Outh Muir 5
REG WINDPOWER PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Outh Muir Turbines Turbine Height Electricity produced
Outh Muir Wind Farm
5 110m 12.5MW up to
up to
Welcome Thank you for coming to this community consultation exhibition about REG Windpower’s proposal to develop a wind farm on Outh Muir, north-east of Knockhill Racing Circuit. Today’s exhibition outlines our draft proposal, indicates next steps in developing the wind farm and the community benefit investment and provides an opportunity for you to comment.
project with the input of local residents and their representatives. We’ve been working with the independent Community Liaison Group to develop plans for potential community benefit schemes and keep the local community up-todate with our progress.
We’re keen to hear your views on our revised proposal. The project team is here to answer any questions you may have, and we invite REG Windpower is among the UK’s renewable you to fill in a feedback form. You can also energy trailblazers, starting life as Cornwall Light give your feedback via our website and Power back in 1989. We currently operate www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk and phone line 12 wind farms across the UK with another two 0800 088 4322 (calls from landlines are free). under construction.
This is our second round of exhibitions and part of our commitment to developing this
We look forward to hearing from you.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
REG WINDPOWER
Outh Muir Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
About Outh Muir Wind Farm
Outh Muir site location
The wind farm could produce enough renewable electricity to meet the equivalent annual needs of around 14,000 households (based on local wind data and DECC figures for domestic electricity consumption in 2011).
Finding the right site The wind farm could produce enough renewable electricity to meet the equivalent annual needs of around 14,000 households (based on local wind data and DECC figures for domestic electricity consumption in 2011). • Suitable wind speed • Limited effect on locally or nationally designated environments • Viable grid connection • Suitable access routes for construction • Distance from residential properties and settlements • Appropriate size and number of wind turbines for the landscape
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
Outh Muir
REG WINDPOWER
Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
About Outh Muir Wind Farm Draft layout The site is across the A823 north-east of Knockhill Racing Circuit, approximately 5km (3.1 miles) north-east of Saline and 6.5km (4 miles) northwest of Kelty.
The proposed wind farm The wind farm was originally envisaged as comprising eight turbines with a maximum height of 115m from base to blade tip. Through our detailed consultation and environmental studies, this has been reduced to five turbines, each with a maximum height of 110m from base to blade tip. The development will also include the following: • Permanent access tracks from the A823 • Underground cabling • An electrical substation and control building • Temporary site office and construction compound An electrical substation will be built on site, providing the connection from the wind farm to the local grid.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
Outh Muir
REG WINDPOWER
Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Community consultation We understand that even people who support wind farms can become anxious that their local area may become over populated with wind farms, or that wind turbines will be built in inappropriate locations. In reality, planning authorities are unlikely to allow this to happen. We use the consultation process to ensure that our developments are as sensitive as possible to local opinion.
How we will work with you
Community benefit
In September 2012, we started actively seeking feedback, comments and suggestions from local residents, and began meeting with elected officials, statutory consultees and other interest groups to find out their views.
We always aim to maximise investment in communities, including engaging local contractors whenever possible and establishing community funds.
We have a project website at www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk and a consultation phone line on 0800 088 4322 (calls from landlines are free) to ensure everyone has the chance to submit feedback. This is the second round of public exhibitions; the first round was held in October 2012. Alongside our public consultation we are continuing our environmental and other studies and we intend to submit our planning application this summer. An independent Community Liaison Group was established in December 2012 to help us engage directly with the local community. The Community Liaison Group is consulting on the potential community benefit schemes and, using their local expertise and knowledge, will make recommendations to us.
Every community has different needs, so we are as flexible as possible in designing a fund that suits local requirements. At Outh Muir, we are proposing £5,000 per installed MW per year. For the five turbine project we currently propose, the Community Benefit Fund could be worth up to £62,500 each year. If the project changes in size, the Community Benefit Fund will reflect this. REG Windpower would be happy to make a proportion of this money available up-front if there are specific projects or causes that would benefit from a larger lump sum. Wind farms can fund a range of initiatives such as education projects, regeneration, wildlife or tourism initiatives. Please fill in a feedback form to give us your ideas.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
REG WINDPOWER
Outh Muir Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Outh Muir and Fife’s leading role in green energy
Photomontage showing the proposed Outh Muir Layout (5 turbines at 110m to blade tip) from Viewpoint at Knockhill (OSGR 305418, 693809). Included angle of view 72 degrees. Camera used Canon EOS 5D. Direction of view 62 degrees. Distance to nearest turbine 1.875km. Viewing distance circa 415mm.
Residents and community groups have the opportunity to help shape our proposal, which we will submit to Fife Council this summer.
