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A planned wind farm could have a “significant” impact on some island communities, conservation chiefs at the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) have warned.
The charity has set out details of its opposition to the proposed MachairWind development, which would see 91 to 144 turbines sited in waters to the north-west of Islay and to the west of Colonsay on Scotland’s west coast.
Developer ScottishPower Renewables has said the project could generate around two gigawatts (GW) of electricity – enough to power the equivalent of up to two million homes.
If it gets the go ahead from the Scottish Government, the energy firm said the wind farm could be up and running by 2033.
However the NTS has raised concerns about the impact the development could have on some of the island communities it cares for.
A statement from the charity made clear it “supports the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, including the development of offshore wind”, but it added that such projects “must be at the right scale and in the right location to minimise negative impacts on communities, heritage, and nature”.
It added: “The trust does not agree that the MachairWind offshore wind farm is in the right location.
“The scale and magnitude of impact will be significant on island communities, landscape, marine mammals and environment, the tourist economy, habitability, and the cultural heritage of Iona, Staffa, and the Treshnish Isles, locations that are in the care of the trust.”
The NTS owns much of Iona, which is famous for sacred sites such as Iona Abbey, while Staffa, a national nature reserve also owned by the conservation charity, is famed for its puffin population and Fingal’s Cave.
The Treshnish Isles, which are owned by the NTS, have been designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSI) and are said to be an important nesting site for puffins, guillemots, and razorbills.
The NTS said it is “concerned about the ornithological impact of the MachairWind development”, suggesting this should be “closely examined” when considering if the project goes ahead.
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