Fred Olsen Renewables has formally applied for permission to develop the 65-megawatt (MW) Balnespick Wind Farm in the Scottish Highlands. The proposed wind farm is located 5.6 kilometers east of Tomatin and 6.6 kilometers northwest of Carrbridge, in an area renowned for its natural landscapes.
The wind farm, if granted consent, will generate up to 64.8MW of clean electricity, with a portion of this power potentially supplied directly to Tomatin Distillery, a local business. The project is designed to include nine turbines, each reaching up to 200 meters at their tip, alongside a battery storage facility.
Kelly Wyness, Senior Project Manager at Fred Olsen Renewables, stated: “Our plans for Balnespick Wind Farm have been designed to deliver for the Highland economy, tourism and community.” She added, “A private wire to Tomatin Distillery could help the distillery to cut its energy costs, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and increase its use of non-fossil fuels.”
Since 2023, the wind farm has been subject to community consultations. Feedback from local residents has been instrumental in shaping the project, particularly in terms of the benefits it could bring to the region. The wind farm’s developers have worked closely with local stakeholders to maximize the economic impact and ensure the project responds to the needs of the community.
One notable aspect of the project is a potential partnership between Fred Olsen Renewables and Tomatin Distillery. The companies are exploring the possibility of a private electricity connection from the wind farm to the distillery, which would help reduce energy costs and emissions while increasing the use of renewable energy. A spokesperson for Tomatin Distillery said: “The opportunity to source our electricity requirements from a local low carbon supplier, like the Balnespick Wind Farm, is aligned with our commitments to both our net zero ambitions and to supporting the local economy.”
In addition to the renewable energy generated, the Balnespick Wind Farm will include a community benefit fund, estimated at over £11 million (indexed) over the 35-year lifespan of the project.
The project is also expected to collaborate with Caldera, a company focused on decarbonizing whisky production. The electricity generated at Balnespick will be used to power Caldera’s Storage Boilers, which store energy as heat for use in the distillation process.
Wyness concluded: “We are committed to ensuring that all of our developments make a positive contribution to the country’s climate change targets and supports energy security. However, we also recognise that our proposals need to go much further than that – and we hope that Balnespick Wind Farm can help to demonstrate the true opportunities that a wind farm can provide.
