Coriolis Energy and ESB's collaborative venture, the Kirkan wind farm and battery storage project, has been granted planning permission. Nestled in the picturesque Scottish Highlands, specifically in the Garve district within the Ross and Cromarty region just south of the A835 road, this ambitious project is set to make a substantial contribution to the nation's clean energy portfolio.
The Kirkan project encompasses the installation of 17 wind turbines, with an impressive maximum height to blade tip of 175 meters. Each of these turbines is anticipated to generate up to 4.8MW of power, culminating in a total capacity of just under 82MW. This formidable capacity will play a vital role in advancing Scotland's and the UK's journey towards decarbonizing their energy systems.
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The intricate environmental impact assessment (EIA) and consent process for the project were expertly managed by RSK Environment, a renowned environmental consulting firm. Joe Somerville, Director and EIA Project Manager at RSK, emphasized the pioneering aspect of this development as one of the first wind farms in the UK co-located with a battery energy storage system to receive consent. This dual-purpose configuration not only enhances the decarbonization efforts but also addresses energy curtailment, a situation where excess energy production is lost due to grid constraints, while simultaneously contributing to grid stability.
Trevor Hunter, Development Project Manager for Coriolis Energy, expressed gratitude for the instrumental role played by RSK in securing approval for the Kirkan project. He acknowledged the importance of such projects in fulfilling legally binding energy targets, improving energy security, and reducing energy costs. Hunter highlighted the necessity for a streamlined and efficient evaluation process involving all relevant stakeholders and decision-makers to facilitate the development of projects like Kirkan that are crucial for a sustainable energy future.
