Swedish firm unveils plans to double number of turbines at site

A windfarm in a rural area that critics dub “turbine alley” could almost double in size under expansion proposals.

Swedish energy firm Vattenfall has announced plans to add another 16 turbines to its Clashindarroch forest site, near Huntly.

It now plans to consult residents and says it will allow the community to “own part of the windfarm” as well as providing cash for local projects.

The current community fund provides £185,000 to local groups every year.

Campaigners – who succeeded in getting the number of turbines at the site reduced from 48 to 18 – said they had suspected the firm would seek to erect more.

Vattenfall is seeking technical advice on the viability of adding to the windfarm, which has been operational since 2015.

Information days are planned to be held next month in Rhynie, Haugh of Glass and Huntly.

Guy Mortimer, Vattenfall’s director for onshore wind, said: “Wind power is going to drive our transition to a sustainable energy company.

“That is why Vattenfall wants to triple the size of its wind business by 2025, Clashindarroch II will be part of that transition.

“But we also think it can be part of Scotland’s transition to a low carbon energy system.”

Eleanor Anderson, chairwoman of Strathbogie community council, said she hoped the local authority listens to those who will be affected by the turbines before making a decision.

She said: “Our usual response is that we will ask the planning authority to take into account the views of people living nearest to the windfarm and to consider the cumulative effect.

“I can’t really say much more than that at this stage because we haven’t met to discuss this yet as a community council.”

In 2015, when the turbines at Clashindarroch were switched on, the community council had urged Aberdeenshire Council to “fully” examine the impact an extension to a smaller site near Huntly would have on the area.

The call came amid fears that the region would become a “turbine alley” for developers. A local campaign group – Friends of the Clash – was set up to protect the area and its forest from more turbines being built. It successfully campaigned to have the number of the structures in Vattenfall’s original application reduced from 48 to 18.

It is understood that the group has since disbanded.

But former member James Duffus said he was not surprised by the new proposal.

He said: “I was waiting for this. They apply for these in chunks. There was a local protest at the time, and eventually it got put down to the current number.

“But we knew that they’d take what they got and come back later. It wouldn’t surprise me now if they come back later again when they get this.

“This is the routine procedure now.”

Fellow campaign group Concerned About Wind Turbines last night said it did not have enough information on the new proposals to comment.

“I was waiting for this. They apply for these in chunks. This is the routine now”