Project

Background

The Highland Council granted planning permission for a four turbine wind farm at Beinn Mheadhonach in August 2019 (Highland Council planning reference 18/03214/FUL), with an amendment in 2022 to allow slightly larger turbines to be installed (20/04065/S42).

Following advice from the turbine manufacturer that the consented model will no longer be in production in 2026, Wind Harvest has redesigned the project based on a typical 4MW - 5MW turbine.

The wireframe images below compare the consented and proposed layouts from Carbost and Portnalong, looking east across Loch Harport.

 

Carbost 4 Turbine Consented

Portnalong 4 Turbine Consented

Carbost 5 Turbine Proposed

Portnalong 5 Turbine Consented

Site

The site at Beinn Mheadhonach is part of Sumardale farm, owned by Mr and Mrs Sinclair. Sumardale farm has been in the family for over 60 years and in this time there has been a determined effort to balance the needs of grazing livestock profitably with the need to protect and restore the habitat that exists there. The future of crofting in marginal areas like Sumardale depends on a diversity of income from sustainable sources, to which renewables can make an important contribution.

 

Project Description

The wind farm at Beinn Mheadhonach would consist of the following main elements.

  • Five wind turbines, with a maximum hub height of 92m, a maximum blade tip height of 149.9m and expected total output of 24MW;

  • Foundations, crane hardstanding and laydown areas for each wind turbine;

  • New on-site access tracks with associated watercourse crossings;

  • Underground cable arrays within the site connecting the turbines to the on-site substation;

  • A control building and substation compound; and

  • Temporary construction compounds, concrete batching plant, laydown areas and borrow pit.

The project will be connected to the distribution network at the Edinbane substation via a wood pole overhead line, to be built and operated by SSE.

The turbine components will be landed at Kyle of Lochalsh and brought to site via the A87 and A863.

 

Landscape & Visual

The turbine layout follows a shallow curve of equally spaced turbines in accordance with best practice on wind farm design. The turbines have been positioned to minimise their visibility from the nearest visual receptors, with the turbines set back from the skyline profile when viewed from the nearest roads and properties.

Communities and properties between Portnalong and Carbost would have the most open views of the project across Loch Harport at a distance of 4.5 - 6km from the nearest turbine. 

From the scattered townships and crofting communities located along the shores of Loch Bracadale, the proposed windfarm would mainly be seen as a relatively small-scale feature within broader expansive views and any visual effects would be limited.

 

65.5 degree photomontage & wireframes

A850

 

Bruach na Frithe

 

Carbost

 

Portnalong

 
 

Harlosh

 

Birds

Two years of bird surveys (April 2020 – March 2022) have been conducted, following best practice guidance and building on historic surveys conducted for the previous application in 2013-15.

While analysis of the survey results is ongoing, the following broad conclusions can be drawn at this stage:

The wind farm is not located within or adjacent to any statutory sites designated for ornithological interest and is not considered likely to have a significant effect on the Cuillins Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI);

Overall, while the habitats on the site are in good condition and typical for Skye, the number of mammals and bird species was very low;

Theoretical modelling of the chances of golden eagle and white tailed eagle colliding with the turbine blades are very low at 1 collision every 43 years and 15 years respectively.

 

Ecology & Hydrology

Habitat and protected species surveys were conducted in 2011-14 in support of a previous application. These historic surveys have been updated by targeted surveys during 2021, including:

Mapping of vegetation boundaries and descriptions;

Extended surveys for protected or notable species such as badger, water vole, brown hare and deer;

Peat probing and condition assessment.

Historic and current peat probing indicates average coverage of 1.63m depth of peat, with localised areas of deeper peat up to 5.15m deep. The proposed wind farm layout avoids the areas of deepest peat, while any residual peat disturbance will be mitigated through the removal of about 30 hectares of commercial forestry and the restoration of that area to peatland, under a Habitat Management Plan.