Scottish council says no to 160-MW SSE wind plan

Jun 11, 2014 - The Highland Council has given the thumbs-down to local utility SSE Plc’s (LON:SSE) 160-MW Strathy South wind project in Scotland, the developer said on Tuesday.

SSE’s proposal was dismissed in a four-to-one vote due to the position of the planned wind power facility. The proposal includes 47 turbines of 3.4 MW each in Sutherland, which is on the list to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The GBP-200-million (USD 335m/EUR 248m) proposal will now go to public inquiry, while Scottish Ministers will have the final say.

Лast week, planning officials from the Highland Council advised SSE to cut by eight the number of turbines at the proposed wind power facility, which would trim it capacity to about 132.6 MW. The officials recommended that councillors make no objection to the scheme if the developer submits an amended proposal.

SSE was urged at the end of last year by public body Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to remove at least seven of the planned 47 turbines. "As matters stand, the advice currently provided by SNH to Ministers on greenshank and red‐throated divers at the Strathy South project is considered by SSE to be neither correct nor reliable," the utility commented. Wildlife protection charity RSPB Scotland is also objecting the wind farm.

In July 2013, SSE reduced to 47 from 77 the number of turbines for the Strathy South wind park, which was initially planned to have a capacity of 177 MW. According to the company, the revised scheme has a better design that lowers its environmental impact.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.675/EUR 1.238)

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