UK largest onshore wind farm planned
The UK-based wind projects developer, Community Windpower (CWP), has proposed to build a 560 MW wind project in south-west Scotland near the border with England. If approved it could become UK´s largest wind project.
The project involves the development of a 560 MW Scoop Hill wind farm, which, if built will be located on commercial forestry near a motorway in Dumfries and Galloway in south-west Scotland, UK. The facility would consist of around 80 wind turbines with a power rating of 5-7 MW and tip-heights of 200-240 metres. The site could also feature energy storage units and solar photovoltaic facilities. The developer has explained that it is necessary to use turbines with larger tip heights and power ratings to maximise output and create economies of scale to drive down costs after the UK government has withdrawn its support for onshore wind.
CWL is currently conducting preliminary assessments and public consultations in the nearby community for the potential effects of the project. It will then carry out another consultation and further review of the project, before submitting an environmental impact assessment and later a full planning application. CWL is currently consulting with wildlife groups and heritage societies, the initial discussion with the Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds and Scottish Natural Heritage was held already in 2017. CWL stated that the application will be lodged only after "extensive dialogue and consultation with local community and stakeholders". Scottish ministers would need to determine the project’s planning application because the generating capacity of the proposed farm is more than 50MW.
CWL has not yet set a potential commissioning date and has not disclosed how the project would be financed.
A next-generation wind farm, Scoop Hill would make substantial contributions to reducing Scotland’s carbon footprint equivalent to 44 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the 40-year operational life of the scheme.
Scoop Hill Community Wind Farm will provide a strategic contribution to climate change targets, create hundreds of civil, electrical and engineering jobs in Scotland and contribute GBP 1 billion (USD 1.26 million) to the Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish economy over its operational life.
At the moment CWL´s operational wind power portfolio consists of seven projects in Scotland with a total capacity of 221.25 MW.
Country news
-
-
June 06, 2019
World´s largest offshore wind farm starts operations
On June 2, Danish energy group Ørsted announced that it has officially commenced operations on 1,218 MW Hornsea One, the largest offshore wind farm in the world.
Read more -
May 23, 2019
Innogy’s offshore wind farm´s capacity increases to 1.4 GW
Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, the largest project in innogy’s development portfolio, has been granted approval to increase its maximum installed capacity by 200 megawatts from 1200 MW to 1400 MW.
Read more -
May 16, 2019
Construction of Scotland´s largest offshore wind farm completed
The last of 84 offshore wind turbines was commissioned on May 15 at Beatrice, Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, which has been completed on time and under budget after three years of construction.
Read more -
May 06, 2019
Five bidders shortlisted for the 2.5 GW offshore wind links in the UK
Five bidders have been shortlisted by the UK's Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) to own and operate the transmission links for three offshore wind farms, with 2.5 GW of capacity, worth GBP2.7 billion (US$3.5 billion) in the biggest tender round to date.
The three links being tendered are to connect the Beatrice (588 MW), Hornsea One (1.2 GW) and East Anglia One (714 MW) wind farms.
Read more -
April 29, 2019
Triton Knoll signs a new port lease for 857 MW offshore wind project
Grimsby’s Royal Dock has been confirmed as the home for Triton Knoll’s offshore construction and operations and maintenance facility after the project signed an eagerly awaited port lease with ABP in Grimsby.
Read more
