Leading independent renewable energy generator, Fred. Olsen Renewables has applied for permission to develop Balnespick Wind Farm located 5.6km east of Tomatin and 6.6km north-west of Carrbridge, in the Highlands. If consented the wind farm will generate up to 64.8MW of clean electricity and could provide power directly to Tomatin Distillery.
Balnespick Wind Farm has been the focus of community consultation since 2023 and consists of nine turbines up to 200m to tip, alongside a battery storage facility. The feedback gathered locally has helped to influence many elements of the project – including the benefits it will deliver locally and helped to create a unique partnership between wind farm developers locally focused on responding to the needs of the area.
Kelly Wyness, Senior Project Manager at Fred. Olsen Renewables, commented, “Our plans for Balnespick Wind Farm have been designed to deliver for the Highland economy, tourism and community. A private wire to Tomatin Distillery could help the distillery to cut its energy costs, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and increase its use of non-fossil fuels.
“In turn we have also been working with local stakeholders to ensure that developers can collectively deliver for the local community, maximise the economic benefits that our proposals can bring to the area and support local aspirations.”
The proposals for Balnespick Wind Farm include a commitment to work with Tomatin Distillery to explore the potential to deliver a private wire of electricity directly from the wind farm, in turn helping the Distillery to:
- Reduce its energy costs
- Cut its greenhouse gas emissions
- Increase its use of non-fossil fuels
A spokesperson for Tomatin Distillery Ltd, commented, “Having produced whisky for 128 years, Tomatin Distillery is committed to delivering long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability.
“The environment is a key consideration in many of our decisions. Amongst many of our initiatives, in 2013 we became the first distillery in Scotland to install an environmentally efficient wood pellet fueled steam boiler for use in our production process. So, the opportunity to source our electricity requirements from a local low carbon supplier, like the Balnespick Wind Farm, is aligned with our commitments to both our net zero ambitions and to supporting the local economy.”
Fred. Olsen Renewables and Tomatin Distillery plan to partner with Caldera, a British cleantech pioneer, to decarbonise whisky production. Electricity produced at Balnespick, provided via the private wire, will be used by Caldera’s innovative Storage Boilers, storing it as heat for use in distillation. This approach enables Tomatin to maximise its use of renewable energy, lowering both carbon emissions and operating costs.
James Macnaghten, Chief Executive Officer, Caldera, commented, “Caldera is committed to helping distilleries like Tomatin decarbonise their operations. Wind power is an amazing renewable energy source, but its availability doesn’t always align with production needs.
“Our Storage Boilers solve this challenge by capturing wind-generated electricity whenever it’s available and storing it as heat until required at a fraction of the cost of electric batteries.”
Balnespick Wind Farm will also provide a community benefit fund valued at over £11m (index linked) over the 35 year lifespan of the wind farm. Fred. Olsen Renewables is part of a unique initiative which draws together the wind farm companies in the Tomatin area, designed to help the community further their engagement with renewable proposals and explore how the community benefits, combined, could be better utlised to deliver social and economic benefits locally.
Kelly added, “We are committed to ensuring that all of our developments make a positive contribution to the country’s climate change targets and supports energy security. However, we also recognise that our proposals need to go much further than that – and we hope that Balnespick Wind Farm can help to demonstrate the true opportunities that a wind farm can provide.”
Local residents and stakeholders are encouraged to have their say on the plans and further information can be found at www.balnespickwindfarm.com