A company hoping to build a windfarm in hills above a famous Argyll loch has scaled back the number of turbines following local concern.
EDF Energy Renewables’ original plan was for 25 turbines with a total capacity of 95MW.
Now the revised proposal for the site, known as Cruach Brenfield next to Loch Fyne, is for 18 with a maximum total capacity of 59.4MW.
The windfarm proposal was reduced in scale following consultation with the local community last year.
There is already a 12-turbine windfarm named Allt Dearg, on the same hillside, operated by a different company. Locals felt the new one, if it had 25 turbines, would just be “too much”.
EDF Energy Renewables held a fresh round of public exhibitions this year to present the revised proposal.
Under the changes, the wind farm would be capable of producing enough clean energy for the local grid to supply the annual requirements of up to 31,700 homes and would lead to savings of up to 58,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year of operation.
Darren Cuming, onshore wind development manager at EDF Energy Renewables, said: “After presenting our initial design at the first set of exhibitions last year, we listened to local opinion and also statutory consultees and took their views on board. We have now submitted a revised proposal with fewer turbines which we feel is the right scale of project for the site.
“This really shows the role that consultation plays in developing projects like these and the importance we place on the views of the local community. We would like to thank everyone who came along to the recent exhibitions and would encourage the local community to continue to engage with us regarding the wind farm proposal.”
If approved, a dedicated community fund equivalent to £5000 per MW would be set-up once the wind farm is operational, to support a range of local activities and community projects. In addition EDF Energy Renewables is looking at ways the community itself could also invest in the project.
As the proposal exceeds 50MW, any planning application would be required to be determined by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents and Deployment Unit (ECDU) which will hold its own consultation. Copies of the planning application will be available for public viewing and any comments will be taken into account by the Consents Unit when the application is submitted.