Greystone Knowe: plans for Borders 14-turbine wind farm filed
PLANS for a 14 turbine wind farm at the borders have been filed with council.
The Greystone Knowe development – about 2.5 km west of Fountainhall – is a joint venture between ESB and Coriolis Energy, according to documents submitted as part of the application.
Scotland’s current climate change ambitions were cited as the rationale for the proposed turbines, which would have a maximum peak height of 180m.
Documents submitted to the council state: “The UK and Scotland’s current climate change ambitions are among the highest in Europe. The Scottish government declared a climate emergency in May 2019 and recently passed the Climate Change Bill which enacted the requirement of a 100% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2045 and an interim target of 70 % reduction in emissions by 2030.
“Beyond 2030, the Scottish Energy Strategy’s goal of 50% of total energy demand (including heat and transport) from renewable sources implies a further substantial increase in required delivery.
“As such, the Scottish government seeks to encourage all renewable and low-carbon solutions to achieve the energy target.”
On the location, the report adds, “The Greystone Knowe project area has not been part of any previously proposed onshore wind development and has the capacity to make a valuable contribution to national policy objectives.
“In addition, the experience of the local community now indicates that the shared benefits of wind power development can make a valuable contribution to the needs of the local community through community benefit funds as well as investments and to jobs during construction. ”
If approved, the wind turbines would be the largest operational wind farm within 15 km of the site.
According to the newspapers, there are three developments in this department.
Carcant, near Heriot, has three turbines with a maximum height of 107 m, while Toddleburn of Oxton has 12, the highest of which is 125 m. Wind turbines at the Longpark wind farm near Stow measure up to 110 m, the report said.
If approved, the turbines would be matt gray in color.
The newspapers add: “Although off-white is an accepted color for wind turbines, wind turbines of newer construction have a medium gray tone, which reduces the distance the turbines are visible, especially in gloomy weather or in cold weather. low light conditions.