Onshore wind energy

Our Approach

Scotland has one of the best wind resources in Western Europe, so the Scottish Government has identified wind energy as being very important to meeting the renewable energy generation required under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland)  .

As a result, the scale of renewable wind energy development is likely to be substantial over the next few years and this could bring about major changes to our landscapes and have significant impacts on Scotland's nature.

Some places in Scotland are more likely to be affected by wind energy developments than other places because of the nature of the landscape or the type of plants and animals living there.  To help identify the most sensitive areas and steer developments towards places where the impacts may be less significant, we have produced Strategic Locational Guidance for Onshore Wind farms in respect of the natural Heritage  .

The maps associated with the guidance can be downloaded below:

• Designated landscape and recreation   Map1
• Non-designated landscape and recreation   Map2
• Designated biodiversity and earth science   Map3
• Non-designated biodiversity and earth science   Map4
• Zones of nature and landscape sensitivity   Map5

There is a range of guidance available which can help developers and consultants to design and assess wind farm proposals.

Assessing the impacts of windfarms on birds

• Bird survey methods for use in assessing the impacts of onshore wind farms on bird communities  (2005)
• Assessing collision risks (2000)
• Significance of impacts on birds within or affecting designated areas   
• Significance of impacts on birds outwith designated areas   (2006) 
• A Review of Disturbance Distances in Selected Bird Species   (2007) 
• Monitoring the impact of onshore wind farms on birds in Scotland January 2009 
• Guidance on methods for monitoring bird populations at onshore windfarms - January 2009 
• Guidance on Environmental Statements and Annexes of Environmentally Sensitive Bird Information   (2009)

Assessing the impacts of windfarms on the landscape

• Visual representation of wind farms   (2006) 
• Visual Assessment of Windfarms Best Practice   (2002) 
• Siting and designing windfarms in the landscape   (2009)
  helps to guide windfarms towards those landscapes best able to accommodate them and advises on how windfarms can be designed to best relate to their setting and minimise landscape and visual impacts. You can download a high resolution version of the 'Siting and designing windfarms in the landscape' guidance here  , but please note this file is 13.10MB and may take some time to download. Part 2 provides guidance for Planning Authorities on implementing Scottish Planning Policy .

General Advice and Information

• TIN051 - Bats and onshore windturbines: Interim Guidance   (2009)
• Joint Agency guidance TIN059 on Bats and single large wind turbines  (2009)
• Natural heritage assessment of small scale wind energy projects which do not require formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)   (2008)
• Cumulative Effect of Windfarms   (2005)
• Assessing the Impacts on Wild Land   (2007)
• Calculating carbon savings from wind farms on Scottish peat lands - A New Approach 
• Guidelines on the Environmental Impacts of Windfarms and Small Scale Hydroelectric Schemes 

Guidance

Contacts

Brendan Turvey

brendan.turvey@snh.gov.uk  01738 458622

 Kenny Taylor

kenny.taylor@snh.gov.uk  01738 458624