PLANS to build Scotland’s largest solar farm have been given the go-ahead.
Moray Council has granted planning permission for Elgin Energy’s proposed 20mw development near Urquhart.
The project could see around 80,000 solar panels installed at the 47-hectare Speyslaw site, along with a substation, 20 inverter stations and CCTV.
The local authority said all the cabling will be underground, meaning sheep will still be able to graze around the panels.
No trees, hedges or woodland will be removed and extra planting has been proposed.
Permission for the solar farm is valid for three decades, after which point the developer will have a year to decommission the works and restore the site to an agreed condition.
Claire Feaver, chair of Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee, said: “A significant amount of renewable energy will be generated by this solar farm over the next 30 years.
“The opportunity to continue grazing on the land, together with the habitat management plan, will maintain and enhance the diverse range of species in and around the site. I see this as a win-win.”
The largest solar farm currently in Scotland is a 13mw site constructed last year at Errol in Perth and Kinross, according to Elgin Energy.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here