Welcome to Corr Chnoc Wind Farm

The aim of this website is to provide easy access to the latest information on Corr Chnoc Wind Farm, as well as how you can get involved and share your views. 

Galileo is proposing a development of up to 15 wind turbines and energy storage, located on land at Dunach Estate, situated approximately 2km northeast of Kilmore and 5km east of the centre of Oban.

With a generating capacity of up to 90 megawatts (MW), the wind farm will be supported by a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a storage capacity of up to 50MW.

At Galileo, we are committed to working with local communities and stakeholders to responsibly develop renewable energy projects that help to deliver Scottish climate change targets and ensure a green and sustainable future for generations to come.

The Corr Chnoc Wind Farm development will make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of our electricity system, supporting a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as delivering major community benefits. These include the potential for reductions in electricity bills.

Tackling the Climate Emergency

“Right now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale. Our greatest threat in thousands of years, climate change.” 1

Sir David Attenborough

The proposal for Corr Chnoc Wind Farm is set against the backdrop of the climate emergency, and the need to transition to renewable energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from polluting fossil fuels.

It is no understatement to say that man-made climate change is the defining crisis of our time, and it is happening even more quickly than we feared, with major global impacts.

No corner of the globe is immune from the devastating consequences and Scotland is no exception. The Met Office has confirmed that 2022 was Scotland’s hottest year since records began in 1884, and all ten of the UK’s warmest years took place in the past two decades.2

Corr Chnoc Wind Farm will play its part in tackling this overall challenge, supporting the delivery of the Scottish Government’s ambitious legally-binding target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.3  It could power the equivalent of up to around 63,000 homes annually with clean, low-cost renewable electricity.4

Replacing polluting fossil fuels, the dominant cause of global warming, Corr Chnoc Wind Farm could save up to around 88,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.5 

Recent events, such as the war in Ukraine, have also focused people’s minds on the risks of overreliance on imported fossil fuels, with the rising cost of gas driving the huge increase in energy bills, a key cause of the cost-of-living crisis.

Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of new-build electricity generation in the UK, and therefore has a key role to play in addressing of this crisis.

The growth of secure homegrown renewable energy can also help to insulate Scotland and the rest of the UK from future price shocks, and play a key role in decarbonising heat, power and transport.

Turbine Layout…

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey digital map data @ Crown Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Licence number 0100031673

Project Proposal

The proposed development site, which comprises a mix of agricultural land and small sections of commercial planting, benefits from an excellent wind resource and has no landscape, ecological or cultural designations that restrict its scope for accommodating a wind farm.

Comprising up to 15 wind turbines with a generating capacity of up to 48MW, Corr Chnoc Wind Farm is proposed to have a maximum blade tip height of 200m. Turbine technology has advanced considerably in recent years, meaning that turbines are now taller and more efficient, which enables them to generate a significantly greater amount of renewable electricity per turbine.

A proposed BESS, with a storage capacity of up to 50MW, will support the wind farm, allowing electricity generated by it to be stored and released into the grid when needed most. This will allow energy to be available when the wind is not blowing, and has an essential role to play in replacing fossil fuels.

Helping to cut our greenhouse gas emissions, the proposed wind farm and BESS will assist in tackling the climate emergency and support Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon future.

Additional to these environmental benefits, Corr Chnoc Wind Farm will provide long-term economic and social benefits. These include providing funding to support local initiatives, in addition to providing construction and operational employment opportunities.

As the combined capacity of the proposed wind farm and BESS will exceed 50MW, an application for planning consent will be submitted to the Scottish Ministers for determination under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Argyll and and Bute Council will be a key statutory consultee as the host planning authority.

The application will be administered by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU), and is expected to be ready to be submitted in Spring 2024.

Facts and Figures

Location

Site is approximately:

  • 2km northeast of Kilmore
  • 5km east of the centre of Oban
  • 6km south of Connel
  • 6km southwest of Taynuilt

Specification

  • Up to 15 wind turbines
  • Maximum blade tip height of 200m
  • Generating capacity of up to 90MW
  • Wind farm lifetime of up to 50 years
  • BESS with a capacity of up to 50MW

Why Corr Chnoc?

