The Scot-Govt. has given the planning go-ahead to construction of the 22 turbine Creag Riabhach farm on the Altnaharra Estate, near Lairg, in the North Highlands.
The proposed development is expected to provide more than £9 million a year for 25 years in community benefit.
The wind farm will have a generating capacity of 72.6MW, enough to power 36,000 homes, with estimated savings of 66,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Creag Riabhach Wind Farm Ltd was specifically established to promote the development on Creag Riabhach by a private local company in partnership with Altnaharra Estate.
Registered at an address in Aberdeen, the nine directors of Creag Riabhach Wind Farm Ltd include Timothy Philpot (48) and 82-year old James Gray and 80-year old Norma Gray.
The proposal received widespread support from the public and local community council who emphasised the suitability of the location and highlighted the benefits to the local economy. The Highland Council was consulted on the application and raised no objection.
Confirming consent, Scottish Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “Renewable energy sources accounted for over 56% of gross electricity consumption in Scotland in 2015, and onshore wind is a key driver for the growth in both our renewable electricity supply and wider renewable energy sector and in the delivery of our vision for a greener Scotland and statutory climate change targets by enabling decarbonisation of electricity production.”
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