Who are we?
Bowbeat Wind Farm, Moorfoot Hills, Scottish Borders. Turbines shown have a tip height of 80m.
Strathy Wood Wind Farm will have turbines with a maximum tip height of 145m.
This photo is not representative of the Strathy Wood Wind Farm proposal.
We’re one of the world’s leading power and gas companies. Here in the UK,
we supply energy to more than 5 million customers, generate enough electricity for around 8 million homes and employ 12,000 people.
In 2007, we set up E.ON Climate & Renewables, a global business that’s leading the way in developing new, cleaner ways of generating energy. We’re helping to shape the energy industry of tomorrow and create secure, sustainable energy supplies for future generations.
In the UK, we’re focusing on developing onshore and offshore wind, biomass
and marine energy technologies. At the moment, we own and operate 18 onshore wind farms and 3 offshore wind farms. Together, these could produce more than 400 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity.
We also have over 100MW of consented onshore projects in various stages of construction, including Camster in the Highlands and Rosehall in Sutherland.
In spring 2011, we started construction on Phase One of the London Array Offshore Wind Farm, with our partners DONG Energy and Masdar. When complete, this will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, generating up to 1,000MW of electricity a year – enough to power up to 750,000 homes.*
In 2010, we also installed our first wave energy device at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney and we’re currently developing two other
potential wave energy sites in the Islands of Orkney.
*Based on an average annual domestic household electricity consumption of 4,700KWh (DECC).
Why we need wind energy
Over the next 20 years, many of our older nuclear, coal and oil-fired power stations will need to close, either for environmental reasons or because they’ll reach the end of their operational lives.
These power stations need to be replaced so we can keep up with the growing demand for energy. With a diverse mix of low carbon
technologies, we can help secure an affordable, reliable energy future for our customers without polluting the environment.
To help make this happen, we need to change the way we think about energy – from how we generate it, to how we use it in our homes and businesses. We’re working hard to be cleaner and better in everything we do. At the same time, we’re also helping our customers get energy fit by encouraging them to use energy more efficiently and reduce their bills.
Onshore wind is a mature technology, so it’s one of the cheapest ways of generating renewable energy. We’re expecting onshore wind to play a major role in helping Scotland achieve its target of producing 100%
of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
How an onshore wind farm works
1 The wind blows against the turbine blades, making them turn.
2 The blades turn a shaft inside the nacelle.
3 The shaft goes into a gearbox which increases the rotation speed.
4 The generator uses magnetic fields to convert the rotational energy
into electrical energy.
5 The electrical output from the generator goes into a transformer. This converts
the low voltage into a high voltage suitable for transmission over the National Grid network.
6 Here the high voltage is converted back into a low voltage, suitable for transmission over the local network.
7 The electricity is then distributed to
people’s homes, businesses and industry.
5 1
6
3 4 2
7
Why the Strathy Wood site?
A836
A897
Strathy Wood Wind Farm site boundary Proposed turbine locations
at Strathy Wood Wind Farm
Strathy South site boundary (SSE) Proposed Strathy South turbines Strathy North site boundary (SSE) Proposed Strathy North turbines Ecology
Sea
Existing track to Cnoc an Ruffer
Strathy North track to Cnoc an Ruffer Strathy North track
Existing track to Strathy Wood
Key
Strathy Forest
SSE
Strathy
Bowside Lodge
Portskerra
SSE
Melvich
Armadale Bettyhill
Strathy Point
Cnoc an Ruffer
We chose Strathy Wood after our initial studies showed that the area’s wind resources, road access and connections to the national electricity network are suitable for us to build a wind farm there. The site’s
geographical layout also means the wind turbines would have a limited visual impact on the surrounding area.
The wind farm site is located about 8km south of the A836, near Strathy in Sutherland. We’re proposing to build up to 28 wind turbines with
a maximum tip height of 145m. Together, the turbines could generate up to 84 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
Site layout map
Map not to scale, for illustrative purposes only.
During the project’s early stages of development, we identified several key constraints, which are shown on the constraints plan below. These include the Natura site and watercourses next to the wind farm’s proposed location.
We used these constraints to influence and shape our initial designs for the Strathy Wood site.
We’ll be assessing the site’s ecological and hydrological constraints further, during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.
The wind farm will be designed to minimise its potential impact on the area’s landscape, visual appearance, wildlife and hydrological features.
At the same time, we’ll also be trying to maximise the amount of renewable energy that the turbines can generate.
Constraints
Strathy Wood Wind Farm site boundary
Proposed turbine locations at Strathy Wood Wind Farm Designated land
50m buffer from watercourses Watercourses
Strathy North site boundary (SSE) Proposed Strathy North turbines Existing access track
Key
1
8
6 4
3
5
2 9
10
11 13
14 15
17
16
19
20
22
23
25 26
28
18
24
21
27
12 7
Constraints plan
Map not to scale, for illustrative purposes only.
Transport route
We’ve already identified a potential access route for our construction vehicles and for bringing the wind turbines to the site, which can be difficult due to
their size. The proposed access route is shown on the map below.
