Proposed wind farm by Tomatin could generate over £11m for community projects

A leading independent renewable energy generator has applied for permission to develop a wind farm by Carrbridge which could generate more than £11m for local projects.

Fred. Olsen Renewables is behind the application for nine turbines at Balnespick Wind Farm.

The proposed site is located 5.6 kilometres east of Tomatin and 6.6 kilometres north-west of Carrbridge.

If approved the wind farm will generate up to 64.8MW of clean electricity and could provide power directly to nearby Tomatin Distillery.

Balnespick Wind Farm will also provide a community benefit fund valued at over £11m (index linked) over the 35 year lifespan of the scheme.

The proposed renewable energy project has been the focus of community consultation since 2023 and consists of turbines up to 200m to tip alongside a battery storage facility.

Kelly Wyness, senior project manager at Fred. Olsen Renewables, commented: “Our plans for Balnespick Wind Farm have been designed to deliver for the Highlands economy, tourism and community.

“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.

“In turn we have also been working with local stakeholders to ensure that developers can collectively deliver for the local community, maximise the economic benefits that our proposals can bring to the area and support local aspirations.”

He added: “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.”

The proposals include a commitment to work with Tomatin Distillery to explore the potential to deliver a private wire of electricity directly from the wind farm.

The developers have said this in turn will help the distillery to reduce its energy costs, cut its greenhouse gas emissions and increase its use of non-fossil fuels

A distillery spokesperson commented: “Having produced whisky for 128 years, Tomatin Distillery is committed to delivering long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability.

“The environment is a key consideration in many of our decisions.

“Amongst many of our initiatives, in 2013 we became the first distillery in Scotland to install an environmentally efficient wood pellet fuelled steam boiler for use in our production process.

“So, 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.”

Fred. Olsen Renewables and Tomatin Distillery plan to partner with Caldera, a British cleantech pioneer, to decarbonise whisky production.

Electricity produced at Balnespick, provided via the private wire, would be used by Caldera’s innovative storage boilers, storing it as heat for use in distillation.

This approach would enable Tomatin to maximise its use of renewable energy, lowering both carbon emissions and operating costs.

James Macnaghten, chief executive officer of Caldera, commented: “Caldera is committed to helping distilleries like Tomatin decarbonise their operations.

“Wind power is an amazing renewable energy source, but its availability doesn’t always align with production needs.

“Our storage boilers solve this challenge by capturing wind-generated electricity whenever it’s available and storing it as heat until required at a fraction of the cost of electric batteries.”

A Fred. Olsen Renewables spokesperson said: “The feedback gathered locally has helped to influence many elements of the project – including the benefits it will deliver locally and helped to create a unique partnership between wind farm developers locally focused on responding to the needs of the area.”

Local residents and stakeholders are being encouraged to have their say on the plans.

More information on the project can be found by clicking here.

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