Following extensive feedback on its Aberdeenshire wind farm, RES said it has refined the proposal and will progress plans for a unique Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS).
The original 17-turbine scheme, which went public in August 2022, has been optimised following consideration of consultation feedback and detailed site assessment work.
This has resulted in a revised design that incorporates turbine heights with a mix of 180 metres and 200 metres, in a reduced 16-turbine layout.
A final suite of local public exhibitions will be held by RES in summer 2023 to present the updated design and give people another opportunity to speak with the project team and comment on the proposal before the scheme is submitted into planning.
RES will also be inviting further feedback at the summer exhibitions on projects and initiatives which could form part of the tailored community benefits package.
This includes proposals for RES’ unique Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS) which could offer an annual discount to the electricity bills of those properties closest to the wind farm.
RES development project manager Gavin Shirley said: “We received lots of great feedback from our October 2022 exhibitions, with more than 380 comment forms being submitted to RES providing almost 3,000 comments across a wide range of topics.
“The largest area of interest was the community benefits that the project could deliver to the local area, followed by landscape and visual considerations.
“RES’ unique LEDS scheme currently benefits over 5,000 properties across the UK and proved a popular potential benefit at our first public events.
“We would like to again thank everyone who took the time to share their thoughts with us on the proposal.”