Balblair
Site statistics
Location
Highland Council Area lying 2 km to the north-west of Bonar Bridge.
Status
Section 36 Application accepted by Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit on 14th March 2025. Reference ECU00005055
Project benefits
Balblair wind farm is being developed by Wind Power North 2 Ltd a wholly owned subsidiary of Vestas Development A/S through an agreement with Force 9 Energy Ltd.<br /><br />Aside from its wider socio-economic and environmental benefits wind power is compatible with other land uses and can provide a boost for rural economic diversification. In addition to contributing towards Scotland’s Net Zero targets, the site affords the opportunity for biodiversity net gain by removing self-seeded sitka spruce and drain blocking to rewet the environment improving peatland on site.<br /><br />Balblair represents a major investment in the area for Force 9’s development partner Vestas, who employ staff across Scotland, including skilled technicians at a service base in Inverness. The project will stimulate further economic growth through employment opportunities across the supply chain, ensuring local businesses can benefit from the transition to renewable energy. In addition, the project will deliver significant community benefits. <br /><br />COMMUNITY BENEFIT<br />At the heart of our approach is a strong commitment to supporting the communities that host our projects. If approved, Balblair Wind Farm will bring a payment of community benefit, of around £4.5 million over its lifetime. This funding will be available, from the commencement of operation of the wind farm, to support local community projects in the region.
Turbines
8 turbines, 6 of which will be up to 180m to blade tip, 2 up to 200m, with an energy storage facility, the combined capacity of which will be in excess of 50MW
Houses powered
up to approximately 33,785*
Links & downloads
- Balblair Scoping Figures
- Balblair Scoping Report
- Planning Statement
- Pre Application Consultation Report
- Design & Access Statement
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 14.1 - 4.2
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 13.1 - 13.3
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 12.1 - 12.2
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 11.1
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 10.1
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 9.1 - 9.4
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 8.1 - 8.6
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 7.1 - 7.4
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 6.1 - 6.8
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 4.1 - 4.2
- EIA Volume 4 Technical Appendix 2.1
- EIA Volume 4 Contents - Technical Appendices
- EIA Volume 3d Cultural Heritage Visualisations
- EIA Volume 3d Contents - Historic Environment Scotland Visualisations
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.64 A C Viewpoint 16
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.63 A C Viewpoint 15
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.62 A C Viewpoint 14
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.61 A C Viewpoint 13
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.60 A C Viewpoint 12
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.59 A C Viewpoint 11
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.58 A C Viewpoint 10
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.57 A C Viewpoint 9
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.56 A C Viewpoint 8
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.55 A C Viewpoint 7
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.54 A C Viewpoint 6
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.53 A C Viewpoint 5
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.52 A F Viewpoint 4
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.51 A C Viewpoint 3
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.50 A F Viewpoint 2
- EIA Volume 3c Figure 6.49 A F Viewpoint 1
- EIA Volume 3c Contents - The Highland Council Visualisations
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.65 Viewpoint 10
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.64 A C Viewpoint 16
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.63 A C Viewpoint 15
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.62 A C Viewpoint 14
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.61 A C Viewpoint 13
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.60 A C Viewpoint 12
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.59 A C Viewpoint 11
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.58 A F Viewpoint 10
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.57 A C Viewpoint 9
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.56 A C Viewpoint 8
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.55 A C Viewpoint 7
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.54 A C Viewpoint 6
