Renewable Energy

Highland Renewable Energy Strategy

The Highland Renewable Energy Strategy was formally approved at the Council meeting held on 4 May 2006.  Further information is available from the link below:

• Highland Renewable Energy Strategy

In May 2008, the Council’s Planning, Environment & Development Committee agreed to begin a review of the spatial planning framework for onshore wind energy development, in response to Scottish Government’s Scottish Planning Policy 6 “Renewable Energy” (March 2007).  Further details of that review will be given here as that review progresses.

Renewable Energy

Large scale hydro electric schemes were constructed in Highland after the Second World War and these are now being added to by wind farms and smaller scale hydro projects. These have been stimulated by central government policy to respond to climate change. The Council is the planning authority for wind energy schemes up to 50 megawatts and for hydro electric schemes up to 1 megawatt. Above these capacities, consent is sought from Scottish Ministers under the Electricity Act, 1989. However, the Council is a statutory consultee of the Scottish Executive.

The Council’s general policies towards renewable energy developments are contained in the Highland Structure Plan, 2001. Part 2.12 relates to Energy Production but it is important to refer also to the General Strategic Policies (Part 1.7) and to any other relevant parts. More detailed policy information may then also be contained within the relevant Local Plan.

The Scottish Government has a database of renewable energy projects at various stages on its website.

You can view a map of current wind farm and small scale hydro activity in Highland by clicking the link below:

• Highland Wind Farm Activity - June 2008 (pdf 1.2mb).