18th October 2026
Wind farms, battery storage, offshore wind and major electricity infrastructure are transforming the energy landscape in the far north. Here is a guide to the projects already under construction, those with consent and the proposals still going through planning.
Caithness and Sutherland are becoming an increasingly important part of Scotland's renewable energy industry. New wind farms are taking shape, battery storage projects are being proposed, and major offshore developments could bring further investment and employment opportunities to the region.
But keeping track of everything is not easy. Some projects have been approved but have yet to start construction. Others are already being built, while proposals elsewhere remain subject to planning decisions, appeals or public inquiries.
The distinction matters. Planning permission does not guarantee that a project will be built, and a wind farm under construction is not yet generating electricity. Equally, projects that have been waiting years for a grid connection can remain on the approved list without making an immediate contribution to energy supplies.
Here is a guide to the main developments across Caithness and Sutherland, including the important electricity infrastructure needed to connect them to the wider network.
Wind farms already under construction
Golticlay: turbines arriving through Wick
One of the most visible developments is Golticlay Wind Farm, around five kilometres north-west of Lybster.
Developed by RWE, the project comprises 11 Nordex turbines, each rated at 5.7 megawatts, giving a total capacity of approximately 62.7 megawatts. Farrans Construction is responsible for the main civil engineering work.
Construction began in 2025. Turbine components have been delivered through Wick, bringing activity to the port and requiring specialist transport movements through the town. RWE reported in September 2026 that the final turbine component had reached the site and installation work was beginning.
Full power generation was scheduled for the end of 2026.
Golticlay demonstrates how a renewable energy project can generate activity for local transport, engineering and other businesses before a single unit of electricity is produced.
Source: RWE's Golticlay project update.
Strathy South: a major development in Sutherland
Strathy South Wind Farm, south of the existing Strathy North development, is another major project moving into construction.
Developed by SSE Renewables, it will comprise 35 turbines with a combined capacity of 208 megawatts. Scottish Ministers granted consent in 2021, and the developer took its final investment decision in December 2024.
Construction was expected to begin in spring 2025, with commercial operations targeted for late 2027.
The project has taken more than a decade to progress from development to a firm construction commitment. Once operational, it will add a substantial amount of renewable generating capacity to Sutherland.
Source: SSE Renewables' Strathy South project page.
Strathy Wood: approaching its planned operational date
Strathy Wood Wind Farm, near the existing Strathy North site, is also under construction.
The RWE development received planning consent in December 2021 following a public inquiry. Scottish Ministers approved it despite Highland Council objections.
The project has 11 turbines and a planned capacity of around 62.4 megawatts. Construction began in September 2024, with civil engineering work followed by turbine component deliveries.
The project has been progressing towards its planned October 2026 operational date. Its position illustrates why it is important to follow construction progress as well as planning decisions: a consent granted several years ago can eventually become a substantial physical development on the ground.
Source: RWE's Strathy Wood project page.
Together, Golticlay, Strathy South and Strathy Wood represent approximately 333 megawatts of planned generating capacity. That is a substantial addition, although their combined capacity should not be confused with electricity already being produced.
Other approved wind farms awaiting development
Not every consented project has reached the construction stage.
Lairg 2 Wind Farm, with a proposed capacity of approximately 50 megawatts, is among the schemes that have received consent but have yet to generate electricity.
Chleansaid Wind Farm, north-east of Lairg, has a planned capacity of around 96 megawatts. Achany Extension, near Rosehall, would add further capacity to an established wind energy area.
Other approved projects in the wider area include Kirkan Wind Farm, near Aultguish, and Strathrory Wind Farm, in Easter Ross.
These schemes demonstrate the scale of the approved pipeline, but the time between consent and construction can be considerable. Developers must make investment decisions, secure suitable grid arrangements and organise the construction programme.
For local communities, this raises an important question: how many approved projects will progress to construction over the next few years, and how many will continue to wait?
New wind farm proposals still going through planning
The pipeline is not limited to projects that have already received consent.
At Barrock, near Thurso, Lochend Wind Farm Extension proposes five turbines with blade-tip heights of up to 149.9 metres, alongside battery storage. Highland Council's North Planning Applications Committee recommended granting the application on 30 September 2026.
Near Rosehall, Allt an Tuir Renewable Energy Park combines nine wind turbines, each up to 200 metres high, with battery storage, a solar photovoltaic array and associated infrastructure. The committee recommended that Highland Council raise no objection to the application being determined by Scottish Ministers.
These recommendations must be distinguished from final consent. A recommendation to grant, or a decision that the council has no objection, does not necessarily mean all the necessary approvals are in place.
Charleston Energy Park, near Barrock, is another proposal in the planning pipeline. It includes five turbines, battery storage and associated infrastructure.
The wider area also has proposals such as Tormsdale Wind Farm, near Halkirk, which has faced planning difficulties and further examination. The outcome of contested applications can depend on environmental assessments, landscape impacts, local objections and the planning process.
Highland Council's energy mapping tool is a useful way of following these cases because it includes applications at different stages, including pre-application work, full planning applications, approvals and refusals.
Source: Highland Council's North Planning Applications Committee, 30 September 2026.
