By Kari Williamson

The renewable energy developer plans to develop 10 wind farms at locations across Scotland, from Aberdeenshire to Dumfries and Galloway, totalling nearly 800 MW of installed electricity generating capacity.

If consented, the wind power projects could produce 2.6 TWh annually, and create 110 permanent jobs in engineering and maintenance. Furthermore, 475 jobs could be created during the construction phase.

Graham Brown, Chairman of Burcote Wind, says: “We’re adamant that we want our projects to contribute to Scotland’s ambitions to reinvigorate its industrial base. So as well as creating skilled jobs, we are exploring opportunities to use community benefit funding to create training opportunities for young people at local colleges and help equip our workforce with the skills needed for Scotland to take full advantage of the huge economic potential the renewables industry has to offer.”

Burcote Wind is currently consulting on proposals for four sites – Meikleton in Aberdeenshire, Creggan in Argyll and Bute, Sandy Knowe and Benshinnie – both Dumfries and Galloway. Planning applications will be submitted over the coming 18 months.

Six other wind sites are at early stages of environmental and technical appraisal and not yet in the public domain.
 
Burcote Wind will take each of its sites through the planning process to allow the wind farms to be built, before seeking partners to make the capital investment needed to procure, erect and connect the wind turbines.

Community benefit funds

Burcote Wind proposes to establish community benefit funds for the sites. Across the 10 sites, the total value could total £60million over the 25-year lifetimes of the wind farms.