*In September 2024, an Application under Section 42 of the Town & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) was submitted to the Highland Council. For more information about this application please click here*
Who We Are
WKN GmbH is a leading German wind energy company and has been one of the leading project developers in Europe for almost 30 years. Our portfolio ranges from site development to planning and financing, as well as construction and operation, to technical and commercial management. Thus, covering all phases of a project, from the planning stage to the operation of wind farms.
Since July 2018, WKN GmbH has been a subsidiary of PNE AG. The PNE Group is a German wind power pioneer operating internationally and is one of the most experienced project developers of onshore and offshore wind farms. The brands PNE and WKN are united under the umbrella of the PNE Group and are jointly developing into an international provider of clean energy solutions.
Sallachy Estate
The Sallachy Estate is located 18.5km from Lairg. It has 6000 hectares of FSC certified woodland and has two holiday cottages and one lodge. This enables the estate to employ five equivalent full time staff. The estate uses local contractors for building and grounds work and local suppliers where possible. The estate’s income is generated from a variety of commercial activities – forestry, agriculture, fish farming, deer stalking and holiday lets.
WKN has been working with the Sallachy Estate, Lairg, Central Sutherland and its management on the Sallachy Wind Farm. We are committed to investing in Sutherland and believe the project represents a potentially significant economic boost to both the local area, by bringing investment and economic diversification, as well as benefiting the wider economic wellbeing of Sutherland.
We are pleased to have the financial involvement of the Sallachy Estate as a landlord and potential investor in the development.
Iain Thomson, Sallachy Estate said:
“The Estate has been working with WKN for many years now and we are committed to this project as both a supporter and investor. This investment will allow us to create and maintain local jobs and opportunities for the surrounding areas of Central Sutherland.”
Why Wind?
Renewable energies are sources of clean, inexhaustible and increasingly competitive energy. They differ from fossil fuels principally in their diversity, abundance and potential use for anywhere on the planet, but above all in that, they produce neither greenhouse gases - which cause climate change - nor polluting emissions. The earth's fossil fuel supplies (oil, gas, coal) are limited and will be depleted over time.
In order to limit global warming and to tackle climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said that global human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide will need to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050.
By 2030, the Scottish Government aims to generate 50% of Scotland's overall energy consumption from renewable sources, and by 2050 they aim to have decarbonized our energy system almost completely. The Highland Council has also declared a Climate Change Emergency and has committed to working towards a net zero Highlands by 2025.
Timeline
Q3 2020
Consultee and Community Consultation
Q4 2020
Environmental Impact Assessment Report Completion Planning Application
Q2 2022
The Highland Council Planning Decision - Approved
2026
Start of Construction
2028
Grid Connection Date
Next Steps
Sallachy Wind Farm was granted planning consent by The Highland Council’s North Planning Applications Committee in April 2022. We are committed to continuing to prioritise engagement with local communities throughout the next stage of our project and we will take great care to ensure our proposals meet the needs of local people and the local environment. We will come forward with a confirmed timescale in the coming months. Please ask a member of our team if you wish to be kept updated on our plan.
OUR TEAM
- WKN
- David Bell Planning
- ITPEnergised
- Alba Ecology
- Invicta Public Affairs
CONTACT
For further information please contact [email protected] or call our Community Hotline on, 0141 212 7123.