Wind farm extension approved

Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy has today granted planning consent for a new 10 turbine wind farm in the Highlands. Millennium South will be located 8km west of Fort Augustus. The development by Falck Renewables Wind Limited will:

• Generate up to £4 million in community benefit, to be divided equally between local communities

• Support the creation of 40-50 Full Time Equivalent jobs during construction and 1 to 2 during operational period.

• Have a generating capacity around 35MW, enough to power the equivalent of almost 20,000 homes. The Minister agreed with the findings of the Public Local Inquiry Reporters to grant consent. The wind farm is an extension to the operational Millennium Wind Farm.

Mr Wheelhouse said:

“Once operational, Millennium South wind farm will generate up to £4 million in community benefit, while producing enough electricity to power almost 20,000 homes and bringing jobs and investment to local communities.

“Renewable energy sources generated a record 56.7% of gross electricity consumption in Scotland in 2015, helping support our world-leading ambitions to become a low-carbon economy.

“The growth of onshore wind in recent years has been a key factor in the expansion of renewable energy in Scotland: creating jobs, providing secure and low-carbon energy and delivering significant local benefits and it will remain a key contributor to our continued transition to a low carbon energy system, supported by a range of renewable  energy technologies.”