by Skye Windfarm Information Group
Final submissions have been made following the Ben Aketil Public Inquiry held here on Skye during the summer. The Reporter (who chaired the inquiry) will now consider all the evidence and make his recommendations to Scottish Government and the Energy Consents Unit. We won’t find out what he decided until a final decision is made by Scottish Government…and they can ignore him if they wish. We’ll probably hear something in the summer of 2026.
The Scottish Government failed to grant a public inquiry and approved the Skye Reinforcement Power Line despite The Highland Council’s objections. This line brings with it the planned workers camps at Broadford and Ashaig and massive new substations at Broadford and Edinbane. Works are starting across Skye, with access tracks being constructed, and improvements to delivery routes.
At Glen Ullinish 2 Wind Farm, Muirhall have submitted revised plans to reduce the number of turbines from 47 to 33 at 200m high in the hope that the Council will then remove it’s previous objection. We expect the Highland Council to consider the application again before the end of November. More information to follow.
Ben Sca Wind Farm already has planning permission for 9 turbines approx 135m high, between Ben Aketil and Loch Greshornish. The developers are now seeking planning permission to increase all turbine heights to 150m and reduce the total number of turbines proposed from 9 to 8. Expected to be considered at a Highland Council planning meeting soon.
The people behind Ben Sca (the developers Wind 2) are also seeking planning permission for Balmeanach Wind Farm. 9 turbines 150m high on the northern slopes of the same hill as Ben Sca. Expected to be considered at a Highland Council planning meeting soon where the final decision will be made as size is less than 50MW. With the already consented Ben Sca Wind Farm Wind 2 would effectively be running one large wind farm of 17 turbines. All situated on the same hill, they would complete a continuous stretch of turbines between Edinbane Wind Farm and Ben Aketil above Loch Greshornish.
At Beinn Mheadhonach Wind Farm they are seeking planning permission for 5 turbines 150m high. Already has planning permission for 4 smaller turbines. Details above…please object now.
At Breakish Wind Farm,the Swedish company Arise have dispensed with the services of Lomond Energy and taken the application in house. The last we heard they are still planning an application for 16 turbines 180m high in the second half of 2025.
The proposals to build 15 turbines 200m high at Waternish Wind Farm has been withdrawn. We don’t know why.
We do know that discussions for other possible wind farms are ongoing between developers, land owners and other “interested parties” across Skye…including wind farm options on Clan Donald land in Sleat, and at Healaval Forest near Waternish.
Muirhall, the good people behind the Glen Ullinish 2 Wind Farm proposals are also planning the port at Loch Caroy to solve the logistical nightmare of trying to transport huge turbine components and blades from Kyle of Lochalsh to North West Skye. They recently stated that they are proceeding with proposals and expect to submit a planning application soon.
The Highland Council will make a planning decision on it’s own application to store turbine components at Ashaig Airstrip before long.
Oh and there is the new overhead (or possibly now underground) cable across Glendale to Dunvegan substation, connecting to a subsea cable to South Uist……..
………..and three of the wind farms also include plans for Battery Energy Storage Systems. Prone to fire and thermal runaway, they present a particular challenge to the Scottish Fire Service who have yet to formulate a policy on how to deal with BESS fires – which require evacuation of anyone down wind and usually have to be left to burn out, releasing clouds of toxic gases.
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