Watten wind farm

  1. Project Type: Onshore wind
  2. Country: Scotland
  3. Location: Caithness
Project Status:
  1. Planned
  2. Consented
  3. In Construction
  4. Operational

Watten is a proposed wind farm which would include up to seven turbines situated to the west of Wick in Caithness, Highland

Watten wind farm is a proposed project that would be situated 14km west of the town of Wick in Caithness, Highland. It would consist of up to seven turbines with maximum blade tip heights of 220 metres, with an estimated total installed capacity of up to 47.6MW.

The project will include access tracks, a substation, a battery storage facility, a temporary construction compound, a permanent meteorological mast, underground cabling and a grid connection which will link the wind farm to the national electricity grid.

The proposed site is located around the Wester Watten Moss Forest, which is approximately 3km south west of Watten village.

A scoping report – produced by EDF Renewables UK – determined what was included in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) supporting the planning application.

In August 2023, the planning application was submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.

Public exhibitions

In June 2022, we held public exhibitions in the local area, informing the community and local businesses about the wind farm. Since then, we have been carrying out various studies to determine the most appropriate size and layout for a wind farm in this location.

In November 2022, we shared the findings of the EIA, showing the newly revised layout of the proposed wind farm with accompanying photomontages to help those living in the local area assess the visual impact of the wind farm.

The public exhibitions took place over two days, and we engaged with a number of people from the local community.

We are proposing a scheme of seven turbines, each 220m tall. This 47.6MW wind farm would generate enough electricity to meet the average annual domestic needs of over 25,000 homes* each year. Our project would also include a battery storage facility to address intermittency issues and help improve energy security.

Ahead of the planning consent, submitted in August 2023, we held a final round of exhibitions in Watten and Spittal in June 2023 to show local residents the draft final designs and answer any questions.

A community benefit fund commensurate with the size of the project and in line with Scottish Government guidelines would be established to provide funding for community initiatives and projects in the local area. This will be worth £5,000 per MW under current Scottish Government guidance.

For further information contact wattenwindfarm@edf-re.uk.

Next steps

The planning application for Watten wind farm was submitted at the end of August 2023.

The EIA Report files can be accessed here:

This information can also be found on the Energy Consents Unit website and searching for the EIA Report using the ECU case reference number: ECU00004509.

A copy of the application, with a plan showing the land to which it relates, together with a copy of the EIA Report discussing the Company’s proposals in more detail and presenting an analysis of the environmental implications, are available for public inspection in person, free of charge, at: Watten Village Hall from 12pm to 7pm Monday to Friday.

Any representations to the application may be submitted via the Energy Consents Unit website; by email to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit mailbox at representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the proposal and specifying the grounds for representation. Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals), full return email and postal address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement.

All representations should be received not later than 13 October 2023 although Ministers may consider representations received after this date.

Subject to planning consent, it is anticipated that the wind farm would be operational by 2026.

 

 

Useful documents:

August 2023

28 August 2023: Planning application submitted for Watten wind farm [media release]

Watten Wind Farm Community leaflet

 

June 2023

Public exhibitions announced for proposed Watten wind farm – EDF Renewables (edf-re.uk)

Watten Wind Farm Community update v3 A5 ONLINE AW FINAL

Up to 7

turbines

47.6 MW

capable of powering up to 25,000 homes