The Proposed Development

The Proposed Development comprises around 415 megawatts (MW)of renewable energy generation and energy storage output capacity, encompassing:

• approximately 130 MW of wind energy, comprising 18 wind turbines with a ground to blade tip height of up to 230 metres and associated infrastructure;
• approximately 60 MW of solar energy, comprising photovoltaic modules up to 3 metres in height and associated infrastructure;
• approximately 25 MW of short duration energy storage (up to 4-hours discharge duration); and
• approximately 200 MW of long duration energy storage (minimum of 8-hours discharge duration).

The Proposed Development is anticipated to have an operational life of 40 years.

The proposed wind turbines are located within commercial forestry land at Dungavel Forest and the solar panels, energy storage facilities and substation within agricultural land at Netherwood, Linburn and Burnfoot Farms. The site boundary includes a stretch of the existing B743 public highway to allow cables to be laid in the road to connect the turbines in Dungavel Forest to the substation at Linburn Farm. The site boundary for the Proposed Development is shown outlined in red on the plan adjacent.

Nature Conservation

Significant biodiversity enhancements are proposed as part of the project which include substantial peatland restoration (c. 56 ha), a long-term commitment to funding habitat management and enhancement within the adjoining Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands Special Protection Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest (c.592 ha), as well as further land outside the protected areas to be managed for wading birds (c.147 ha). The management plan represents a substantial financial commitment from the Proposed Development to fund nature conservation over a 40 year period which will deliver significant biodiversity enhancements and local job creation.

Access

Access for turbine components is currently proposed to be taken from either:

Option 1 – J11 of the M74 through the eastern part of the existing Hagshaw Energy Cluster to meet the A70 west of Glespin (exact route tbc), then following the A70 through Muirkirk, before heading north through forestry land to the B743 and on to the site; or

Option 2 – J8 of the M74 and travel west along the A71, through Stonehouse and Strathaven, before travelling south on the B743 to the site.

Local Supplier Approach

Total construction spend on the Proposed Development is estimated to generate £54.6 million Gross Value Added (GVA) in the Scottish economy. In addition, the operational spend on the project is estimated to generate a further £4.5 million GVA in Scotland every year over its 40-year lifetime. Spirebush Ltd is committed to a local supplier approach which aims to deliver a significant proportion of construction and operational contracts to local companies.

Community Benefits

Based on current capacity, the Proposed Development would generate up to £668,000 a year in community benefit funding (£ 26.7 million over its lifetime of 40 years) which would provide a substantial level of investment in the communities closest to the site. Potential exists to use a proportion of this funding to operate a Local Energy Discount Scheme for closest communities. Detailed discussions will be held with the closest communities about how this funding should be apportioned.

The project will also create new walking and cycling routes within Dungavel Forest, served by new parking areas off the B743.

3R Energy are keen to hear the communities’ ideas on how the community benefit funding from the project could be used to enhance the local area and deliver projects that provide lasting benefit.

Consultation

The application for the Proposed Development has now been submitted under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU) seeking consent for the Hagshaw Energy Cluster – Western Expansion (Phase 1) project.

Anyone wishing to make formal representations should do so by contacting the ECU on their website, by email or by post, quoting the application reference ECU00004623.

Full contact details are available www.energyconsents.scot

A full copy of the Section 36 Planning Application can be viewed here or by clicking on the downloads link below.

If you have any questions on the project or would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the project team via the contact link below or directly by email to: info@3renergy.co.uk