in 2003 amidst great controversy when Scottish Natural Heritage withdrew their objection, following a one day inspection by SNH officers, which they claimed allowed them to conclude that the windfarm would not impact on the interests of the SPA. This was following a catalogue of complaints after the developers had already manifestly failed to conform to SNH's own guidelines for Environmentalk Impact Assesments, compalints which neither SNH or the plannning authorities upheld. The application was then called in following objections from the aviation industry and was potentially heading for Public Inquiry when a suprise announcement was made this year that the aviation issues had been
resolved. The details have not yet been made public.
PAIRC WINDFARM, PAIRC ESTATE
Both Stornoway Wind Power and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are now lobbying for the Pairc SSE application to be disregarded in future considerations of the cumulative impacts of windfarm projects on Lewis and Harris.
Documentation released with the Beauly Denny line consent listed Pairc Windfarm as a 'suspended' project, while media reports have suggested that SSE may be concentrating their efforts on off-shore projects. Scottish and Southern Energy submitted an ammended application to build a 26 turbine (94 MW) windfarm on Pairc Estate in Feb 2009. This application was recommended for approval by the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar planning committee on 21 April 2009. A previous application by SSE PLC to build a 205MW windfarm on Pairc Estate, Isle of Lewis, was put before Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in 2007. It was decided to recommend that the Scottish Ministers approve only 26 of turbines.
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13 June 2012
Realising the Potential of Hebridean Renewables
The Muaitheabhal Community Windfarm Trust
5 June 2012
Consultation for community windfarm
29 May 2012
'Bird sanctuary' warning over opposition to Lewis wind farm
28 May 2012
Arnish-made wave machine wins award
Resolution in sight for blocked community windfarm
27 May 2012
Wind farm threat to eagles
25 May 2012
Fears plans to double size of windfarm would put golden eagles at risk
We advise Pentland Road wind farm on £27million funding deal
24 May 2012
Fears planned turbines could pose problems for golden eagle population(Film)
Lewis wind farm plans threaten golden eagles, RSPB says
RSPB ‘seriously alarmed’ by Eisgein wind farm plan
RSPB ‘seriously alarmed’ by Eisgein wind farm plan
23 May 2012
RSPB “seriously alarmed” about wind farm extension’s impact on golden eagles
Plans for new giant £180 million windfarm
Islands' wind farm to generate £20m
Lull in orders forces Arnish redundancies
9 May 2012
Massive penalty to export Hebridean electricity
9 May 2012
The Co-operative Bank finances UK's largest community-owned wind farm
8 May 2012
Transmission charging debate puts spotlight on Ofgem
Solution needed to unlock islands’ green energy potential
3 May 2012
Go-ahead for £27 million island windfarm
Wind money pays for pavements for Lochs villages
Community body up against French government connection
Co-op cash for Pentland wind farm
30 April 2012
Help for community renewables
11 April 2012
Pinsent Masons advises International Power on Western Isles wind farm development
April 3 2012
Boost for island energy bid
April 2 2012
Eishken windfarm sold to French-owned giant
New owner for Lewis wind farm site
Step forward for Western Isles' biggest planned wind farm
International Power Secures Rights for Isle of Lewis Wind Farm
March 21 2012
Construction of Loch Carnan Community Windfarm starts
March 8 2012
Stornoway Wind Farm developer welcomes unequivocal endorsement from Comhairle
March 3 2012
Giant Stornoway windfarm wins council approval
March 2 2012
Loch Carnan Community Windfarm
March 1 2012
Storas Uibhist launches largest community owned windfarm in Scotland
February 14 2012
Stornoway Trust call for end of windfarm lease row
Point wind farm delay row
February 10 2012
Cheaper power to the people
January 16 2012
Pentland Road wind farm to start in Spring
January 8 2012
Scottish Government accused of undemocratic windfarm approval
January 7 2012
Scottish Government accused of undemocratic windfarm approval
Lewis windfarm extension could harm eagles, says RSPB
December 31 2011
Anger after four out of five major wind farms approved by ministers
UPDATE to December 28 2011
Lewis Wind Power
LWP have submitted an application to build a 42 turbine windfarm south of Stornoway, to the west of the Lochs Road. A non-technical summary can be downloaded from their website:
SSE Subsea-cable 11/11/10
SSE said its national grid operator subsiduary SHETL has:
"concluded that the lack of financial underwriting from electricity generators (attributed to the level of transmission charges) relating to the link from the Western Isles to the mainland meant it would not be able to conclude a contract for the supply of the necessary electricity cable. As a result, it withdrew its request to Ofgem for authorisation to make the investment. It will, however, prepare a new request for authorisation to invest in the link as soon as these issues are resolved. In practice, this is likely to take at least one year.”
NEW: Muaitheabhal Windfarm East Extension - CONSENTED December 8 2011
28th December 2010: The Scottish Government has issued a press release announcing that it has approved the 6 turbine, 21MW extension to the Muaitheabhal Windfarm (118MW, 33 turbines see below). The proposed extension turbines will be 150m high to blade tip, some of the largest onshore turbines proposed in the UK.
The decision notice can be downladed from the government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/917/0123862.pdf
The link to the site map also links to the decision notice but a a map showing the proposed layout from the application is on the Mauaitheabhal page (menu left).
14 January 2010: The Scottish Government announced that it had given planing consent for 33 turbines to be built on the Eishken Estate. These are the turbines that were proposed in the last application by Beinn Mor and Crionaig Power in August.
Beinn Mhor A.K.A Pentland Road Windfarm
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have approved the first windfarm on the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area. The 6 turbine project was first aproved in 2003 amidst great controversy when Scottish Natural Heritage withdrew their objection, following a one day inspection by SNH officers, which they claimed allowed them to conclude that the windfarm would not impact on the interests of the SPA. This was following a catalogue of complaints after the developers had already manifestly failed to conform to SNH's own guidelines for Environmentalk Impact Assesments, compalints which neither SNH or the plannning authorities upheld. The application was then called in following objections from the aviation industry and was potentially heading for Public Inquiry when a suprise announcement was made this year that the aviation issues had been
resolved. The details have not yet been made public.
PAIRC WINDFARM, PAIRC ESTATE
Both Lewis Wind Power and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are now lobbying for the Pairc SSE application to be disregarded in future considerations of the cumulative impacts of windfarm projects on Lewis and Harris.
Documentation released with the Beauly Denny line consent listed Pairc Windfarm as a 'suspended' project, while media reports have suggested that SSE may be concentrating their efforts on off-shore projects. Scottish and Southern Energy submitted an ammended application to build a 26 turbine (94 MW) windfarm on Pairc Estate in Feb 2009. This application was recommended for approval by the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar planning committee on 21 April 2009. A previous application by SSE PLC to build a 205MW windfarm on Pairc Estate, Isle of Lewis, was put before Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in 2007. It was decided to recommend that the Scottish Ministers approve only 26 of turbines.
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