Renewables investor Galileo has announced updated proposals for the Dorenell Extension Wind Farm, featuring a 533MW capacity with up to 74 turbines, a battery energy storage system, and a comprehensive peatland restoration project in Scotland. The details precede a series of community consultation events scheduled for later this month.
The wind farm, located on the Cabrach and Glenfiddich Estates, is expected to generate power equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 575,000 homes. It will also support a community benefit fund of £2.7 million annually, amounting to over £100 million throughout the wind farm's operational life.
The project's biodiversity enhancement plan includes the restoration of 870 hectares of degraded peatland, equivalent to 1,200 football pitches. This plan involves blocking 140km of “moor drain,” twice the distance from Dufftown to Aberdeen.
Independent economic analysis indicates that the construction of the wind farm could contribute £85 million to the Moray economy. Jason Morin, senior project manager at Galileo, emphasized the environmental and economic benefits: “The project would make an important contribution to Scotland's 2045 net zero climate change emissions target, with the wind farm expected to displace some 690,000 tonnes of CO2 per year by reducing the use of gas-fired power generation – equivalent to taking 400,000 cars off the road.”
Morin also highlighted the energy security benefits: “The wind farm would generate the equivalent of the annual power needs of 575,000 homes, and the battery storage system would provide much-needed flexibility to the local and national electricity grid. In addition, we are planning to restore a huge area of damaged and degraded peatland, which would have significant benefits for biodiversity and also result in further carbon savings.”
The project promises substantial local economic opportunities, including an annual community wealth fund of £2.7 million for local investments. “The project would support a community wealth fund of more than £100 million over its 40-year lifespan, which would be the biggest fund of its kind anywhere in the UK,” said Morin. “We want to dedicate a significant part of this to provide free electricity to the households closest to the project, but we hope the scale of funding could also be transformational for community initiatives covering things like training, affordable housing, and energy efficiency improvements for local homeowners.”
Analysis of the plans suggests that the wind farm's construction would create 1,200 ‘job years' in the Moray Council area, with 50 ongoing full-time equivalent roles during operations. Morin added, “We look forward to engaging with local people at our exhibitions, where local communities will have the opportunity to find out more and provide their feedback.”
