By 2030, it is expected that Scotland’s peak demand for onshore wind power will be 5.3 GW (5300 MW) – so 20% of Scotland’s total energy requirement by 2030 is already being generated here in the Borders.
Scottish Government figures show that in 2022, Scotland generated 35% of all wind generation in the UK. This could power 10 million households - over a third of households in the UK.
Many local people are concerned by the over-proliferation of wind farms in the Borders and the visual impact of wind turbines on our beautiful and unspoilt natural landscapes.
The size of turbines is also increasing, as larger wind turbines are more efficient.
Older wind turbines have tended to be around 60m in height, while the newest turbines are up to 230m tall, equivalent to 46 double decker buses stacked on top of each other.
Proliferation of Wind Farms in the Scottish Borders
Existing
In the Scottish Borders, 30 wind farms are in operation (over 440 turbines). Three more sites – Howpark Farm, Whitelaw Brae and Pines Burn – are under construction. Another project, Crystal Rig 4, has been consented and is currently at the pre-construction stage.
Overall, these projects will add a further 44 more turbines (210 MW) to the existing energy mix.
Pipeline
In the pipeline, eight projects are in the planning stages, plus there are 11 projects at the application stage. If consented, these projects combined could add 384 more turbines (1,990 MW) in the Scottish Borders.
In addition, it has been recently announced that Greystone Knowe, a project of 14 turbines (70 MW) will go to a public local inquiry. More details on that to be announced soon.
PROJECT NAME | REFERENCE NUMBER | NUMBER OF TURBINES |
|---|---|---|
Windy Edge - Site under construction | PPA-140-2055 (Planning Permission Appeal) | 9 |
Oliver Forest - Site under construction | ECU Reference: ECU00004669 | 10 |
Monashee - Site under construction | Planning Application: 23/00869/SCO | 4 |
Liddesdale - Site under construction | SBC Reference: 16/00037/SCO | 80 |
Leithenwater - Site under construction | ECU Reference: ECU00004619 | 13 |
Lees Hill - Site under construction | ECU Reference: ECU00004571 | 6 |
Brown Rig - Site under construction | ECU Reference: ECU00004525 | 20 |
Greystone Knowe Site currently at pre-application stage | ECU Reference: ECU00003341 | 14 |
Teviot Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00003249 | 62 |
Torfichen Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00004661 | 18 |
Scawd Law Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00002111 | 12 |
Millmoor Rig Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00003426 | 13 |
Longcroft Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00004774 | 19 |
Grayside Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00002131 | 15 |
Dunside Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00003436 | 15 |
Ditcher Law Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00002173 | 9 |
Cloich Forest Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00003288 | 12 |
Newlands Hill Site to go to public local inquiry | ECU Reference: ECU00004603 | 17 |
Wull Muir Site currently at application stage | PPA-140-2080 (Planning Permission Appeal) | 8 |
Crystal Rig 4 - Site currently in planning | ECU Reference: ECU00000607 | 11 |
Pines Burn - Site currently in pre-construction (consented) | ECU Reference: ECU00003297 | 11 |
Whitelaw Brae - Site currently in pre-construction (consented) | ECU Reference: EC00002090 | 14 |
Howpark Farm - Site currently in pre-construction (consented) | SBC Reference: 23/0031/SCR | 8 |