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.53 A C Viewpoint 5
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.52 A F Viewpoint 4
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.51 A C Viewpoint 3
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.50 A F Viewpoint 2
- EIA Volume 3b Figure 6.49 A F Viewpoint 1
- EIA Volume 3b Contents - NatureScot Visualisations
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 14.1 - 14.2
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 13.1 - 13.6
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 12.1 - 12.5
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 10.1 - 10.2
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 9.1 - 9.8
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 8.1 - 8.11
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 7.1 - 7.12
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 6.40 - 6.48
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 6.30 - 6.39
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 6.20 - 6.29
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 6.10 - 6.19
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 6.1 - 6.9
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 3.1 - 3.5
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 2.1 - 2.9
- EIA Volume 3a Figures 1.1 -1.2
- EIA Volume 3a Contents
- EIA Volume 2 Report
- EIA Volume 1 Non Technical Summary
- Balblair_AI_Technical Appendix_13.1_Noise_Modelling_and_Calculations
- Balbalir AI Technical Appendix 7.1 communications with NatureScot (Redacted)
- AI Technical Appendix 6 LVIA
- Balblair AI Technical Appendix 2.1 Grid Connection
- Revised Figure 6.58 - Viewpoint 10 Struie Viewpoint on B9176 (THC)
- Revised Figure 6.58 - Viewpoint 10 Struie Viewpoint on B9176 (NS)
- Revised Figure 6.55 - Viewpoint 7 A836 at Ardchronie (THC)
- Revised Figure 6.55 - Viewpoint 7 A836 at Ardchronie (NS)
- Revised Figure 6.52 - Viewpoint 4 Ardgay (THC)
- Revised Figure 6.52 - Viewpoint 4 Ardgay (NS)
- Revised Figure 6.50 - Viewpoint 2 Bonar Bridge (THC)
- Revised Figure 6.50 - Viewpoint 2 Bonar Bridge (NS)
- Revised Figure 6.29 - Other Wind Farms within 20 km
- Revised Figure 6.28 - Other Wind Farms within 45 km
- Revised Figure 6.19 - PVRs to 20 km BT ZTV and Viewpoints
- Revised Figure 6.15 - LCTs within 20 km with BT ZTV and Viewpoints
- Revised Figure 6.12 - LDs to 20 km with BT ZTV and Viewpoints
- Revised Figure 6.8 - Turbine Lighting Intensity ZTV to 20 km with Viewpoints
- Revised Figure 6.7 - Lit Turbine ZTV to 20 km with Viewpoints
- Revised Figure 6.6 - Hub Height ZTV to 20 km with Viewpoints
- Revised Figure 6.5 - Hub Height ZTV to 45 km with Viewpoints
- Revised Figure 6.4 - Blade Tip ZTV to 20 km with Viewpoints
- Revised Figure 6.3 - Blade Tip ZTV to 45 km with Viewpoints
- AI Figure 6.83 Cumulative Photomontage VP10 - Struie Viewpoint on B9176 (THC)
- AI Figure 6.83 Cumulative Photomontage VP10 - Struie Viewpoint on B9176 (NS)
- AI Figure 6.83 - Cumulative Photomontage VP10 - Struie Viewpoint on B9176_c
- AI Figure 6.82 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 16 Ord Hill
- AI Figure 6.81 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 15 A836 Rhian Bridge
- AI Figure 6.80 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 14 Carn Chuinneag
- AI Figure 6.79 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 13 A837 Strath Oykel
- AI Figure 6.78 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 12 Achnairn, near Caravan Park
- AI Figure 6.77 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 11 West Langwell
- AI Figure 6.76 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 10 Struie Viewpoint on B9176
- AI Figure 6.75 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 9 Lairg Cemetery
- AI Figure 6.74 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 8 Auchintoul
- AI Figure 6.73 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 7 A836 at Ardchronie
- AI Figure 6.72 - Comparative Wireline VP 6 A839 Between Lairg and Rosehall
- AI Figure 6.71 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 5 Creagan Glas
- AI Figure 6.70 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 4 Ardgay
- AI Figure 6.69 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 3 Core path
- AI Figure 6.68 - Comparative Wireline Viewpoint 2 Bonar Bridge
- AI Figure 6.67 - Comparative Wireline VP 1 Minor Road, Drochaid na h-Uidh
- AI Figure 6.66 - Comparative Hub Height Zone of Theoretical Visibility
- AI Figure 6.65 - Comparative BT ZTV – EIA Layout vs Revised Layout to 20km
- AI Figure 2.2 - Design Iterations
- AI Figure 2.1 - Revised Proposed Development
- AI Report Volume 1 Chapters 1-14
*Please note that this figure is based on 8 turbines with an installed capacity of 36 MW at a site derived capacity factor of 35.6% and assuming 3,323 is the average UK household electricity consumption in kW hours (based on most recent statistics from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Dec 2025 (DESNZ)