Frequently Asked Questions
Who is RES?
RES is a British company with headquarters in Hertfordshire. It is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, working across 24 countries and active in wind, solar, energy storage, green hydrogen, transmission and distribution. As an industry innovator for over 40 years, RES has delivered more than 27GW of renewable energy projects across the globe and supports an operational asset portfolio exceeding 41GW worldwide for a large client base.From our Glasgow office RES has been developing, constructing and operating wind farms in Scotland since 1993. We have developed and/or built 22 wind farms in Scotland with a total generation capacity of 660MW and currently operate over 550MW of wind farms across the country.
Where will the wind farm be?
The proposed wind farm is located approximately 5.5km1 south of Tomatin. You can see a site location plan here.
How many wind turbines will there be?
We are progressing studies on site and our updated proposal is for 26 turbines with an overall generation capacity of 187.2MW, which is enough to power around 162,5002 homes with clean, low cost electricity.
We will refine the design of the wind farm over the coming months, as a result of environmental and technical surveys and assessments, as well as taking into consideration feedback from the local community.
Why here?
The site was chosen because it has good wind resource, few ecological constraints, straightforward access and is close to a viable grid connection.
What stage is the project at?
A Scoping Report was issued to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) in February 2024 and this is available to view here.
We are still in the pre-planning stage and will hold our second round of public exhibitions in September 2024. We continue to undertake a wide range of further environmental surveys and detailed studies, to build our understanding of the site. This will help shape and refine the wind farm design over the coming months.
What would the wind farm look like?
A Landscape and Visual Assessment (LVIA) will be undertaken for the proposed wind farm and will consider any likely significant landscape and visual effects.
We will have visualisations available at the future public exhibitions based and share the visualisations on the project website when available.
How will you ensure the wind farm doesn’t impact the wildlife in the area?
Protecting and minimising any potential direct or indirect impacts on local wildlife and their habitats is of utmost importance and we take this responsibility seriously. A wide range of ecological and ornithological studies will be undertaken as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment work.
If the wind farm is consented, a Species Protection plan will be implemented during the construction phase to ensure that relevant wildlife legislation is adhered to. Furthermore, a Biodiversity Enhancement Management Plan will be developed for the operational phase and agreed with consultees, to mitigate or enhance habitat for important ornithological and ecological features and to provide wider biodiversity improvements.
Will the wind farm be noisy?
Operational and construction noise assessments will be undertaken in accordance with the relevant standards, current assessment methodologies and best practice. Background sound surveys will be recorded at a number of locations around the site to measure the existing background sound levels.
The results of the background sound survey will then be analysed by our acoustics team and will inform the setting of the noise limits which the wind farm must operate under. These limits will be agreed with the regulatory authority, and the site will be required to comply with these strict noise limits set within planning conditions.
How will you get the turbines to the site?
Turbine deliveries are a key phase in the construction of any wind farm. We will undertake Swept Path Analysis, pinch point and traffic volume analysis to assess route options and help minimise any potential impacts.
We expect the wind turbines to come from Inverness on the A9.
Would the wind farm impact peat on site?
An initial peat depth survey was undertaken across the site in Summer 2023 to understand the nature of peat on the site. Peat is not uniform across the site and siting of infrastructure will be located in areas to minimise disturbance of peat.
As the wind farm design is refined and finalised, a final detailed peat survey will be conducted at the proposed turbine and infrastructure locations to complete our peat data. This will identify any areas of peatland habitat which would be sensitive to direct or indirect changes as a result of the proposed wind farm. Best practice construction methods will be used throughout to ensure minimal disruption and we will seek to undertake restoration and enhancement measures.
Are there any potential health impacts?
Whilst multiple, peer reviewed and independent studies have shown there is no connection between wind turbines and negative health effects, it is still a matter we take seriously.
One of the most common concerns relates to low-frequency noise commonly known as infrasound. Low frequency noise is not audible or perceptible to humans as it occurs at similar levels to pre-existing background levels. Multiple organisations and studies from around the world, including the World Health Organisation, indicate that there is no evidence that any infrasound/low frequency noise from wind turbines directly causes health impacts or can otherwise impact on the amenity of those living or working near wind turbines.
Can wind turbines be recycled?
While about 90% of turbines are easily recyclable, turbine blades are not widely recyclable yet. The industry recognises this and extensive work is underway to establish a circular economy.
There is research underway into producing a 100% recyclable turbine blade and a recent pilot project in Northern Ireland has developed a scalable method to recycle 100% of turbine blades, ensuring that valuable resources are turned into new products that can substitute materials such as virgin plastics, steel, and concrete instead of simply going to waste.
