Helping Scotland get wind (r)evolution right
Refreshing old wind farms brings new opportunities, writes Nick Shenken
Over the past two decades, onshore wind has become a familiar feature of the Scottish landscape, with communities increasingly living alongside renewable infrastructure.
Our involvement in renewable projects tells us Scotland’s wind story is not reaching its final chapter. Could it be the start of a new revolution in onshore wind development? The answer to that question is part revolution, part evolution. The debate is no longer whether Scotland should build onshore wind: We've successfully done it already, planning policy remains supportive, the project pipeline is strong and the need for low-carbon power is clear.
So, what will the next era look like?
New projects remain part of the “revolution” story. Grid reforms shifted some onshore wind focus south of the border but some Scottish projects with grid connection offers have still to be constructed. Developers are also retaining interest in planning for projects in Scotland beyond that, whether independently or through joint development agreements with others. Some of that interest resides in the belief grid capacity will open up, some of it is longer term (later 2030s) and some anticipate south Scotland represents a sensible “hedge” if onshore wind targets for England can’t be delivered in full.
As for evolution, many wind farms first consented in the original tranche of development will be nearing the end of their operating lives. Repowering opportunities for those original wind farms will be central to this next phase. The first generation of Scottish onshore wind farms were built with older technology and different commercial assumptions. Replacing those turbines with the modern equipment being used in new wind farms could increase output from existing sites already connected to the grid and embedded in (and benefiting) local communities.
Repowering can be attractive, reducing the need to find entirely new locations and making better use of land already committed to renewable generation. Yet it is not a simple technical upgrade; a repowered scheme may need fewer turbines, but those will often stand higher, generate more power and have a different profile. For developers that means careful planning, including updated land arrangements, fresh assessments, consents and revised project design.
Questions for landowners involve long-term commercial and legal decisions. New and repowered wind farms can shape land use, income, and succession planning for another generation. For communities, repowering also raises questions about refreshed benefit arrangements and consultation where the landscape impact changes, even if the site is familiar.
Another question relates to the grid. Scotland’s wind resource is strongest in many rural and remote areas, while much of the demand for power sits elsewhere. The grid infrastructure needed to move that electricity will pose further questions for those involved in new and repowered projects.
All these questions might not yet have answers but the law will help provide those because it is not just a mechanism for getting projects consented. It is also the framework through which competing interests are managed: climate targets, private property rights, environmental protection, community engagement, and reliable infrastructure.
The Scottish landscape has already changed before our eyes; by 2035, it will change again. The new era requires careful planning, fair negotiation and clear understanding of stakeholder interests to ensure it delivers a durable, credible energy transition rooted in local communities. And although we don’t have all the answers yet, we will, by helping Scotland to get the next wind (r)evolution right.
Nick Shenken is a Future Energy Partner, TLT. This article was co-written by Hilary Gordon, Legal Director.