  • Excellent wind speed
  • Could power up to around 63,000 homes annually
  • Could save up to around 88,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually
  • Long-term economic and social benefits locally
  • No environmental designations within the proposed development area

Community Engagement

At Galileo, we strongly believe in the need for ongoing dialogue regarding our projects. We promise to consult and listen carefully to views on the proposals for Corr Chnoc Wind Farm, making changes where possible.

As part of this process, we believe in meaningful and effective pre-application consultation (PAC), aiming to engage early on with the local community and other key stakeholders in advance of the submission of a section 36 application to the Scottish Ministers.

This helps to identify issues and concerns, as well as benefits and opportunities, that we can then consider when developing the wind farm proposal.

In advance of the submission of a scoping request to the ECU in June 2023, 6 we met with key stakeholders, including local community councils, as well as number of the properties closest to the turbines.

A scoping request seeks to obtain from the ECU the scope and level of detail of information that needs to be provided in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report that will accompany the section 36 application. An EIA is an assessment of the likely significant environmental effects arising from the proposed development.

These meetings served to introduce the project and describe the scoping process. Since then, we have spoken and corresponded with representatives of the local community councils and local residents, also responding to enquiries from those that have got in touch.

In response to the scoping opinion scoping received from the ECU in September 2023, and following feedback from the public and statutory consultees, we reduced the number of wind turbines from up to 18 to up to 15.

Public Consultation Events – October 2023

As part of our PAC process, we held two public consultation events in the local area in October 2023 to enable people to learn more about the development, discuss the proposal with our project team, and provide feedback on the initial early-stage design.

Consultation Event Dates

  • Taynuilt Village Hall, Taynuilt, PA35 1JH  | Monday 23rd October 2023 between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.
  • Kilmore and Kilbride Village Hall, Kilmore, PA34 4XT  | Tuesday 24th October between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.
October Newsletter consultation boards (click here to access) Consultation wirelines & photomontages (CLICK HERE TO ACCESS)
November Newsletter

Please return your feedback by Wednesday 8th November, or send your comments by post to Orbit Communications, 42 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQ. Email corrchnoc@galileoenergy.uk.

Contact us as per above or by calling 0131 202 3259 if you are unable to access this consultation material, or would like to obtain it by alternative means.

Any written consultation feedback submitted to Galileo will be considered by the project team over the coming months as the proposals are developed and refined. This is in addition to feedback from key consultees, and the findings from the technical and environmental studies that we are undertaking.

We also anticipate hosting a second series of public consultation events in early 2024, to update the local community on the proposal and present the final design.

These events will also refer to the written feedback received from the October 2023 events and consultation period, and explain any changes made to the proposals in response to this.

Any comments received are not representations to the Scottish Ministers. It is anticipated that a section 36 application for planning consent will be submitted to the ECU in Spring 2024, at which point there will be an opportunity to make direct representations to the Scottish Ministers.   

A PAC report will accompany any application. This will outline what public consultation has taken place and how any feedback has been taken on board, addressing any comments which could not be accommodated. 

Indicative Timeline

  1. 2022-2023

  2. Submitted to the ECU
    Click here
    June 2023*

  3. October 2023 and early 2024

  4. Spring 2024
  5. 2025
  6. 2028
  7. 2030

Galileo’s Community Offering

Galileo is committed to developing projects that deliver substantial and tangible long-term benefits locally, fostering strong community relations.

If consented, significant funding will be distributed to the local community over the lifetime of Corr Chnoc Wind Farm. In addition, it will create employment and provide opportunities for local businesses in areas such as construction and hospitality, as well as in the wider supply chain. Business rates will also be paid on the wind farm, helping to pay for local council services.

We not only adhere to but go beyond the Scottish Government Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits in what we offer as part of our development proposals.7

Community Wealth Fund

The wind farm will provide a real opportunity to build and contribute to a lasting and sustainable Community Wealth Fund, benefitting the local community over the lifetime of the wind farm and beyond.

Galileo is committed to exploring with local groups and organisations as to how a such a fund, worth up to £450,000 per annum index-linked for the operational lifetime of the wind farm, can best be distributed.

The extent of the fund will be based on a generating capacity for the wind farm of up to 90MW, with each MW providing a guaranteed income of £5,000 annually.

We actively encourage input from members of the local community concerning the types of local projects they would like to see benefit from the Community Wealth Fund.