Battery storage: making better use of electricity
Wind farms are only one part of the changing energy landscape. Battery storage is becoming increasingly important because electricity generation does not always match demand.
A battery can absorb electricity when supplies are plentiful and release it later. It does not create electricity, and its contribution depends on the amount of energy it can store and how long it can discharge.
Several large storage projects are proposed or approved in Caithness.
Mey Energy Storage, at Phillips Mains Farm near Mey, has received planning permission for a battery system capable of exporting up to 300 megawatts. It could help store electricity and release it when the network needs it.
Titan Battery Energy Storage Scheme, at Upper Dounreay near Thurso, is a proposal for a system capable of exporting up to 500 megawatts. Highland Council's committee considered the application in September 2026 and recommended that the council raise no objection to the Scottish Ministers determining it.
A further battery scheme is proposed at Limekiln, near Reay, alongside an extension to the existing wind farm substation.
The projects are significant because the challenge facing the electricity system is not simply how to generate more renewable power. It is also how to use that power at the right time and move it to where it is required.
Battery storage can help, but it cannot by itself solve every transmission constraint.
West of Orkney: a major offshore opportunity
The renewable energy story extends beyond the coastline.
The West of Orkney Wind Farm, located offshore west of Orkney and north of the Scottish mainland, received offshore consent from Scottish Ministers in June 2025. Its proposed capacity is around two gigawatts, with up to 125 turbines.
The development also involves onshore transmission infrastructure, including cable landfalls, an onshore substation and export circuits. The onshore proposals have received planning permission in principle.
The project is intended to deliver enough electricity to power around two million homes, although that is a developer estimate based on expected generation and typical household consumption.
For Caithness and Sutherland, the potential benefits extend beyond the turbines themselves. Offshore wind requires cables, substations, construction services, maintenance, ports, skilled workers and a supply chain capable of supporting a large industrial project.
The developers have announced plans to invest in the Scottish and UK supply chain. How much of that investment ultimately benefits local firms will depend on the contracts awarded, workforce skills and the location of facilities.
Source: West of Orkney Wind Farm.
Pumped-storage hydro: another part of the energy mix
Wind and batteries are not the only technologies under consideration.
The proposed Glen Earrach pumped-storage hydro scheme is another major energy development relevant to the Highlands. The project has been considered by Highland Council's South Planning Applications Committee.
Pumped-storage hydro uses electricity to pump water uphill into a reservoir when power is available. When electricity is needed, the water is released downhill through turbines to generate power.
Unlike a conventional battery, pumped storage can provide large amounts of stored energy over longer periods, depending on the design and water available. It does not create net energy, but it can help balance the electricity system as the share of variable renewable generation increases.
Such projects can involve substantial civil engineering, infrastructure and environmental considerations. Their contribution depends on planning consent, financing, construction and connection to the grid.
The electricity network is the critical issue
The number of proposed projects raises a difficult question: can the electricity network accommodate them all?
Renewable generation in the far north has sometimes exceeded what the transmission system can carry. When that happens, wind farms may be instructed to reduce or stop generation, even when wind conditions are favourable. Such curtailment can involve compensation payments to generators.
The region therefore faces a paradox. It has excellent resources for generating renewable electricity, and more projects are being built or proposed, but the network must be expanded and upgraded to make effective use of that power.
New transmission lines, substations and connections are part of the wider development picture. These projects can themselves be controversial, particularly where overhead lines cross open countryside or pass close to communities.
The issue is not simply whether more turbines should be approved. It is whether generation, storage and transmission are being developed in a coordinated way.
What will local communities gain?
The potential economic benefits are substantial. Construction can provide contracts for engineering, transport, accommodation, catering and other services. Long-term operations can create technical and maintenance jobs, while community benefit funds and business rates can support local areas.
But the benefits are not automatic. Construction jobs may be temporary, specialist workers may come from elsewhere, and a significant proportion of project spending may leave the region.
Local authorities and communities therefore have a legitimate interest in asking developers about local procurement, apprenticeships, employment, community investment and the lasting legacy of their projects.
There is also a broader question about whether the far north will become more than a place where electricity is generated and transmitted elsewhere. Skills, manufacturing, maintenance, energy storage and associated industries could help retain more value locally.
A major transformation, but not every proposal will be built
Caithness and Sutherland now have a substantial pipeline of wind farms, storage schemes, offshore developments and electricity infrastructure.
Some wind farms are under construction, including Golticlay, Strathy South and Strathy Wood. Other schemes have planning consent but are waiting to progress, while new proposals continue to enter the planning system. Offshore wind and pumped-storage hydro could add further dimensions to the region's role in the energy industry.
The scale of the opportunity is clear, but the outcome is not guaranteed. Projects can be delayed by grid connections, financing, planning conditions, supply-chain problems or changing market circumstances.
The next stage must be about more than counting turbines and announcing investment. It must ensure that the network can use the electricity being produced, that environmental impacts are properly considered, and that local businesses and residents share in the benefits.
Caithness and Sutherland are already playing an important role in Scotland's energy transition. The question now is how much of that growing investment will translate into lasting jobs, stronger local businesses and prosperity for the communities hosting the developments.
Energy Map for more details