Chamber News
Developer consults on Dorenell wind farm extension
3 June 2024 • Sarah Medcraf
The company will be consulting on proposals for a wind farm with up to 74 turbines, a battery energy storage scheme, and restoration of an area of degraded peatland.
With an estimated 533MW of generation capacity, the wind farm would generate the equivalent of the annual demand of some 575,000 homes and support a community benefit fund of £2.7m to be invested in the local community each year – more than £100m over the lifetime of the wind farm.
The initial plans for the biodiversity enhancement plan would see restoration and enhancement of 870 hectares of damaged peatland, resulting in the blocking of 140km of ‘moor drain’.
Analysis of the proposals by independent economic consultants suggests that the wind farm construction alone would contribute around £85m to the Moray economy.
Jason Morin, senior project manager at Galileo, said: “The project would make an important contribution to Scotland’s 2045 net zero climate change emissions target, with the wind farm expected to displace some 690,000 tonnes of CO2 per year by reducing the use of gas-fired power generation – equivalent to taking 400,000 cars off the road.
“It would also promote greater energy security, with the wind farm generating the equivalent of the annual power needs of 575,000 homes and the battery storage system providing much-needed flexibility to the local and national electricity grid.
“In addition, we are planning to restore a huge area of damaged and degraded peatland, which would have significant benefits for biodiversity and also result in further carbon savings.”
Morin added: “The project would support a community wealth fund of more than £100m over its 40-year lifespan, which would be the biggest fund of its kind anywhere in the UK.
“We want to dedicate a significant part of this to provide free electricity to the households closest to the project, but we hope the scale of funding could also be transformational for community initiatives covering things like training, affordable housing and energy efficiency improvements for local homeowners.
“Analysis of our plans suggest that construction of the wind farm would create 1,200 ‘job years’ in the Moray Council area alone, with 50 ongoing full-time equivalent roles during operations across the council area.”
The consultation events will be held on 28 May at Glenbuchat Hall, 29 May at The Cabrach and Glenfiddich Estates and 30 May at Mortlach Memorial Hall.
The feedback will inform further design work on all aspects of the project, with another round of consultation on final proposals expected later this year, ahead of an application for consent being submitted to the Scottish Government in early 2025.
By Peter A Walker Content Editor