Some suggestions to consider are highlighted below:

  • Renewable Electricity Discount Scheme (REDS)

It was clear from meetings with community councils, local organisations and individuals, that there was an interest in electricity discounts arising from the wind farm development.

The Corr Chnoc Renewable Electricity Discount Scheme (REDS) will provide a direct and tangible benefit to people living and working nearest to the wind farm, and be open to all residential, commercial and community properties.

A preliminary suggestion is that discounts on electricity bills range from £1,000 per annum for those properties located within 2km of the nearest turbine, to £600 for those between 3km and 4km (see map link below).This would be index-linked for the operational lifetime of the wind farm

The average electricity bill for the North of Scotland is £1,259 for 2022/23.8

It should be reiterated that this is purely indicative and subject to further consultation with the community.

REDS MAP (PDF) (CLICK HERE TO ACCESS)
  • Education and Training Fund

Galileo could set up a wind farm bursary scheme to encourage local students who want to extend their education but may not have the means to do so. Working with local schools, further and higher education providers, and Skills Development Scotland, this would support aspiring learners and those wanting to enter Modern Apprenticeships or develop land-based skills.

  • Fuel Poverty Fund

Funds could be distributed via ALIenergy (https://www.alienergy.org.uk), a sustainable energy charity based in Oban, to those suffering from fuel poverty in the wider area.

Community Shared Ownership

In addition to the Community Wealth Fund, up to 10% ownership of Corr Chnoc Wind Farm will be offered to the community surrounding the development to invest in. The profits generated by any ownership stake can be used to benefit the community.

By participating in shared ownership of a renewable energy project, communities can share in a range of benefits including developing a sustainable income stream over which they have control, creating strong partnerships, and building resilience in their local area.

Galileo has a long-term working relationship with Local Energy Scotland (www.localenergy.scot), the Scottish Government’s adviser on shared ownership, who can assist in providing professional advice and support to the local community.

In August, we brought together LES with local community councils and other stakeholders for an informative meeting to discuss potential models of shared ownership

Additionally, our team is extremely well-placed having been directly involved in successfully delivering community shared ownership elsewhere in Scotland.

Construction Community Fund

A Construction Community Fund will be made available to local groups and organisations to coincide with the start of construction until the commencement of the operation of the wind farm. This will help to offset any inconvenience caused during the construction period, and amount to around £100,000.

Opportunities for Local Businesses and Suppliers

In addition to the community benefits already highlighted, some of the most direct and meaningful benefits that can be delivered from a wind farm proposal like Corr Chnoc are jobs and employment opportunities for local businesses and contractors, in addition to the use of local services and amenities.

All of these can generate a significant amount of inward investment in the area.

Galileo is committed to ensuring that, wherever reasonably practicable, local employees and contractors are used in all aspects of wind farm development.

These opportunties include:

  • Construction, fencing, drainage and forestry contractors
  • Electrical contractors
  • Materials suppliers, such as building merchants
  • Plant hire and security
  • Waste management and fuel providers
  • Local hospitality providers, such as B&Bs

Galileo is keen to hear from local businesses who may be able to offer skills and services to Corr Chnoc Wind Farm, and we are working with Bid4Oban to maximise awareness of the opportunities available in the local supply chain.

If you are a local business and would like to know more about these, please contact us via our feedback form below or email us at corrchnoc@galileoenergy.uk. There will also be the opportunity to engage with us at the consultation events highlighted.

Ross Jamison

Project Manager

About Galileo

Galileo is a fast-growing pan-European, multi-technology, renewable energy developer, owner and operator, with a mission to significantly contribute to achieving global emission reduction targets.

We aim to do this by developing enough smart efficient, high-quality and integrated green energy projects, so that renewable energy becomes the primary source of electricity for all energy consumers in Europe.

Founded in 2020, Galileo currently has a project development portfolio of over 7000 MW across multiple European countries, including the UK, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Poland.

Our senior management team is made up of leading energy and investment experts that bring decades of international experience across more than 30 markets.

Galileo’s funders are long-term infrastructure and pension funds with a global footprint, international mindset and a collaborative mentality.

Further Information

To discuss the Corr Chnoc Wind Farm proposal in more detail, please contact:

Ross Jamison
Project Manager Galileo
7-9 N St David St Edinburgh EH2 1AW

Email: corrchnoc@galileoenergy.uk
Web: galileogreenenergy.uk