| Project Status | In development |
| No of Turbines | Up to 11 |
| Power Rating of Turbines | Circa 6MW |
| Capacity of Site | Up to 66MW |
| Turbine Tip Height | Up to 180m |
| Site Grid Ref | NN 02 25 |
Barachander Wind Farm – Project Update May 2025
In recent years GreenPower has been developing the sister project to Carraig Gheal, known as the Barachander Wind Farm. This update details some of the history of the development process and outlines the next steps over the coming months.
The Barachander project was announced in 2023, and since then GreenPower has submitted a request for a scoping opinion from the Energy Consents Unit, for a development in the region of 11 turbines, along with supporting infrastructure and access tracks. This version of the project was presented to the local communities at a series of drop-in sessions held in September 2023, where a range of feedback was received on various aspects of the proposal.
As part of the delivery of the project, GreenPower is committed to a community benefit fund at £5,000 per MW of installed generating capacity, to support community priorities and initiatives. With a potential value of approximately £324,000 per annum (index linked).
Changes to the project
Since the first drop-in sessions, work has continued to refine the project design. This has included follow-up meetings with community members who raised specific concerns, as well as ongoing discussions with statutory consultees such as Argyll and Bute Council, NatureScot, and Historic Environment Scotland. Feedback from these engagements, along with findings from various environmental assessments, has shaped the evolving design.
Key changes to the project include:
- Fewer turbines – the number has been reduced from the original 11 to 9.
- Turbine relocation – turbine positions have shifted northwest to increase distance from the nearest residences.
- Revised access tracks and entry point – the tracks now align with the repositioned turbines in the north and west of the site. A new access point has been proposed further west, connecting directly to the West Loch Awe Timber Haulage Route (WLATHR), increasing distance from local homes.
- WLATHR upgrades – the West Loch Awe Timber Haul Route (WLATHR) is a 35km access route, jointly funded by GreenPower for Carraig Gheal Wind Farm deliveries. This will be reused for Barachander, helping keep construction traffic off local roads. Some sections will require upgrades to handle larger turbine components, which is being factored into the design.
In addition to these updates, a range of other considerations have been assessed during this phase of consultation, each weighed against known site constraints. The revised design reflects these inputs and aims to improve on the previous layout.
Upcoming Consultation (2025)
A second round of community consultation events is planned for mid-summer 2025. Details of these events will be advertised locally and made available on this project webpage once dates and venues are confirmed. For anyone unable to attend the events in person, there will also be opportunities to provide feedback in alternative ways. All of the updated project information will be made available to view here on this project webpage on the date of the drop-in events, including project feedback forms.
Exhibition Material and Visuals (September 2023 Exhibitions)
Scoping Documents