The turbines would be shipped to Scrabster Harbour and then transported by road along the A836 and south down the Strathy Glen. Our proposed
route then continues south along the existing access track on the eastern side of the river.
Later in the project, we’ll be consulting with you in more detail about our plans for access and turbine delivery. However, we would welcome any initial comments you have at this stage.
Transport route map
Map not to scale, for illustrative purposes only.
A836
A836
A836
A9
A897 Strathy
Forest
Strathy Point
Strathy Portskerra
Golval
Reay
Achreamie
Forss Thurso
Strathy Wood Wind Farm site boundary
Turbine transport route Ecology
Sea
Existing track to Cnoc an Ruffer Strathy North track to Cnoc an Ruffer Strathy North track
Existing track to Strathy Wood
Key
Bettyhill
Bowside Lodge
Melvich
Scrabster Harbour
A836
A836
A836
A9
A897 Strathy
Forest
Strathy Point
Strathy Portskerra
Golval
Reay
Achreamie
Forss Thurso
Strathy Wood Wind Farm site boundary
Turbine transport route Ecology
Sea
Existing track to Cnoc an Ruffer
Strathy North track to Cnoc an Ruffer Strathy North track
Existing track to Strathy Wood
Key
Bettyhill
Bowside Lodge
Melvich
Scrabster
Harbour
Environmental impact
As part of the planning process we’ll carry out an Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA). This will look at the positive and negative impacts that the wind farm could have on local residents and
the area’s natural and built environments.
We’ll assess these impacts using site surveys and quantitative
modelling, as well as any relevant published reference information.
Where any negative impacts are identified, we’ll propose ways to tackle these by redesigning our development proposal and/or
managing the impacts, so they’re reduced to an acceptable level.
The areas we’re assessing as part of the EIA include:
• landscape and visual effects
• ecology and ornithology
• transport
• hydrology
• electromagnetic interference with telecoms
• aircraft safety and radar
• archaeology
• noise
• shadow flicker.
We’ve appointed a number of independent environmental specialists who’ve already started to gather information for
the EIA. Their findings will form part of our planning application.
Red-throated Diver Pine Marten
The planning process
The planning process for a wind farm can take a long time. It starts with feasibility studies and ends when the project is decommissioned and the land put back to its original state.
We’ve completed the initial feasibility studies for Strathy Wood and we’re now consulting on the wind farm’s site design.
Step 1
Feasibility studies and scoping (June 2011)
Initial feasibility studies are completed and a preliminary layout is designed. We also consult with statutory consultees and stakeholders such as the Ministry of Defence, Ofcom and Scottish Natural Heritage. This is part of the formal scoping process and helps us refine the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies.
Step 2
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
This looks at the positive and negative impacts that the wind farm could have on local residents and the area’s natural and built environments. The findings from the EIA are presented in the Environmental Statement, a document which is submitted with our planning application.
Step 3
Planning application (April-June 2012)
We believe the Strathy Wood site is capable of generating more than 50MW of
renewable energy. This means we’ll need to apply directly to the Scottish Government rather than to the Highland Council. However, we’ll still consult with the Highland Council about our plans. They’ll play a vital role in the application process by gathering a range of views from the local community and then reporting back to the planning committee.
Once we’ve made our planning application, anyone with an interest in, or concern about the project, will have the chance to contact the Highland Council or Scottish Government to comment on our proposals.
Step 4
Determination
The Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit will process our application and
send a recommendation to Scottish Ministers for consideration. They’ll then decide
whether or not to give us consent for the project to be built.
Community benefits
We’re keen to play a positive role in your community. That’s why we’ll be working with residents and community groups in your area to:
• create a Community Benefits Fund to support community projects throughout the wind farm’s operational life
• set up a community liaison group so we can keep you informed and listen to what you have to say
• use local labour to build and operate the wind farm, wherever we can.
We want to hear your thoughts about how we can benefit your
community and how you’d like the Community Benefits Fund to work.
By getting to know and understand your community, we’ll be able to shape a benefits package around your specific needs.
For example, at our Corsbie Moor Wind Farm development in the Scottish Borders, we consulted with the local community and
proposed a benefit fund that will share a percentage of the wind farm’s gross revenue with the community.
The Community Benefits Fund isn’t a planning consideration and
it doesn’t affect your right to give us your comments and opinions
on our planning application.
Have your say
Your views are important to us. We welcome your comments on our proposed wind farm design and on any other aspects of the project.
Where we can, we’ll incorporate your suggestions and contributions into our proposals. Later in the planning process, we’ll hold a second public exhibition to discuss the revised design with you, before we submit our application.
To give us your feedback at any point during the development phase, please fill out a comment card, or contact us by telephone, email or freepost.
Strathy Wood Wind Farm Freepost RRSE-KZCU-AZJL E.ON
Westwood Way
Westwood Business Park Coventry
CV4 8LG
strathywood@eon-uk.com
Freephone
0800 096 1199
We’re here from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.