Located next to Knockhill Racing Circuit, the Outh Muir Wind Farm will add to the growing number of renewable energy projects in Fife, complementing work by other businesses using technologies such as hydrogen and offshore wind. Taken together, this mix of projects can help create the right local conditions for sustainable economic development so that Fife is able to reap the rewards of the growth in low carbon energy. Community benefit payments from onshore wind farms are just one way in which green energy projects help support communities. Fife is already developing the skills required by the renewable energy industry, with colleges training a new workforce that will help attract employers and investment to the area. In addition, the development of the Energy Park with offshore wind turbine testing facilities at Methil has created a manufacturing and research hub. Renewable energy projects must be developed while preserving Fife’s natural beauty, which is why REG Windpower is taking great care to work with planners, elected officials and local communities to ensure the Outh Muir Wind Farm is appropriate for the local area.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
Outh Muir
REG WINDPOWER
Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Studying the site at Outh Muir N
N
N
N
The layout of the wind farm has been developed in light of the identified constraints.
Although wind farms require plenty of space to operate, their actual footprint is very small. Typically they only occupy around one per cent of the site.
Our detailed design shows how we will avoid the most sensitive areas of the site. Also, our proposed mitigation measures proposal will minimise any potential effects and provide enhancement of some areas.
We know that Outh Muir has suitable wind speeds and meets a range of other requirements. We are continuing to carry out a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment to examine the wind farm’s potential effects on the environment.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
REG WINDPOWER
Outh Muir Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Outh Muir Wind Farm and its local environment
Photomontage showing the proposed Outh Muir Layout (5 turbines at 110m to blade tip) from Viewpoint at Craigluscar Hill (OSGR 306510, 691275). Included angle of view 72 degrees. Camera used Canon EOS 5D. Direction of view 13 degrees. Distance to nearest turbine 3.346km. Viewing distance circa 415mm.
Our planning application is being informed by a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, with support from specialist ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists, archaeologists and landscape architects. We have been undertaking ecological and ornithological surveys over an extended period. We have a good understanding of the habitats and species that Outh Muir supports and we
have drawn upon this knowledge in developing our proposals. Our assessment will consider the possible effects of the wind farm on these. We are also consulting with organisations such as Scottish Natural Heritage, the Fife Nature Records Centre and the Botanical Society of the British Isles for information on species of conservation interest within and adjacent to our proposed site.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
REG WINDPOWER
Outh Muir WIND FARM
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Next steps For more information Visit
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
Call free on 0800 088 4322
Thank you for coming today. This second round of exhibitions is intended to show you how we have adapted our plans for Outh Muir since our consultation began, as well as provide more detail on certain aspects of the proposal. We are keen to collect views and feedback from the local community before we submit our planning application in the summer, so we would be grateful if you could fill in one of our questionnaires. If you wish, you can submit the survey by post – just take one of the postage paid envelopes away with you today. Once we submit a planning application in the summer you will have a further opportunity to comment by formally submitting feedback to Fife Council.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
Outh Muir Turbines Turbine Height Electricity produced
Outh Muir Wind Farm
5 110m 12.5MW up to
up to
Welcome Thank you for coming to this community consultation exhibition about REG Windpower’s proposal to develop a wind farm on Outh Muir, north-east of Knockhill Racing Circuit. Today’s exhibition outlines our draft proposal, indicates next steps in developing the wind farm and the community benefit investment and provides an opportunity for you to comment.
project with the input of local residents and their representatives. We’ve been working with the independent Community Liaison Group to develop plans for potential community benefit schemes and keep the local community up-todate with our progress.
We’re keen to hear your views on our revised proposal. The project team is here to answer any questions you may have, and we invite REG Windpower is among the UK’s renewable you to fill in a feedback form. You can also energy trailblazers, starting life as Cornwall Light give your feedback via our website and Power back in 1989. We currently operate www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk and phone line 12 wind farms across the UK with another two 0800 088 4322 (calls from landlines are free). under construction.
This is our second round of exhibitions and part of our commitment to developing this
We look forward to hearing from you.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
REG WINDPOWER
Outh Muir Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
About Outh Muir Wind Farm
Outh Muir site location
The wind farm could produce enough renewable electricity to meet the equivalent annual needs of around 14,000 households (based on local wind data and DECC figures for domestic electricity consumption in 2011).
Finding the right site The wind farm could produce enough renewable electricity to meet the equivalent annual needs of around 14,000 households (based on local wind data and DECC figures for domestic electricity consumption in 2011). • Suitable wind speed • Limited effect on locally or nationally designated environments • Viable grid connection • Suitable access routes for construction • Distance from residential properties and settlements • Appropriate size and number of wind turbines for the landscape
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
Outh Muir
REG WINDPOWER
Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
About Outh Muir Wind Farm Draft layout The site is across the A823 north-east of Knockhill Racing Circuit, approximately 5km (3.1 miles) north-east of Saline and 6.5km (4 miles) northwest of Kelty.
The proposed wind farm The wind farm was originally envisaged as comprising eight turbines with a maximum height of 115m from base to blade tip. Through our detailed consultation and environmental studies, this has been reduced to five turbines, each with a maximum height of 110m from base to blade tip. The development will also include the following: • Permanent access tracks from the A823 • Underground cabling • An electrical substation and control building • Temporary site office and construction compound An electrical substation will be built on site, providing the connection from the wind farm to the local grid.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
Outh Muir
REG WINDPOWER
Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Community consultation We understand that even people who support wind farms can become anxious that their local area may become over populated with wind farms, or that wind turbines will be built in inappropriate locations. In reality, planning authorities are unlikely to allow this to happen. We use the consultation process to ensure that our developments are as sensitive as possible to local opinion.
