British renewable energy developer Elgin Energy has today received the greenlight from Moray Council to develop a 20 MW solar farm in the northeast of Scotland.
The proposed project will be constructed on a 47-hectare site at Speyslaw, near historic Urquhart and not too far from Loch Ness. According to Elgin Energy, some 80,000 solar panels will be installed, alongside 20 central inverter substations.
To meet the council’s stringent biodiversity and environmental standards, the developer will bury all cabling underground to ensure sheep can continue to graze on the site. There will also be no disruption of existing trees, hedges and woodland, while additional wildflowers will be planted at the site.
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“A significant amount of renewable energy will be generated by this solar farm over the next 30 years,” said councillor Claire Feaver, the chair of Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee. “The opportunity to continue grazing on the land, together with the Habitat Management Plan, will maintain and enhance the diverse range of species in and around the site.”
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Kudos for the requirement by the local authority for minimising disruption to the natural environment and allowing multiple uses of the land. This is not expensive and reduces local opposition. Others please copy.