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Go ahead for Lochluichart wind farm
22/12/2008
A wind farm capable of supplying electricity for 23,000 homes has been approved.
The 17 turbine Lochluichart wind farm near Dingwall will have a generating capacity of 51 Megawatts.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said:
"The Lochluichart wind farm is a significant step in our drive to make Scotland the green energy capital of Europe. We have enough renewables potential to generate 10 times Scotland's peak electricity demand using clean, green energy from onshore and offshore wind, wave and tidal, wood fuel and water sources.
"Onshore wind plays a significant part in that mix, and as our record of approving 17 renewables projects shows, we want to approve good projects, in the right places, in harmony with the environment and with benefits for communities.
"There will be economic benefits from the Lochluichart wind farm, with around 100 construction jobs and full time jobs when the scheme is operational. This is exactly the type of project we need to drive our renewables ambitions for Scotland."
In November 2005, LZN Ltd applied for consent to construct and operate a wind farm comprising 43 turbines, with a maximum installed capacity of 129 Megawatts. Following consultation, the applicant reviewed the development layout and reduced the number of turbines to 17 with a revised maximum installed capacity of 51 Megawatts.
During the consultation exercise, 9097 public representations were received - 3170 objections and 5927 in support of the development.
The Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit is currently processing 31 renewable project applications - 23 wind farms, seven hydro projects and one wave project, with more applications expected.
The Scottish Government has determined 23 energy applications, including approval for 17 renewable and one non-renewable project since May 2007 - more determinations than over the whole of the previous four years, in which 19 projects were determined. New applications are being dealt with in line with the Scottish Government's new target to come to a decision within nine months, where there is no public inquiry.
Scottish Government targets are to meet 50 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2020, and an interim target of 31 per cent by 2011.
Total installed capacity of renewables in Scotland is over three Gigawatts. Adding in all the potential energy from already consented renewable projects to those already operating brings the total to 5.5 Gigawatts, meaning the Scottish Government is set to surpass the 2011 target.