Children with a good sense of humour helped launch a north windfarm yesterday.
The 23-turbine scheme at Lochluichart near Garve, Ross-shire, was named The Spinny Turners by children of Strathgarve Primary.
The project, the largest onshore for Dutch renewable energy firm Eneco, will also feature a visitor centre with information on the local area and its history of energy generation.
With a generating capacity of 69MW, equivalent to fuel 39,000 homes, the project has taken two and a half years to complete and cost in the region of £70million to construct.
The local community is also set to benefit, said Eneco, with the company committing in the region of £5million to a community benefit fund. An independent body, the Lochluichart Community Trust, has been set up to oversee the distribution of the fund, which is hoped will leave a lasting legacy for the region.
The launch marks an important milestone for Eneco which currently has 210MW of onshore wind and solar power operational or under construction. Other projects include the Tullo windfarm in Aberdeenshire, and Moy and Burn of Whilk both in the Highlands.
Guy Madgwick, UK director said: “Today’s event has been really symbolic of the achievement that is the Lochluichart windfarm. While we are proud of the build of the project, its output and significance to Eneco as our largest onshore wind project, we are most of all extremely appreciative of the co-operation and warm welcome from the community.
“In creating this project, it’s really important to us that we are not only a good neighbour but also a fully contributing member of the Highland community – the local name given to the project by Strathgarve Primary School is, therefore, extremely fitting. For the future we have made a firm commitment to be a part of the community beginning with the recent opening of our operational office at Dochfour near Inverness.”
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