Stornoway Windfarm (2019 Application)

We have objected to an application by Lewis Wind Power for a wind farm to the south west of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. We think that the current proposal would have an unacceptable impact on nationally important populations of red-throated diver, hen harrier, white-tailed eagle and golden eagle on Lewis. The proposal is also adjacent to the Lewis Peatland Special Protection Area with impacts predicted for the red-throated divers and golden eagles using this area.

The applicant is required to calculate how many birds are predicted to be killed through collisions with the turbine blades. These calculations have predicted that 4 hen harriers, 10 red-throated divers and 16 white-tailed eagles and 8 golden eagles would be killed by this windfarm alone over 25 years. When considered in combination with other wind farms in the area, the impacts would be even greater and would affect future populations of these bird species over a large area. The turbines and roads would also cause disturbance to red-throated diver and hen harrier as some are proposed very close to nest and roost sites.

The current proposal is for the same site on which a 36 turbine windfarm was granted consent in 2012. Compared to the 2012 scheme, the new proposal has a different layout with taller turbines (180m to tip) capable of generating more electricity. RSPB Scotland withdrew our objection to the old scheme in 2012 after six turbines, which were likely to have the greatest collision risk for golden eagle, were removed. You can read about our work on this case here. We knew then that the site was very sensitive and it would be a challenge to develop due to the protected birds on and near the site, but a lot has changed on the site since 2012.

The predicted impacts from the new proposal on birds are much greater than those predicted for the consented scheme. More birds are using the site, the layout has changed and the proposed turbines are larger. The current application was made in 2019 for 35 turbines, but the applicant has since removed two of the turbines, acknowledging these would have a particularly bad impact on nesting red throated divers and foraging golden eagles on the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area. They have also carried out more assessment on the likely impacts on golden eagles and provided more information on how they would avoid disturbance to birds during construction. However, these changes do not go far enough and further turbine removal is required.

This area is extremely important for a number of iconic bird species of conservation concern. The application site is adjacent to the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area, an internationally important area for birds including golden eagles, red-throated and black-throated divers. The Western Isles currently supports an important percentage of the UK white-tailed eagle, red-throated diver, golden eagle and hen harrier populations (approximately 30%, 25%, 20% and 10% respectively). As these species are scarce or in decline in other parts of the UK, the Western Isles populations is extremely important for these birds and impacts here would be nationally significant.

Since 2015 the application site has become home to the first recorded population of breeding hen harriers on Lewis. There are now approximately 10 pairs of hen harrier breeding in this area and two communal roosts have been located. This population is nationally important and comprises more than 1% of the UK population and extending the breeding range of the hen harrier to the north western edge of Scotland.

The Lewis white-tailed eagle population has almost tripled since 2011. This is great news and means more birds use the area, but this means unfortunately more risk of birds colliding with the turbines blades and being killed. The number of red-throated divers breeding at the site has also increased and collision risk to golden eagles remains high.

The developer’s own assessment predicts that 16 white tailed eagles, 12 red-throated divers, 8 golden eagles and 4 hen harriers are likely to be killed by the proposal through turbine collisions over 25 years.

Since 2012, when the previous application was granted on the site, the risk of birds being hit by turbine blades on Lewis has also increased due to other windfarms being consented or built on the Western Isles. Taken together with the current proposal the impacts from these deaths on bird populations would not be acceptable.

RSPB Scotland is supportive of renewable energy development, but it needs to be carefully located to avoid unacceptable impacts on wildlife. We are facing a twin climate and nature crisis, with huge losses of biodiversity in Scotland and worldwide. We need action to meet these challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss in tandem. The current proposal would contribute to mitigating climate change through the provision of renewable energy but at the unnecessary and avoidable expense of species of high conservation concern.

We are concerned about the high numbers of birds that are predicted to be killed by the turbine blades and the potential loss of available habitat if eagles, divers and harriers are displaced by the windfarm. Some of the turbines would be positioned very close to hen harrier nest sites and roosting areas and very close to red-throated diver nest sites.

We welcome the applicant’s submission of additional information and the removal of two turbines, taking the total number proposed down to 33. However, we have asked that a further 6 turbines are removed as these are too close to harrier and diver nest sites and close to a communal harrier roost and are likely to disturb these birds. The removal of these turbines will also reduce collision risk. We would then consider the scheme again if this was done to see if the effects were acceptable.

• November 2020
  Further additional information is submitted by the applicant relating to peat, ornithology matters and the deletion of two turbines (Turbines 24 and 34)
  
  
• April 2020
  RSPB Scotland maintains our objection due to predicted impact on nationally and internationally important birds
  
  
• March 2020
  The applicant submits additional information in relation to predicted impacts on birds
  
  
• July 2019
  NatureScot (then called SNH) object as the proposal could affect nationally and internationally important natural heritage interests and requested further information
  
  
• June 2019
  RSPB Scotland objected to the proposal and requested more information
  
  
• May 2019
  Application for up to 35 wind turbines is submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit
  
  
• August 2018
  RSPB Scotland responded to a scoping consultation for a new proposal on the site raising concerns over potential impacts on hen harriers that had started breeding on the site.

Useful links:

• Energy Consents Unit
• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar planning portal - please search for refence 19/00242/CONSG

Key species affected:

• Hen harrier
• White-tailed eagle
• Golden eagle
• Red-throated diver
• Black-throated diver