There are also options for blade re-purposing. Blade material is incredibly strong and when in a suitable condition, it can be repurposed for new structures. This reduces landfill, retains embodied carbon in the material, reduces the need for virgin material and creates skilled jobs.
Whilst there are a finite number of other structures which could be constructed from blade material, there is also potential to refurbish blades for use as second-hand blades.
Wouldn’t manufacturing wind turbines produce more carbon emissions than they save in their lifetime?
Harnessing of wind for the generation of electricity may rely on a renewable source of energy, but it must also prove to be sustainable. A typical modern wind turbine’s carbon payback time ranges from 1 to 3 years, equating to between 1% and 4% of the wind turbine’s lifetime.
A modern wind turbine would be expected to return at least 20 times the energy invested in it as renewable electricity.
The final carbon calculation for the Clune proposal will be undertaken once the design has been finalised and captured in the final Environmental Impact Assessment Report which will accompany the planning application.
Do wind farms affect property values?
Queries are often raised in relation to the potential of wind farms to impact upon the value of house prices as there can be a perception that there must be a negative effect on house prices. Property value is subjective and can be affected by a range of factors.
There is no firm evidence on whether UK onshore wind farms do or do not affect house prices, this is further evidenced from various studies on the same topic having starkly different results. We are aware of residents close to other renewable energy projects, who enjoy having renewable energy projects close by and believe that they add value to their community.
Why onshore wind?
We are in a climate emergency, cost of living crisis and also seeking to enhance the security of our energy supply. Onshore wind can address all of these.
Wind energy is a free and inexhaustible resource which has an important role to play as part of a balanced energy mix. It increases energy security by reducing our reliance on imports and builds our resilience to sudden price fluctuations or the uncertainty of global markets. It can be quick to build and the carbon payback time is usually within 1-3 years.
Onshore wind, alongside other renewable technologies, can generate the cheapest form of new electricity generation3.
Don’t we have enough wind farms in Scotland as a whole now?
The Scottish Government is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 at the latest.
It is important to note, carbon reduction is required across all sectors, including heat, transport and industrial processes, which are currently heavily reliant on fossil fuels. It is forecast that Scotland’s peak demand for electricity will at least double within the next twenty years as a result.
This will require a substantial increase in installed capacity across all renewable technologies, including onshore wind.
There are significant grid infrastructure development plans in place that will build out throughout the second half of this decade that will allow for a far higher output of electricity generation from wind and other renewables in Scotland and reduce our reliance on expensive gas back up.
Onshore wind added £2.4 billion to Scotland’s economy in 2019 and employs over 8,700 people.
How will the local community benefit from the proposed Clune Wind Farm?
RES seeks to be a power for good in the communities that neighbour its projects by working openly and constructively to ensure tangible local benefits.
Some of the most direct and meaningful benefits that can be delivered from a wind farm proposal like Clune are jobs and employment for local businesses and contractors, in addition to the use of local services and amenities, all of which can generate a significant amount of inward investment within the area.
RES is committed to using local contractors in all aspects of the project. If you’re a local business interested in getting involved in onshore wind then please contact us.
A tailored community benefits package to support the local area and help to secure long-term economic, social and environmental benefits would be delivered if the project is consented. The community fund is not linked to profit but a set sum equivalent to £5,000 per MW and would be index-linked.
Will you offer shared ownership?
RES is interested to understand whether there is any appetite from the community in exploring the opportunity of shared ownership in the wind farm. If shared ownership is something that interests you, we would love to hear from you.
Local Energy Scotland is the independent body that manages the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). To find out more about the scheme visit: https://localenergy.scot/hub/shared-ownership/
What happens next and how do I have my say?
The second round of public exhibitions will take place on the 18 and 19 September and more detail can be found on the Exhibition tab.
We know that local people can make a valuable contribution to the proposals by offering their local knowledge and raising issues that may not have been considered and we’re committed to keeping you informed
1 This distance is given from the approximate centre point of the site to Tomatin.
2 The 162,418 homes equivalent figure has been calculated by taking the predicted annual electricity generation of the site (using the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero(DESNZ) long-term average load factor for [onshore and offshore] wind of 32.08% and RES’ predicted site generation capacity of 187.2MW) and dividing this by the annual average electricity figures from DESNZ showing that the annual GB average domestic household consumption is 3,239 kWh (January 2024).
3 https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4122038/wake-opponents-net-zero-government-predicts-gas-power-times-expensive-renewables-2025