Daviot, Highlands
- Project Status - In Planning
- Number of Turbines - 13
- MW Capacity - ~32.5MW
- Turbine Hub Height - ~70m
- CO2 Savings* - 918,000t
- Homes Powered - ~16,800
- Local Planning Authority - Highland Council
Latest news
West Coast Energy is seeking to develop a thirteen turbine wind
farm on rough moorland some 8km to the south east of Inverness, to
be known as Daviot Wind Farm.
A Greener Way to Generate Energy
Based on thirteen 2.5 megawatt (MW) turbines, with a total
installed capacity of 32.5MW, Daviot Wind Farm is projected to
generate sufficient electricity to meet the annual domestic
electricity consumption equivalent to around 16,800 homes per
annum.
Over the 25 year life of the wind farm, it is estimated that it
could displace over 918,000 tonnes of CO2 produced by conventional
power stations.
The proposed wind farm site at Daviot is considered to be a
suitable location capable of maximising on the high wind speeds
common to the area. Daviot Wind Farm would include thirteen
turbines of 115m in total height, which would generate green energy
from an installed capacity of up to 32.5MW.
Daviot Wind Farm will:
Contribute towards targets to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions;
Provide greater diversity in the energy mix;
Provide a source of unlimited indigenous energy, helping security
and continuity of supply as fossil fuels continue to deplete.
The modest footprint taken by the turbines will ensure that it
can be readily removed in a matter of months, leaving very little
legacy.
Community Benefit
West Coast Energy has agreed to fund a community benefit as a
function of the installed capacity of the site. The suggested sum
is £4,000 per installed Megawatt of energy. On the basis of an
installed capacity of 32.5MW, the community benefit would amount to
£130,000 per year and £3.25 million over the lifetime of the
project.
West Coast Energy is keen to encourage local education in the
renewable energy industry and has announced a ground breaking
strategic partnership with Inverness College UHI and the University
of the Highlands and Islands. The company is committed to improving
access to vocational education for students across the Highlands
region and ensuring people have the opportunity to undertake
degree-level studies locally. To that end, West Coast Energy has
committed up to £4,000 per MW of installed capacity to directly
invest in education and skills across the whole of the Highland
region. This could amount to an annual payment of £130,000.
Steve Salt added, "It is important that local communities benefi
t from commercial projects in their area, and that local people can
become involved in this burgeoning industry. That is why
we are committed to our community benefi ts packages and to
ensuring that local students get educational opportunities in the
renewables sector.
"We are delighted to be working with Inverness College UHI and the
University of the Highlands and Islands. This exciting initiative
will ensure that the skills and training in this
expanding industry are on offer to students in the Highlands, which
is fast becoming one of the centres of excellence in renewable
energy in the UK."
Community Turbine
In addition to the community benefit outlined above, West Coast
Energy is offering the opportunity for the local community to
participate in the wind farm project by including a community
turbine in the development proposals.
Based upon a 2.5 MW turbine and taking into account present
known financial and site technical data, the annual benefit is
expected to exceed the level of the initial proposed community fund
of £75,000 per annum and to be significantly above the level of
this fund once all the costs of the development associated with the
turbine have been paid off.
Further information can be viewed on the proposals.
Download
the Daviot site location plan here.
Download
the Daviot proposed site layout here.
Timeline
Planning application submitted 6th January 2012
View map of location >
