Plan to repower windfarm with turbines as high as 46 double-decker buses rejected

Campaigners in the Borders have welcomed a decision to object to repowering a windfarm which would incorporate some turbines the height of 46 double-decker buses stacked on top of each other.

Crystal Rig windfarm is situated between Dunbar in East Lothian and Duns in Berwickshire.

East Lothian Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to object to the re-powering proposal, due to “significant omissions” in the impact assessments provided by Fred Olsen Renewables.

Crystal Rig windfarm comprises four linked sites, with a total of 102 turbines due to be in operation once the final phase is completed next year, along with 50,000 solar panels.

At the same time as the ongoing development of Phase 4, Crystal Rig 1 has come to the end of its life.

The developer now intends to remove the 25 original turbines and their concrete foundations, rebuilding with 10 taller turbines, of which six will have a maximum tip height of 230m – the equivalent to 46 double decker buses stacked horizontally.

The other four turbines will have a maximum tip height of 200m.

Rory Steel, chair of Lauderdale Preservation Group, commented: “We welcome the objection brought forward by East Lothian Council. This so-called repowering is in fact a major new construction project, following on from two decades of construction and disruption for people living in the area.

“This is already one of the UK’s largest onshore windfarms and the new turbines will be absolutely huge, visible for miles around. Fred Olsen Renewables describes it as re-powering but it in fact requires new turbines, while the concrete foundations will need to be dug up and disposed of, along with the construction of new concrete foundations. The carbon emissions from this development are likely to be significant.

“Crystal Rig has been an eyesore in the area for more than 20 years. It is just one of the many massive industrial projects which have been built in the Scottish Borders, destroying the tranquillity of the region and devastating the previously unspoilt landscape.

“To allow such developments to proliferate across the Scottish Borders flies in the face of the Scottish government’s repeated commitment to protect our wildlife, rural communities and natural environment.”

The majority of the turbines at the Crystal Rig site are within the Scottish Borders Council area, but the new turbines will be transported across East Lothian.

East Lothian Council officials highlighted several omissions from the developer’s Environmental Impact Assessment Report, including up-to-date ecological surveys for the entire route to be used by the construction vehicles and an up-to-date tree survey.

The planning committee also noted “the potential for significant impacts arising during the construction and decommissioning phases, particularly along the public road network”.

Dunbar Community Council, in its response to the Crystal Rig consultation, stated: “It is noted that Fred Olsen Renewables Ltd have chosen to repower the current windfarm rather than remove the current structures and restore the land as was proposed in the original application…”

Dunbar Community Council questioned whether the current turbines would be recycled or discarded, and also highlighted road safety issues as the turbines are removed and new turbines transported along rural roads, including accident hotspots.

The Community Council also raised concerns about the cumulative impact of numerous renewable energy developments on the landscape of the Lammermuirs.

It is expected that the Scottish government’s ECU (Energy Consents Unit) will rule on the re-powering proposal in the coming weeks.