| Project Status | Operational |
| No of Turbines | 20 Turbines |
| Power Rating of Turbines | 2.3MW |
| Capacity of Site | 46MW |
| Turbine Hub Height | 9 turbines up to 63.3m, 11 turbines up to 78.3m |
| Turbine Tip Height | 9 turbines up to 109.8m, 11 turbines up to 124.8m |
| Site Centre Grid Ref | NM 97 21 |
Further information can be found on the Carraig Gheal website, including our application to extend the lifetime of the project.
GreenPower identified the Carraig Gheal wind farm site, proved its feasibility and secured the necessary land and access rights for the development. In Joint Venture with Statkraft, GreenPower then led the project to successful planning consent. Following Carraig Gheal’s consent, GreenPower formed a new partnership with the Ampere Equity fund in order to raise project finance of circa £90m and then managed the construction of the wind farm along with the 35km West Loch Awe Timber Haul Route (WLATHR) and wind farm access. In 2020 GreenPower secured a new finance partner with the sale of a 90% majority stake in its 46MW Carraig Gheal Wind Farm in Argyll and Bute, Scotland to RPMI Railpen (“Railpen”), which manages £30 billion of assets on behalf of the railways pension schemes.
| Key Contracts | |
|---|---|
| O&M | SiemensGamesa |
| OSM Site Management | GreenPower Developments Ltd |
| Operational Management | GreenPower Developments Ltd |
| Financial and Commercial Management | GreenPower Developments Ltd |
| Construction Management | GreenPower Developments Ltd |
| Turbine Supply | Siemens |
One of the challenges in building Carraig Gheal Wind Farm was the access to the site. The existing infrastructure was not suitable for transporting turbines on to Carraig Gheal due to the narrow single track roads and as the turbines would be transported from the south-west of Scotland, mainly from Campbeltown, a route leading from the public highway to the wind farm was considered.
GreenPower and the Forestry Commission identified the potential common purpose in jointly developing a forest road for strategic timber haulage which could also provide access to the wind farm for the delivery of turbine components.
The 35km WLATHR was therefore constructed with a funding contribution from the Scottish Timber Transport Service. Initially to be used for turbine deliveries, it would then be utilised by the Forestry Commission as a strategic timber haul route. This has greatly improved the haulage from the forests and displaces approximately 4,000 lorry loads a year from the public road. This has provided a welcome respite for the communities along the west shore of Loch Awe, relieved pressure on the public roads and reduced the road repair costs otherwise borne by Argyll & Bute Council.
Further information on Carraig Gheal Wind Farm and the WLATHR can be found on the Carraig Gheal website.
Carraig Gheal Wind Community Benefit Fund
GreenPower manages the Carraig Gheal Wind Community Benefit Fund which receives contributions from GreenPower twice a year. The fund is divided between two funding schemes; a micro grant scheme with awards of grants up to £500 available to individuals, constituted and non-constituted groups and the main grant scheme with awards of up to £10,000 available to constituted groups only.
Many local projects have benefitted from grants from the fund, three of which are detailed as case studies here. Further details on the fund and how to apply for a grant can be found on the Carraig Gheal website.