Low Carbon is proposing a new wind farm development, known as High Brenfield Wind Farm, located on land approximately 2km south-west of Ardrishaig, near Lochgilphead and entirely within the Argyll & Bute Local Authority area.
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Low Carbon is proposing a new wind farm development, known as High Brenfield Wind Farm, located on land approximately 2km south-west of Ardrishaig, near Lochgilphead and entirely within the Argyll & Bute Local Authority area.
The Proposed Development site is free from national designation and currently operates as a commercial forestry plantation of predominantly non-native species.
The recently constructed Inverary to Crossaig 275 kV overhead electricity transmission line crosses the eastern part of the development site from north to south.
The Proposed Development will have a maximum generating capacity of greater than 50 megawatts (MW).
A Scoping submission to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit seeking consultees opinions on the scope of environmental assessments was made in November 2023.
View the Scoping submission and the Energy Consents Unit’s Scoping Opinion here:
The Proposed Development is expected to comprise up to 15 stand-alone, three bladed horizontal axis wind turbines. The number and location of the turbines is yet to be finalised and will be subject to an ongoing iterative design process as baseline survey data is gathered.
The Proposed Development will also include habitat restoration and enhancement measures which will be further defined during the EIA process.
Any predicted environmental effects arising from the Proposed Development will be mitigated as far as reasonably possible. Where necessary, additional specific mitigation measures will be committed to further reduce adverse effects during the construction, operational and decommissioning phases of the development.
Low Carbon champions biodiversity as a critical milestone on the journey towards a low-carbon future and is committed to including within the Proposed Development a comprehensive land and biodiversity management programme, aligned to the unique conditions and circumstances of the site.
Across our portfolio of renewable energy projects, we have championed biodiversity as a critical milestone on the journey towards a low-carbon future.
Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of electricity in the UK. Cheaper to produce than gas, nuclear, coal and other renewables. Wind resource is plentiful in Scotland and can be utilised to provide security of supply and add to the renewable energy generation mix.
Across our portfolio of renewable energy projects, we have championed biodiversity as a critical milestone on the journey towards a low-carbon future.
Where appropriate, we will look to enhance the site with additional planting of native species.
We work in partnership with our landowners and tenants to accommodate appropriate livestock grazing throughout construction and operation of our wind farms.
We intend to keep access to public rights of way open throughout construction and operation of the windfarm, subject to health and safety constraints, and will seek to improve access wherever possible.
Low Carbon is committed to delivering Community Benefit of £5000 per MW installed per annum (index linked) for the operational lifetime of the project in line with the Scottish Government best practice guidance.
Where there is an appetite, Low Carbon will work with communities to explore shared ownership options.
A variety of suppliers are sourced throughout the development, construction, operation and decommissioning of a wind farm. Where possible, Low Carbon will seek to appoint suppliers offering local employment and/or apprenticeships.
Please contact us to note your interest.
In this section, you will find key information about the project which you able to download and view or print at home.
We hope this information provides an overview of our current proposals which are at an early stage and will be refined as further studies, site surveys and stakeholder and community engagement is undertaken.
As new information becomes available we will update this section of our website.
Please note: Any comments made to Low Carbon at this stage are not representations to the Scottish Ministers. If Low Carbon submits an application in relation to the Proposed Development, there will be an opportunity to make representations to Scottish Ministers during the statutory consultation period after the formal submission.
Low Carbon is the developer of this project and we share as much information as possible during the lifetime of our projects.
Here is a selection of questions that have been asked relating to wind farm installations/builds. These will be updated throughout the project.
Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of electricity in the UK. Cheaper to produce than gas, nuclear, coal and other renewable technologies. Wind resource is plentiful in Scotland and can be utilised to provide security of supply and add to the renewable energy generation mix. The production of onshore wind energy assists the Scottish Government in achieving their carbon reduction targets, delivers significant economic benefit to communities in the form of community benefit and community shared ownership, as well as creating jobs, supply chain opportunities and significant business rates.
Low Carbon has the target of creating 20GW of new renewable energy capacity globally by 2030, in order to combat the effects of climate change, and to achieve this Low Carbon is pursuing a portfolio of wind farm development opportunities across the UK. High Brenfield is one of many proposed development locations being considered for wind farm development by Low Carbon. The proposed location has a strong wind resource, few environmental constraints, no statutory designations and is located within a commercial forestry plantation. A full Environmental Impact Assessment will be undertaken by qualified independent specialists before any planning application is made to the Scottish Ministers.
The presence of the 275kV transmission line which transects the eastern side of the proposed development site from north to south has no material benefit to the project and is not a factor in the site’s suitability for wind farm development.
The design iteration process for the project has been continuing since the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Request was submitted in November 2023 and the scheme has now reached a ‘design chill’ layout which now comprises of 15 turbines, 200 meters to blade tip. This is a reduction in both the quantity of turbines and the tip height when compared with the scoping scheme of 17 turbines 220 meters to blade tip.
The wind farm will be required to operate within the relevant statutory noise limits. Planning conditions on operational noise will be applied and will be complied with throughout the operational lifetime of the development.
Construction noise will be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment and will be controlled via planning conditions and the local authority Environmental Health department. There will be a commitment to meet the relevant noise limits set out in BS 5228-1:2009+A1:2014 Code of Practice for Noise and Vibration Control on Construction and Open Sites. Noise will also be considered within the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) which will be prepared prior to construction commencing. The CEMP will contain details of how the relevant noise limits will be met during the construction phase.
The government, local authority and police manage the impacts on roads. Low Carbon will be subject to their guidance and management and will provide assessment in the Transport chapter of the Environmental Impact Assessment report.
Low Carbon will seek to minimise the level of traffic generated by the development through measures such as maximising the use of on-site borrow pits to reduce the amount of stone that is brought to site by road and these details will be contained in the Traffic Management Plan (TMP) . The Proposed Development will temporarily generate additional traffic during the construction period which will be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
The instances of landslides on both the A83 and the A816 to the north of Lochgilphead are directly linked to weather events, and whilst unfortunate for all who are impacted, the responsibility for management and maintenance of these roads lies with Transport Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council respectively. The wind farm related traffic will not cause further landslides.
A targeted Private Water Supplies Risk Assessment is to be undertaken which will review in detail every known Private Water Supply within the development area. The CEMP, produced as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, will set out in detail the commitments, safeguards and precautions to minimise potential pollution risk from the development during the construction phase.
A bespoke drainage strategy is to be developed for the site in accordance with industry standard guidance and will cover potential hydrological / pollution impacts to the lnverneill Burn Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Kilduskland Reservoir Drinking Water Protection Area (DWPA).
No impacts are expected on breeding birds at this location. NatureScot's guidance does not require generic breeding bird surveys to be carried out in conifer plantation, due to the restricted range of species likely to be present and the limited impacts that wind farm developments have on those species.
Ornithological assessments at this location will concentrate on those sensitive species which are most at risk of adverse effects. As well as NatureScot, Low Carbon has consulted with the Argyll Raptor Group, has requested feedback from RSPB Scotland and will consult with the Argyll Bird Club during the Environmental Impact Assessment preparation.
Low Carbon are committed to supporting the communities that neighbour our wind farms and commits to delivering £5,000 per megawatt of installed capacity per year (index linked) for the wind farm’s operational lifetime, in line with Scottish Government good practice guidance.
At this early stage in the development process it is important to stress that no decision has been made about how the funds from High Brenfield Wind Farm will be administered and distributed. This decision will only be taken after an extended period of consultation with the communities that neighbour the wind farm.Consultation with a wide range of stakeholders is a cornerstone of both Low Carbon’s approach, and the Scottish Government’s good practise principles in delivering benefits from wind farms.
