This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Windy Standard windfarm to be extended
13/03/2007
A windfarm in Dumfries and Galloway was today given the go-ahead by Ministers to significantly increase its electricity output.
The original Windy Standard, nine km north of Carsphairn near the border with East Ayrshire, was consented in 1995 with a generating capacity of 21.6 MW. The new application, which will add 30 new turbines to the existing 36, will increase capacity to 111.6 MW
Deputy Minister for Enterprise Allan Wilson said:
"The last few weeks have seen a number of significant announcements on renewable energy, not least £13 million to support the roll-out of wave and tidal projects.
"However, on-shore wind energy still has a huge role to play in the drive to increase the amount of clean, green energy produced in Scotland.
"The extension to Windy Standard will increase its green electricity generating capacity four fold to more than 111 MW, equal to the power needs of almost all the homes across Dumfries and Galloway, making it one of the UK's biggest windfarms.
"It was recently announced that the Executive's target of 18 per cent of energy consumed in Scotland from renewable sources has been met years ahead of schedule.
"We must now push on to ensure that our target of 40 per cent by 2020 is achieved. The extension of Windy Standard should help ensure this becomes a reality."
In 1995 Dumfries and Galloway Council approved a planning application for 36 turbines at Windy Standard with a total capacity of 21.6 MW. The wind farm, developed under the Scottish Renewable Obligation, came into operation in 1997. Today's consent has come following extensive consultation and is for an extension of the existing development with a proposed additional 30 turbines with an output of 90 MW, bringing the total generating capacity up to 111.6 MW. The application came from Natural Power on behalf of the developer.
Any construction or extension to a power station with a generating capacity in excess of 50MW, or which would bring that generating above 50MW, requires the consent of Scottish Ministers in terms of section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. The extension has been subject to the usual statutory consultation exercise, and there are now no outstanding objections or issues that should prevent consent being granted.