Wind Farm Development Signs Agreement For Watten Community Turbine Ownership

20th May 2010

Developers behind the Spittal Hill Wind Farm in Caithness, Steven and Tom Pottinger, have reached agreement with Watten Community Council over local community ownership of a turbine.

The 30 turbine wind farm, situated on the eastern flank of Spittal Hill would have an installed capacity of up to 75MW, meeting the average energy needs of some 45,000 households and offsetting the annual release of over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Should it receive planning consent, community ownership of a turbine has the potential to generate c. £50,000 per annum of community benefit in the initial years, with the electricity it produces going to the National Grid to be bought by power companies. This figure will however increase to several hundred thousand pounds per annum thereafter, providing a major local economic boost to the Watten community.

Turbine ownership was one of the most popular options to deliver community benefit at the exhibition held in December by Spittal Hill Wind Farm Ltd and is now delighted to be able to deliver on this.

The community council is being advised and supported by Community Energy Scotland (CES) on the setting up of a company to handle community benefit from the turbine. CES is an independent Scottish charity, which actively supports and funds community groups throughout Scotland to develop sustainable energy projects

Jim Macdonald, Chairman of Watten Community Council commented:"Turbine ownership will provide a positive benefit to the local community and inject much needed investment locally should planning permission for the wind farm be granted. We look forward to continuing to work with Community Energy Scotland and Spittal Hill Wind Farm on delivering the considerable benefits arising from this."

Jon Priddy, Highland area manager for Community Energy Scotland said:"Turbine ownership is an excellent opportunity to maximize community benefit, and we have welcomed the opportunity of working with Watten Community Council to further their aspirations in developing a community project on the Spittal Hill Wind Farm."

Spittal Hill Wind Farm Ltd has already signed a memorandum of understanding with AOC Archaeology Group for the development of an experimental archaeological centre within the Spittal area of Caithness.

Should it receive planning consent the wind farm will contribute financially to support an Archaeological Research Centre (ARC) which highly-respected organisation, AOC Archaeology Group, is proposing with members of the local Spittal community. Consistent with a network of other heritage projects in the county, the ARC could not only provide much-needed local employment, but will give a significant boost to the Caithness economy, increasing tourist visits and "bed nights" within the area.

The project has the potential to follow that of Land of Legends at Lejre in Denmark, which started out as an archaeological research station, and now attracts 55,000 tourists and school children each year to undertake a programme of workshops and activities, bringing 10,000 years of Danish history to life. The local rural Danish economy has also developed around the centre, and new initiatives, including a weavers shop, pottery and smithy, and various handicraft shops and other outlets have opened to service the demand created by the centre.

Highland Council will benefit in excess of £1 million per annum in business rates from the windfarm development, and it is estimated that Highland based businesses could benefit to the tune of up to £20 million from construction.

In addition to employment jobs associated with the running of the wind farm, 100 construction jobs are likely to be created, and local firms in the quarrying and construction industry could benefit from contracts awarded by the wind farm development.

The development would also provide a source of diversified income to nine different local businesses.

Tom Pottinger from Spittal Hill Wind Farm Ltd commented:"We are delighted to have come to an arrangement with Watten Community Council over turbine ownership and the community benefit arising from this. This builds on the agreement we have with AOC Archaeology on support for an archaeological centre and also enhances the benefits that will accrue to locally based businesses, both during construction and the ongoing maintenance of the wind farm."

Backed by Norwegian company, Statkraft, Europe's largest generator of renewable energy, the proposed wind farm on Spittal Hill is likely to bring a number of benefits, including:

* The development will meet the average needs of some 45,000 households and offset the annual release of 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.
* In excess of £1 million to Highland Council in business rates per annum.
* The capital cost of the development is c.£112 million.
* It is estimated that Highland based businesses could benefit to the tune of up to £20million.
* In addition to employment jobs associated with the running of the wind farm, up to 100 construction jobs are likely to be created.
* Local firms in the quarrying and construction industry could benefit from contracts awarded by the wind farm development.
* The development would provide a source of diversified income to nine different localized businesses.

The Spittal Hill wind farm proposal by Spittal Wind Farm Ltd consists of 30 turbines on the eastern flank of the hill, between the A9 and A882 to the east of Spittal village. The wind farm would have an installed capacity of up to 75MW, meeting the average energy needs of some 45,000 households and offsetting the annual release of over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.