Highland Council say renewable projects map ‘coming soon’ as communities demand action

Communities are calling for progress from Highland Council on their plan to map all renewable developments across the Highlands.

Six months have now passed since the council agreed to create a live mapping tool to help communities have a greater awareness of local energy developments.

RELATED:

Highland Council says it will cost £90,000 for a renewable projects map updated ‘monthly’ that is part of a £278,000 annual bill to keep the public fully informed

Highland Council backs energy development plan granting locals a greater voice and clearer understanding of proposals

MSP and councillor demand measures to better protect Highland communities against plethora of big energy transmission projects

Aberdeenshire Council have completed their own mapping tool since Highland Councillors first voted to go ahead with the proposal back in September.

Highland Council currently have two maps for wind and hydro schemes, but these have not been updated since July 2024 and January 2022 respectively.

A council spokesperson has now confirmed that a combined map will be available in mid-April.

A live mapping tool would allow for a bird's eye view of all planned energy developments across the Highlands.

Large developments such as battery storage systems require power lines and other infrastructure and each element is treated separately by the council.

Known as 'salami-slicing', the map's idea is to give a holistic view of Highland projects to help understand the size of renewable revolution in the region.

The hope is the map will be updated regularly to keep communities up to date with developments.

Councillor Helen Crawford, who originally brought the idea of renewable mapping project to the council back in September, says the public are now asking questions of the council's priorities.

Cllr Crawford, who is the elected member for Aird & Loch Ness said: "It's essential that, when the map goes live, it is accurate, verified and up-to-date because we need it to be authoritative.

"However, almost six months have now passed since my motion was granted and I say to the Council that our people deserve that it is now prioritised.

"It was granted by a majority of councillors, backed by over 60 Community Councils, and a budget agreed.

"I think a reasonable person would say that enough time has passed, and people are legitimately asking why that map has not been released."

Kathrin Haltiner, who has created her own mapping tool for projects in Caithness, says with Highland Council's resources an updated map shouldn't take "all that long."

She said her Highland Renewables Database took two weeks to set up and takes a day to update every month.

She added: "The council has all the resources there.

"Of course it takes time to set something up, and in a way what they produce has to be much more perfect than what I have put together.

"But still, I really think it could have been ready by now."

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.