Revised wind farm plans attract Caithness supply chain support

A recent online consultation event held by RES to gather feedback on its redesigned Cairnmore Hill Wind Farm scheme has demonstrated local supply chain support for the proposal.

The project, which is sited approximately 4.5km northwest of Thurso, lies in an area identified by The Highland Council as having ‘potential for wind farm development’. More than 144 ‘unique visits’ to the online exhibition were recorded during the four-week consultation period which closed earlier this month and over 25 comments forms were received with people’s thoughts on the proposal.

Euan Hogg, Development Project Manager at RES, commented: “We’ve held a number of phone and video calls over the last few weeks with local residents, members of the wider community, and local businesses, who wanted to understand more about the project. We’re really pleased with the level of engagement and would like to thank all those who took the time to talk to us, share their views, and submit comments on the redesigned scheme.

“It’s also been interesting to engage with the local supply chain, understand the extensive onshore wind expertise within Caithness, and hear the support for the proposal from local businesses. We continue to believe that Cairnmore Hill offers excellent potential for a wind farm development and can help support a ‘green recovery’ within the region. With the recent COP26 event in Glasgow, Scottish Government ambitions for a further 8-12 GW of onshore wind by 2030 and Scotland’s legally binding 2045 net-zero emissions targets, there has never been a greater need for projects like Cairnmore Hill.”

Hugh Simpson, Director of Wick-based Hugh Simpson Contractors Ltd, explained: “The supply chain in Caithness is unique and Hugh Simpson Contractors is just one of a large number of local businesses with proven skills and capabilities within the wind industry, so the inward investment potential from a project like Cairnmore Hill is significant. RES has a strong track record for working with the local supply chain and we’ve been impressed with their engagement so far. I would encourage any local businesses with relevant skills to get in touch with RES so that, should the project go ahead, it delivers as much benefit as possible to the local area and Caithness as a whole.”

If consented, Cairnmore Hill Wind Farm is predicted to deliver approximately £1.4 million of economic benefit to the area in the form of jobs, employment and use of local services – in addition to £8.75 million in business rates to the Council over its operational lifetime. It would also be capable of generating low-cost, clean renewable electricity for around 24,000 homes.

The comments period has now closed and RES will carefully review the feedback received, together with findings from site survey work and key consultee feedback, to help shape and refine the design over the coming months before submitting a planning application to The Highland Council later this year.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

About RES

RES is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company active in onshore and offshore wind, solar, energy storage, transmission and distribution. At the forefront of the industry for 40 years, RES has delivered more than 22GW of renewable energy projects across the globe and supports an operational asset portfolio exceeding 7.5GW worldwide for a large client base. From its Glasgow office RES has been developing, constructing and operating wind farms in Scotland since 1993. RES has developed and/or built twenty one wind farms in Scotland with a total generation capacity of 597MW.

For further information about RES, visit www.res-group.com.

CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Callum Whiteford

RES Press Office

+44 7500 937 925

[email protected]