Power company Energiekontor UK given the go-ahead by Highland Council to increase the size of turbines at planned Lairg 2 wind farm near Toroboll in Sutherland
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Energiekontor UK was granted permission to build the Lairg 2 wind farm near Toroboll last year and has subsequently put forward several requests for amendment.
The most recent amendment was granted at Highland Council’s north planning applications committee this week.
The firm can now increase blade tip heights to a maximum of 200m for five of the 10 turbines planned, with two at 190m and three at 150m.
The original permission allowed for seven of the turbines to have a blade tip height of 180m, with the other three at 150m.
They also sought permission to install a 132kV substation to accommodate the increase in energy output.
Despite approving the request not all members were happy with it.
East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Richard Gale said: “I am disappointed that we are recommending to grant this application.
“I remember the discussion we had at the previous application. It was very clear that our main focus was on the heights of the blade tips and the height of the turbines and we all complimented the officer on the wonderful job she did negotiating with the developers to keep heights at the right level to blend into the background.”
He said he would not block the application given that it was backed by Lairg Community Council – though Creich and Golspie community councils objected to it – but added: “However, I have real concerns
about the developers who pushed the planning and got an application granted on the basis of a particular blade tip height, and then cynically come back shortly after. We already knew this application was coming to us almost immediately after the last discussion.
“It does concern me that we have a precedent being set here, where we will grant permission on the basis of one blade tip height and the developers come back immediately after looking for an increase.”
According to a report prepared for the meeting the height change is in response to new advances in wind energy, with increases in turbine height and blade length allowing the technology to “capture more wind” and “deliver an increased energy”.
It is argued this makes the scheme more economically viable for the developer.
This latest change is the fourth time the company has sought an alteration to the original height approval – either increasing or decreasing previously agreed heights.
In March, north Highland anti-wind farm campaigner Brenda Herrick branded the constant changes as “beyond a joke.”
Related article: Height of nonsense as Lairg 2 turbines amended for third time
