SCOTTISH ministers have granted section 36 planning consent for the build of SSE Renewables’ Cloiche onshore wind farm.
The 29-turbine wind farm will be located on the Glendoe and Garrogie Estates, adjacent to the operational Stronelairg wind farm and Glendoe hydroelectric scheme – approximately 11km to the south east of Fort Augustus.
SSE Renewables said the Cloiche wind farm will have an installed generation capacity of up to 125MW, which is enough renewable energy to typically power over 150,000 homes annually and offset over 190,000 tonnes of carbon per annum. In addition to supporting the generation of homegrown green energy to address the climate emergency, the delivery of Cloiche wind farm will also bring a significant environmental net gain, it added.
The wind farm site is situated in an area of peatland affected by ‘extreme’ erosion, resulting in the ongoing emission of stored carbon dioxide. In parallel with development of the wind farm, SSE Renewables plans to undertake long-term restoration of areas of degraded peatland.
SSE Renewables will now focus on progressing the project through the final stages of development in preparation for a potential construction start in 2026. Final delivery of the wind farm will be subject to the project securing a route to market, and a final investment decision.
Heather Donald, director of onshore development and construction at SSE Renewables, said, “We welcome the decision made by the Scottish Government to grant consent for Cloiche wind farm. Onshore wind projects like Cloiche are critical to delivering the net zero transition, and have an essential role to play in decarbonising the UK’s energy supply.
“We have worked closely with the local community, listening carefully to people’s views, to ensure that we are considering local needs and priorities wherever possible. We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their feedback throughout the development of Cloiche wind farm. It has been central in helping us develop our proposals.
“As well as delivering significant environmental benefits, Cloiche wind farm is also expected to deliver an economic dividend to the Highlands, in the same way that other significant renewables projects in the Great Glen have brought hundreds of millions of pounds in socio-economic benefit to the region. We look forward to Cloiche Wind Farm bringing the same level of long-term economic benefits to businesses and communities across the Great Glen and the wider Highland region, while delivering the homegrown green energy we need and supporting our transition to net zero.”
