Slickly Wind Farm

About Statkraft

• A leading renewable energy developer in the UK
• Scottish team based in our Glasgow office since 2019
• 28 projects in development, construction, or operation in Scotland
• Innovative energy solutions including our Greener Grid Park in Moray
• More than 50 employees working across Scotland
• Working with local suppliers in the Highlands
• Distributed over £1.4 million to communities across the Highlands and Scotland

Proposed Changes to Slickly Wind Farm 

Slickly Wind Farm was granted planning permission in 2022 for 11 turbines with a maximum tip height of 149.9 metres.

As a result of Slickly Wind Farm’s grid connection being delayed, we believe there is an opportunity to revise the project which would reduce environmental impacts and offer greater community benefits. We propose to increase the tip height of the wind turbines, to reflect improved turbine technology, and reduce their overall number.

The final design is subject to ongoing environmental surveys, community feedback, and engineering design work. At this stage it is anticipated that any new application will remain below the 50 MW threshold and will be decided by The Highland Council.

Landscape and visual

A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) will be submitted as part of the planning application. Whilst the consented development included aviation lighting, as the proposed turbines are taller a new aviation lighting scheme will be required. We will work with the aviation authorities to agree an aviation lighting scheme and will seek to minimise the number of turbines lit as far as possible.

Our expert landscape architect is available to discuss viewpoints and make use of 3D digital modelling software.

Illustrations of all agreed viewpoints will be available as part of our planning application. Indicative visualisations are available to demonstrate how the current proposal could look compared to the consented project.

Environmental Impact Assessment

We have a detailed understanding of the site from our previous environmental surveys dating back to 2012. We are building on this knowledge through additional surveys in line with the relevant guidance. The combination of previous and new surveys means that there is a high degree of understanding of the site, which allows us to design sensitively, avoiding known constraints.

Environmental surveys and assessments are being undertaken by a team of specialist, independent environmental and technical consultants. The results and findings will be detailed in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report, which will be publicly available as part of our planning application.

The survey findings will help to establish where mitigation measures will be required to minimise and, where possible, negate any adverse effects. Consultation with The Highland Council and statutory bodies is ongoing to determine the scope of the environmental assessments.

The environmental topics being examined include, but are not limited to:

Landscape and visual
A full landscape and visual impact assessment will be undertaken for the EIA Report and will include updated visualisations from agreed viewpoints.

Ecology and ornithology
We will undertake additional ecology and ornithology surveys to build on the existing data we have collected. The project team are aware of the site’s proximity to the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area (SPA), and the bird species known to use the SPA; as was the case in the consented application, our EIA Report will fully assess potential impacts.

Geology, peat and hydrology 
The project team are aware of the presence of areas of deep peat on the site. Our ongoing design process for the proposed development will seek to minimise the impact. Our proposals restate our commitment to remove the forestry on the site and restore the land to high quality peatland habitat. This measure will introduce tangible ecological benefit and improvement through the removal of commercial forestry.

Cultural heritage 
The project team will continue consultation with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and will include a full assessment of impacts within the EIA Report.

The project team are aware of nearby heritage assets and are designing the project with these in mind, including the removal of the consented turbines closest to the Kirkstones scheduled monument.

Traffic and transport 
Our EIA Report will include a traffic and transport assessment which will include an assessment of the transport delivery route from port to site. Fewer turbines reduces the number of abnormal load deliveries to the site, reducing impact on the local road network.

Noise
Our EIA Report will include a comprehensive noise assessment; the proposed development will be designed to meet the requirements of applicable noise limits.

Local Investment

Statkraft is committed to giving back to the local community both through community funds and through working with local suppliers. The relationships we forge with local suppliers help our projects to become successes and provide valuable investment in the local area

Supplier Highlight: Blargoans Ltd.

Blargoans has worked with Baillie Wind Farm since its construction in 2011 and has since gone on to supply the Berry Burn Wind Farm, near Forres in Moray, Scotland.

Blargoans supply Baillie Wind Farm with equipment and consumables – anything from portacabins to welfare units, hand tools, power tools, portable toilets, computers, ink, and PPE. This is in addition to the hard-faced electrical instrumentation tools supplied.

“It has been really easy to work with Statkraft right from the start. Each manager that has been on site we have had a good relationship with.”

Martin Nicholson, Managing Director, Blargoans Limited

Supplier Highlight: Gow Group

Gow Group are based in Halkirk and have been a supplier to Statkraft since 2016. Gow Groundworks have recently been contracted on the Berry Burn Wind Farm in Moray to help restore the site back to full operations after a recent wildfire spread to parts of the wind farm. The works have involved HV cable works, fibre optic cable works and culvert replacements.

“We have had a long-standing working relationship with Statkraft supporting projects across Scotland since 2016. We have developed positive relationships with their
site management teams; regularly returning to support works on site.”

Alan Gow, Managing Director, Gow Group

Supporting STEM Careers

Statkraft are proud to provide £72,000 over a period of six years to support
UHI STEM students through the Statkraft STEM Entrance Scholarship Fund.

Two students will be selected every year, each receiving £3,000 per year for the duration of their course. Merlin Farrell, who is currently studying a Marine Science MSc at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) is one of our first recipients of the Statkraft STEM Scholarship Fund. 

As a result of his successful scholarship application, Merlin, who previously lived in Kinbrace, Sutherland, embarked on a scientific research trip to the Roots Red Sea camp in Egypt, 600 miles south of Cairo. There, he collaborated with fellow students and marine science researchers over 12 days. Statkraft continue to support Merlin as he completes his studies at SAMS, part of The University of the Highlands and Islands.

To find out more, search on the UHI website: www.uhi.ac.uk

“ We are hugely grateful to Statkraft for their invaluable support in helping UHI to attract and nurture talent in our region. These STEM scholarships significantly reduce financial concerns allowing students to concentrate on their studies and shape rewarding future careers.”

Ellen Packham, Commercial Partnerships Manager, UHI