OREANDA-NEWS. SSE Renewables, the renewable energy development division of SSE, has submitted a proposal to the Scottish Government for Fairburn extension wind farm, located to the south of Loch Achonachie in Strathconon, Ross-shire.

If consented, the development will host 12 turbines with a total generating capacity of up to 36MW. This represents a significant reduction in the size of the wind farm, which was designed to host 35 turbines prior to consultation.

The extension will be adjacent to the operational 20-turbine 40MW Fairburn wind farm, opened in 2010. The development has been carefully designed to minimise impacts on local communities, sensitive landscape areas and to be in keeping with the existing wind farm, of which it will share a significant amount of energy infrastructure and access roads.

If the application is successful, it is expected that the construction and operation of the wind farm would bring investment of over GBP 25 million to the local area and overGBP 40 million to the wider region. It is also estimated the wind farm will create over 187 job years in the Highland region. 

Around 90 members of the local community attended public exhibitions in Contin, Kilmorack, Marybank, Muir of Ord, Strathconon and Strathpeffer during June to learn more about the proposal. Of those that completed a short feedback survey, over two-thirds registered their support for the scheme.

SSE's Head of Onshore Development, Neil Lannen, said: “Fairburn extension wind farm is a well-sited project that has the broad support of the local community. If consented, it will deliver real social and economic benefits to the local area and will make a significant contribution to the country's renewable energy targets.”

“Since the proposal was first outlined early last year, we've conducted a positive consultation with stakeholders and local residents that has influenced the final design of the wind farm. Both the size of the scheme and the height of the turbines have been reduced, minimising the visual and landscape impact of the project.”

“If consented, the wind farm will provide GBP 4.5m of support to community projects in its lifetime, managed by a panel-based community investment fund. Opportunities for local business will also be encouraged through key initiatives such as our Open4business procurement channel and our partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands.”