New wind farm application recalls Allt Duine controversy in Badenoch
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Nine years after the Scottish Government rejected the controversial Allt Duine wind farm by Kincraig, a new application to develop a site west of the village has been published.
Ampyr Energy and ESB Asset Development UK, in partnership with four Highland estates are 'currently investigating the potential their land offers to help deliver net-zero for Scotland through renewable energy generation'.
The wind farm would comprise up to 24 turbines to a maximum height of 230m - nearly 755ft - and battery storage to help balance the energy on the grid with a total generating capacity in excess of 150 MW.
Access is proposed directly from the A9 into the site using existing tracks where possible.
While the Allt Duine Wind Farm was sited on land owned by three of the four estates – Alvie, Dunachton and Balavil – the current proposal is 'a wholly different siting, and addresses directly the concerns cited in the previous planning inquiry'.
The estates involved in the latest plan are Alvie and Dalraddy, Dunachton and Dalmigavie on the Strathdearn side of the proposed development.
Controversy raged for years over the proposals at Allt Duine after it was first aired by RWE Npower Renewables in 2011.
Although Highland Council planners had referred to the area as a 'preferred' site, councillors rejected the 31-turbine application which led to a public enquiry at Aviemore in October 2012.
Complications over the paperwork and a serious road accident which injured the council's own solicitor held up the final submissions to the Reporter.
By the time ministers were able to consider all the evidence the view of the local community council had changed with the watchdog organising its own referendum to establish just what the local people felt about the Allt Duine plan.
It produced an overwhelming 'No' and in February 2015 Holyrood came to the same conclusion leading to the plan being scrapped.
A spokesperson for the new applicants told the Strathy: "Whilst the former, Allt Duine Wind Farm was sited on land owned by three of the four estates, the current proposal is a wholly different siting, and addresses directly the concerns cited in the previous planning inquiry, in particular in relation to proximity to the Cairngorms National Park.
"The turbine area is located on a different estate and is approximately four kilometres from the park boundary – over three kilometres further away than the Allt Duine proposal.
"The initial turbine layout is a compact and coherent group of turbines when seen from key views on important hill summits in the Monadhliath mountains and the national park.
"Varying turbine heights will be chosen to fit with the undulating terrain and match the scale of the landscape.
"A reduced aviation lighting scheme will also be developed to help minimise night-time effects on the Monadhliath Wild Land Area.
"In addition, the project will deliver significant economic benefits through local supply chain involvement as well as a community benefit fund which could see in excess of £20m being invested locally over the lifetime of the development.
"The local community will play a key role in helping shape the development of this project with a first round of consultation events planned for later next month."
Initial discussions have been held with Highland Council planners, among other statutory consultees, and will continue throughout the planning process.
The applicants said a request for an EIA Scoping Opinion has now been submitted to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit and added that more information about the project will be made available to the general public in the coming months.
More details on Highland Wind Farm
'Significant contribution to Net Zero'
Scotland has more ambitious renewable energy targets in place to address the climate emergency since the Allt Duine refusal.
The applicant's spokeswoman said: "This project will significantly contribute towards Scotland’s target of 100 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045 and an onshore wind capacity target of at least 20GW by 2030, an increase of over 11GW on current installed onshore wind capacity.
"The Highland Wind Farm project has the potential to improve biodiversity locally by strengthening and expanding on existing habitat corridors, improving connectivity, restoring peatland and enhancing upland plant communities while at the same time generating in excess of 150MW of green power through wind and battery energy technologies.
"A detailed programme of habitat and recreational access enhancements will be developed in line with the environmental studies currently being carried out, along with the strategic plans of the estates involved."
ESB is Ireland’s part state-owned electricity utility company and provides power to over 1.5m customers including businesses and households across the UK.
ESB has offices in Glasgow and is also heavily involved in electric vehicle infrastructure and renewable heating systems.
AMPYR Energy invests, develops, operates and manages renewable energy assets and provides financing, supply and risk-management strategies for power users.