How we will work with you
Community benefit
In September 2012, we started actively seeking feedback, comments and suggestions from local residents, and began meeting with elected officials, statutory consultees and other interest groups to find out their views.
We always aim to maximise investment in communities, including engaging local contractors whenever possible and establishing community funds.
We have a project website at www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk and a consultation phone line on 0800 088 4322 (calls from landlines are free) to ensure everyone has the chance to submit feedback. This is the second round of public exhibitions; the first round was held in October 2012. Alongside our public consultation we are continuing our environmental and other studies and we intend to submit our planning application this summer. An independent Community Liaison Group was established in December 2012 to help us engage directly with the local community. The Community Liaison Group is consulting on the potential community benefit schemes and, using their local expertise and knowledge, will make recommendations to us.
Every community has different needs, so we are as flexible as possible in designing a fund that suits local requirements. At Outh Muir, we are proposing £5,000 per installed MW per year. For the five turbine project we currently propose, the Community Benefit Fund could be worth up to £62,500 each year. If the project changes in size, the Community Benefit Fund will reflect this. REG Windpower would be happy to make a proportion of this money available up-front if there are specific projects or causes that would benefit from a larger lump sum. Wind farms can fund a range of initiatives such as education projects, regeneration, wildlife or tourism initiatives. Please fill in a feedback form to give us your ideas.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
REG WINDPOWER
Outh Muir Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Outh Muir and Fife’s leading role in green energy
Photomontage showing the proposed Outh Muir Layout (5 turbines at 110m to blade tip) from Viewpoint at Knockhill (OSGR 305418, 693809). Included angle of view 72 degrees. Camera used Canon EOS 5D. Direction of view 62 degrees. Distance to nearest turbine 1.875km. Viewing distance circa 415mm.
Residents and community groups have the opportunity to help shape our proposal, which we will submit to Fife Council this summer.
Located next to Knockhill Racing Circuit, the Outh Muir Wind Farm will add to the growing number of renewable energy projects in Fife, complementing work by other businesses using technologies such as hydrogen and offshore wind. Taken together, this mix of projects can help create the right local conditions for sustainable economic development so that Fife is able to reap the rewards of the growth in low carbon energy. Community benefit payments from onshore wind farms are just one way in which green energy projects help support communities. Fife is already developing the skills required by the renewable energy industry, with colleges training a new workforce that will help attract employers and investment to the area. In addition, the development of the Energy Park with offshore wind turbine testing facilities at Methil has created a manufacturing and research hub. Renewable energy projects must be developed while preserving Fife’s natural beauty, which is why REG Windpower is taking great care to work with planners, elected officials and local communities to ensure the Outh Muir Wind Farm is appropriate for the local area.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
Outh Muir
REG WINDPOWER
Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Studying the site at Outh Muir N
N
N
N
The layout of the wind farm has been developed in light of the identified constraints.
Although wind farms require plenty of space to operate, their actual footprint is very small. Typically they only occupy around one per cent of the site.
Our detailed design shows how we will avoid the most sensitive areas of the site. Also, our proposed mitigation measures proposal will minimise any potential effects and provide enhancement of some areas.
We know that Outh Muir has suitable wind speeds and meets a range of other requirements. We are continuing to carry out a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment to examine the wind farm’s potential effects on the environment.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
REG WINDPOWER
Outh Muir Wind Farm
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Outh Muir Wind Farm and its local environment
Photomontage showing the proposed Outh Muir Layout (5 turbines at 110m to blade tip) from Viewpoint at Craigluscar Hill (OSGR 306510, 691275). Included angle of view 72 degrees. Camera used Canon EOS 5D. Direction of view 13 degrees. Distance to nearest turbine 3.346km. Viewing distance circa 415mm.
Our planning application is being informed by a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, with support from specialist ecologists, ornithologists, hydrologists, archaeologists and landscape architects. We have been undertaking ecological and ornithological surveys over an extended period. We have a good understanding of the habitats and species that Outh Muir supports and we
have drawn upon this knowledge in developing our proposals. Our assessment will consider the possible effects of the wind farm on these. We are also consulting with organisations such as Scottish Natural Heritage, the Fife Nature Records Centre and the Botanical Society of the British Isles for information on species of conservation interest within and adjacent to our proposed site.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
REG WINDPOWER
Outh Muir WIND FARM
PA R T O F T H E R E G G R O U P
Next steps For more information Visit
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
Call free on 0800 088 4322
Thank you for coming today. This second round of exhibitions is intended to show you how we have adapted our plans for Outh Muir since our consultation began, as well as provide more detail on certain aspects of the proposal. We are keen to collect views and feedback from the local community before we submit our planning application in the summer, so we would be grateful if you could fill in one of our questionnaires. If you wish, you can submit the survey by post – just take one of the postage paid envelopes away with you today. Once we submit a planning application in the summer you will have a further opportunity to comment by formally submitting feedback to Fife Council.
www.outhmuirwindfarm.co.uk