If approved, High Brenfield Wind Farm will provide direct benefits to the local area through a long-term community benefit fund which also opens up opportunities to develop and deliver green skills and jobs in the local area. The project team would expect to explore opportunities for investment in skills development and utilisation of the local supply chain to maximise the positive economic impact locally.
A grid connection application has been submitted for the Proposed Development, however an offer has not yet been accepted. Early discussions indicate that the grid connection date is likely to be in 2034 due to wider transmission grid reinforcement works.
A grid connection application has been submitted for the Proposed Development. Once a grid connection offer is accepted we can confirm the location at which the wind farm will connect to the electricity grid. Initial discussions with SSEN Transmission indicate that the development may connect into the new Craig Murrail substation located north of Lochgilphead.
Feedback on the proposal can be supplied directly to Low Carbon via our online feedback form which can be found on the High Brenfield Wind Farm website. Feedback can also be provided in-person at our second public exhibition which we expect to take place in autumn 2024. Once a Section 36 application has been submitted to the Scottish Ministers, representations can also be made via the Energy Consents Unit online portal.
Low Carbon’s intention is to continue with environmental surveys and design work during the summer of 2024, and intend to hold a second public exhibition event in autumn 2024. Low Carbon is aiming to submit a Section 36 application during November 2024. The Energy Consents Unit will aim to determine the application within 12 months of submission.
The potential for adverse effects on domestic television reception is greatly diminished post digital switchover, which completed across the UK in 2012 and therefore the likelihood of significant effects is minimal. In the unlikely event that properties in this area experienced adverse effects on terrestrial TV reception, alternative signals are available from the Bellanoch and Torosay transmitters, to the north, which would be unaffected by the wind farm.
Shadow flicker occurs during very specific climatic conditions and therefore any effect resulting from shadow flicker are expected to be minimal. Shadow flicker will be assessed fully within the Environmental Impact Assessment once the site design and layout is frozen.
We are eager to explore ideas with Ardrishaig Community Council regarding opportunities for enhanced public access and recreational facilities. We will work with the Argyll and Bute Council’s Access Officer to ensure the relevant access right are maintained.
As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment Low Carbon will be required to demonstrate biodiversity net gain (i.e. that biodiversity is improved as a result of the development, in comparison to the pre-commencement baseline survey). There are multiple ways in which biodiversity net gain can be achieved, which will be assessed within the Environmental Impact Assessment. One method which will be explored is the planting of native woodland in suitable locations.
There may be occasions in which the level of electricity generation significantly exceeds the rate of electricity consumption. In these instances it is possible that the wind farm is curtailed in order to balance the electricity grid and avoid outages. When the wind farm is curtailed, and therefore unable to export electricity onto the grid, the developer is reimbursed for lost revenue.
There is no evidence that wind farms adversely affect tourism.A research study conducted by BiGGAR Economics in 2021: ‘Wind Farms & Tourism Trends in Scotland: Evidence from 44 Wind Farms’,collated evidence from 44 wind farms in order to establish whether there was a link between wind farm development and tourism trends. The study concluded that there is no evidence of a link between wind farm development and trends in tourism, and in many cases the tourism industry grew at the same time as wind farm development activity increased.
Industry research has been conducted in relation to the impact of wind farms on residential property values. Research commissioned by the Scottish Government and led by ClimateXChange concluded that there was no “consistent evidence of a negative impact of wind turbines on house price growth”. Further research will be conducted into this matter and findings will be presented within the Socio-economic, Tourism and Recreation (SeTR) assessment.
Low Carbon is committed to offering shared community ownership in line with Scottish Government Best Practice and it is our intention to work with community groups to explore community shared ownership opportunities. Funding, advice and support is available for communities considering shared ownership, and we would encourage any interested parties to visit the websites of CARES Scotland, Foundation Scotland and Local Energy Scotland for more information.
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