Subsidised waste

Almost two years ago Fergus Ewing, the SNP energy minister, not for the first time and certainly not the last, over-ruled local democracy and gave permission for the construction of the giant Dorenell wind farm on the Glenfiddich Estate in Moray.

Infinergy, which is a subsidiary of the Dutch company KDE, has applied to add nine more turbines to the already approved 59.

These turbines, by the way, will be 490ft high. It is not a coincidence that the subsidy for onshore wind power has recently been reduced by 10 per cent, however these nine extra turbines will more than make up for this.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Using figures from the National Fluid Power Association website, these additional turbines will generate about an extra £8 million a year, of which £3.7m would be a subsidy paid by consumers.

Using Infinergy’s claims for expected output, this wind farm will generate approximately £57m a year, £25m of which is subsidy.

The original amount offered to the local community to win it over was £350,000 a year.

No doubt Dutch shareholders in KDE will be laughing all the way to the bank. I would remind readers that wind power does not contribute to the security of electricity supply and has made next to no difference to carbon emissions. Despite this, the wanton destruction of Scotland’s scenery continues. The SNP should be ashamed.

Bob Graham

Inchberry

Moray

Related topics: