Work gets under way at Strathy Wood wind farm site

Pre-construction work has begun at Strathy Wood wind farm, just over two years after being approved by Scottish Government ministers.

Energy company RWE says the 11-turbine development in Sutherland will generate 63 megawatts and is on course to be completed by 2025. The turbines will have a maximum blade-tip height of 180 metres.

Construction is already under way at RWE's 15-turbine, 69 MW Enoch Hill wind farm in East Ayrshire and the 10-turbine, 36 MW Camster II development in Caithness. Both of those projects are also due to be finished next year.

Victoria Allen, the company's head of onshore renewables development in Scotland, said: “RWE is entering 2024 strongly, with our ambition in Scotland ever growing, and we are delighted to have reached significant construction milestones for Enoch Hill, Camster II and now Strathy Wood.

"Onshore wind has an important role to play in helping deliver the UK and Scottish governments’ net-zero emission targets in the coming years and remains the lowest-cost form of renewable electricity generation.”

Strathy Wood, located near SSE Renewables' existing Strathy North wind farm, will begin full on-site construction later this year.

RWE has a portfolio of 33 onshore wind sites with a combined installed capacity of 802 MW, and has a further 168 MW under construction in Scotland. In addition, the company's onshore wind development pipeline includes 16 projects in Scotland.

RWE says it is committed to supporting neighbouring communities through "flexible community benefits packages".

The three onshore wind projects that have now entered construction represent an investment of around £25 million, based on a 30-year operational lifetime.

Strathy Wood was given the go-ahead by ministers in December 2021 following a public inquiry into what was then a 13-turbine, 54.6 MW development.

Highland Council had agreed in June 2020 not to support RWE's application for planning consent.

Plans for the Strathy Wood scheme go back as far as 2013 with E.ON originally applying for up to 26 turbines measuring 145 metres to tip height. RWE acquired E.ON's renewable energy activities in the autumn of 2019.

Objections came from individuals and organisations including the RSPB, John Muir Trust and Wildland Ltd.

There were concerns about the site being adjacent to Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation, while fears were also expressed about the visual impact.

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