GLENLORA WIND TURBINE - Renfrewshire Council

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GLENLORA WIND TURBINE
1.2 Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
The scope of the EIA was discussed and agreed with Renfrewshire Council, statutory
consultees (such as Scottish Natural Heritage) and a wide range of other potentially
interested parties.
The ES includes a description of how the work was undertaken and any assumptions
used. It sets out the results of the assessment of likely impacts of the development
on the environment and describes measures proposed to reduce any environmental
impacts identified (known as ‘mitigation’).
Every effort has been made during the project design to ensure that the turbine
would have a minimal environmental impact and that the overall environmental
footprint of the scheme would be largely positive. Issues such as ecology,
landscape/visual effects and noise played a key role in the design of this
development.
1.3 Rationale for the project
Although Renfrewshire Council do not currently have a Renewable Energy Strategy;
in February 2007 the Council made a commitment with councils across Scotland to
reduce the effects of climate change. The Council has signed the Scottish Climate
Change Declaration which brings together the Convention of Scottish Local
Authorities, Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Executive in a commitment to
work with others to lessen the effects of climate change.
The site is located within the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Belt and the Clyde
Muirshiel Regional Park which are subject to specific planning and development
policies. Based on the above policy context, it is demonstrated in the ES that this
single turbine project is appropriate to the location and that its nature and
advantages would outweighs a continued protection of the private estate that it is
situated in.
1.4 The Proposed Development
Introduction
The proposed development at Glenlora Estate, near Lochwinnoch would comprise
the installation and operation of a single 800kW wind turbine no greater than 84m to
blade tip.
The Enercon E48 wind turbine is in the company’s medium-class power range. With a
maximum rated power of 800kW and around 7000 megawatt hours per annum
expected, it is the ideal choice for a ‘private’ estate. The green form of energy will
result in huge carbon savings per year over the turbine’s expected 25 year lifespan,
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