‘Missing’ windfarm survey raises questions

Kinlochbervie residents are calling on their local community council to publish the results of a survey carried out more than 12 months ago.

Kinlochbervie Community Council asked local residents in June 2025 whether or not they were in favour of the windfarm proposed by Galileo Empower, but the responses have never been made public.

The Community Council’s own minutes show that completed questionnaires were provided to Galileo representatives at a meeting on 24 June 2025.

Margaret Meek, who has lived in Kinlochbervie for 35 years and is secretary of the Kinlochbervie Community Company said: “The simple question ‘Are you in favour of the windfarm?’ was part of a survey conducted at that time. It’s a pretty straightforward yes or no – but it has been withheld from all of us. Why is it being covered up? We don’t even know how many surveys were returned.  Everything must now be published in the interest of transparency.”

Kinlochbervie is one of the most remote sites proposed for a windfarm anywhere in Scotland. There is no grid connection nearby and the development would likely require a pylon line to be built across at least 20 miles of unspoilt landscape, to the nearest suitable substation.

The area is renowned for its important peatland and numerous environmental designations – including three Special Protection Areas for golden eagles, the Foinaven Site of Special Scientific Interest and Foinaven Special Area of Conservation, awarded by the European Union.

The proposed development site is within a designated Wild Land Area and is surrounded by land accredited as a National Scenic Area. The location is entirely within the NorthWest Highlands Geopark, which has UNESCO Global Geopark status and is described as ‘a landscape of world-class quality, significance and importance’.

Kinlochbervie Community Council has suggested undertaking an additional community survey once the formal planning application is submitted by Galileo, but this would only allow four weeks to circulate the survey and gather responses in the statutory period allowed for objections – far too little time in a rural community with limited internet use.

Kinlochbervie crofter Susan Black added: “Since the plan for the wind farm was announced over a year ago, many people in the community have felt that there has been too little opportunity for their views to be heard. We would welcome publication of the survey responses, so that the community can see what views have been expressed. At a time when there are such significant proposals for our area, it is important that the Community Council is clearly seen to be representing the views and concerns of local residents. This giant development will bring in millions for the landowner, but the rest of us are faced with devastation of the landscape we love.”

The Kinlochbervie windfarm proposes 15 wind turbines, each 200-metres tall, with substation, control building, anemometry mast, battery energy storage system, new access roads and aviation lights. A solar array is also under consideration. The development would also require a major new overhead line, with pylons, probably stretching for 20 or 30 miles to Shin or Dalchork.

The concerns raised in Kinlochbervie come at a time when energy policy is under increasing scrutiny due to the proliferation of windfarms in Scotland. In 2025 more than a third of wind power generated could not be used or exported and was simply discarded, due to national grid constraints. Of this discarded wind power, 99 per cent was generated in Scotland.

The cost of compensating energy companies for excess wind generated in Scotland and providing alternative power to homes and businesses in England hit a record high of £1.5bn in 2025. This figure is expected to reach £8bn per year by 2030.