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Statkraft is at the heart of the UK’s energy transition. Since 2006, Statkraft has gone from strength to strength in the UK, building experience across wind, solar, hydro, storage, grid stability, EV charging, green hydrogen and a thriving markets business.

Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations, more than 7,000 employees in over 20 countries.  

We’ve invested over £1.4 billion in the UK's renewable energy infrastructure and facilitated over 4.3 GW of new-build renewable energy generation through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). 

Across our UK businesses we employ more than 550 staff in England, Scotland and Wales and play a key role in helping the global business reach its goal of 9 GW of developed wind and solar power by 2025.

Read more about Statkraft UK.

Did you know that less than 10% of the land area in Scotland is suitable for wind farm development? We need to maximise those sites to boost renewable energy generation and contribute to Scotland’s net-zero commitments.  Onshore wind contributed to the UK’s 2020 electricity generation as energy produced by renewables made up 42% of the UK’s electricity last year compared with 41% generated from gas and coal plants together.

Onshore wind is part of a wider mix of energy generation with National Grid ESO using the most cost-effective mix of generation to balance supply and demand to make sure electricity is always there when people need it.

The proposed Loch Liath Wind Farm is located within an area of good wind speeds. In addition, no national or internationally designated sites are located within the Developable Area. The design of the proposed scheme will be well integrated with the adjoining Bhlaraidh Wind Farm. Therefore, we believe this is an excellent site to contribute to Scotland’s ambitions of reaching net zero emissions by 2045. 

We are proposing a mixture of turbines at 180m and 200m to blade tip. By using a mixture of turbine heights, we can reduce the visual impact of the wind farm and sure that turbine heights appear consistant from a distance. 

Extensive surveys were completed as part of our Envrionmental Impact Assessment, including detailed habitat surveys, birds, protected mammals and peat. 

Survey results will be used to inform the ongoing wind farm design process to avoid or reduce potential impacts on sensitive ecological features. We consulted with NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) at an early stage in the surveying period to determine the required surveys.

Full details and results of the surveys undertaken can be found in our application. 

A noise assessment was undertaken in line with Government guidance. This considered the potential effects on nearby residential properties associated with both the construction and operation of the wind farm. 

The assessment of effects of construction noise will include consideration of noise from construction traffic on site access routes where residential properties may be affected.

Results of the noise survey can be found in Chapter 11 of the Environmental Impact Assessment. 

If consented, no felling of trees will be required to enable construction or operation of Loch Liath Wind Farm. 

Further details can be found in Chapter 8 of the Environmental Impact Assessment. 

The point of connection for Loch Liath Wind Farm is yet to be finalised. The route of the grid connection will be subject to a separate Section 37 planning application by the grid operator, in this case SSE Network Transmission. 

Major components are expected to be landed at Kyle of Lochalsh and transported via the A87, A887, A82 and A830. 

Further details can be found in Chapter 12 of the Environmental Impact Assessment.  As part of any consent, we would look to implement a Traffic Management Plan and work with the community and relevant authorities to ensure as minimal disruption as possible.

Each turbine is likely to require between 12 and 14 'abnormal loads' to deliver the components to the site. The components will likely be delivered on extendable trailers which will then be retracted to the size of a standard HGV for the return journey. Detailed swept path analysis will be undertaken for on the route from the port of entry to the site access junction to demonstrate that the turbine components can be delivered to site and to identify any temporary road works which may be necessary.

Once operational, the level of traffic associated with the wind farm will be greatly reduced and will be minimal. Regular monthly or weekly visits would be made for maintenance checks, most likely in 4x4 vehicles.  There may also be the occasional need for an HGV to access the wind farm for specific maintenance and/or repairs. Given that the numbers of vehicles accessing the site during operation are so low, a detailed assessment of this phase is not undertaken as part of the EIA, as is standard practice for developments of this nature.

Yes. Even with our subsidy-free wind farms, we commit to a community benefit fund based on the Scottish Government recommended amount of £5,000 per MW installed.

In addition to the traditional community benefit fund, if there is interest from within the community we are keen to bring forward opportunities for shared ownership for this proposal too.

We are also keen to look for other ways our projects can bring meaningful benefits to the community such as the potential for improved access to broadband(External link), and maximizing opportunities to involve Local suppliers.

We will keep this Loch Liath Wind Farm project website updated with the latest news and milestones for the project.

If interested, whether a local resident or a business, you can Get in touch on the project and we will contact you as we progress the plans. We follow all GDPR guidelines in relation to personal data and you can opt out at any time.

You are encouraged to contact us directly to chat with one of the project team.

Following pre-application consultation in 2021 and 2022, and the submission of our application in 2023, all representations should be made to the Energy Consents Unit. Full details of how to do this can be found in our public notice.