Online views wanted on Tarbert wind farm

Scottish Power Renewables is forging ahead with plans for a renewable energy scheme on hills at the foot of Loch Fyne, writes Colin Cameron.

An online ‘public information event’ on the 14-turbine scheme closes today, Friday January 22, at 5pm.

The 200-metre high towers would be in forested land on the hills above the Kilbrannan Sound and Loch Fyne, around 2.5 km north of Skipness and 6 km south of Tarbert.

The Earraghail Renewable Energy Development (RED) would also include ground-mounted solar panels and a 20 MW ‘energy storage facility’. The 14 turbines could generate up to 84 MW, with the solar panels increasing this to 89 MW.

The energy storage, says Scottish Power Renewables, could be used to ‘smooth out variances between available resource and electricity demand’ and to help stabilise the local electricity network.

Scottish Ministers are responsible for approving applications for schemes above 50 MW, and if it receives consent work is likely to start around 2024. The construction would take approximately 20 months. The company claims jobs would be created both during construction and after completion – and also highlights payments to groups from its existing nearby windfarms at Cruach Mhor, Clachan Flats and Beinn an Tuirc have so far been more than £1.8m.

The online public information event is on the Scottish Power Renewables website; searching onshore wind projects.