Welcome to Lynemore Wind Farm

Galileo is proposing the development of up to 14 wind turbines and 50 MW of battery energy storage, located on land at Lynemore, approximately 2km Southwest of the A9 at Moy.

At Galileo, we are committed to working with the local community and other key stakeholders to responsibly develop renewable energy projects that help to deliver Scottish climate change targets and ensure a green and sustainable future for generations to come.

The Lynemore Wind Farm development will make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of our electricity system, supporting a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as delivering significant community benefits. These include the potential for reductions in electricity bills.

Tackling the Climate Emergency

“Right now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale. Our greatest threat in thousands of years, climate change.” 1

Sir David Attenborough

The proposal for Lynemore Wind Farm is set against the backdrop of the climate emergency and the need to transition to renewable energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from polluting fossil fuels.

It is no understatement to say that man-made climate change is the defining crisis of our time. It is happening even more quickly than we feared, with major global impacts. 

Lynemore Wind Farm will play its part in tackling the overall challenge and supporting the delivery of the Scottish Government’s ambitious legally-binding target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. It could power over 70,000 homes annually with clean, low-cost, renewable electricity.(1)

Replacing polluting fossil fuels, the dominant cause of global warming, the wind farm could save around 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually (2), supporting our transition to a low-carbon future. This is the equivalent of taking around 43,000 cars off the road.(3)

Recent events, such as the war in Ukraine, have also focused people’s minds on the risks of overreliance on imported fossil fuels. The rising cost of gas is driving the massive increase in energy bills, a vital cause of the cost-of-living crisis.

Onshore wind, one of the most cost-effective sources of new-build electricity generation in the UK, provides hope in addressing the energy crisis. Its affordability makes it a key player in our fight against climate change.

The growth of secure homegrown renewable energy can also help to insulate Scotland and the rest of the UK from future price shocks and play a key role in decarbonising heat, power and transport.

Turbine Layout…

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey digital map data @ Crown Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Licence number 0100031673

Project Proposal

The proposed development site is located on the northern fringes of the Monadhliath Mountains. Once a grouse moor, it now consists mainly of open Heather moorland and benefits from an excellent wind resource. Furthermore, it has no landscape, ecological or cultural designations that restrict its scope for accommodating a wind farm.

Comprising up to 14 wind turbines with a blade tip height of up to 200m, Lynemore Wind Farm will have a generating capacity of approximately 98MW, subject to turbine technology. Technology has advanced considerably in recent years, meaning that turbines are now taller and more efficient, which enables them to generate a significantly greater amount of renewable electricity using fewer turbines.

Galileo is also exploring the idea of a co-located Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) with up to 50MW of capacity. BESS are developments that store electricity via rechargeable batteries at times of high generation and low demand and release this energy back into the grid network in times of high need. This will allow low-cost, low-carbon electricity to be available, such as when there is no wind, and has an essential role in reducing our relaince on fossil fuels.

The proposed wind farm will help cut greenhouse gas emissions, tackle the climate emergency, and support Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon future.

Additionally, Lynemore Wind Farm will provide long-term economic and social benefits. These include providing a community wealth fund to support local initiatives, as well as construction and operational employment opportunities.

As the proposal exceeds 50MW, an application for planning consent will be submitted to the Scottish Ministers for determination under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. As the host planning authority, the Highland Council will be a key statutory consultee.

The application will be administered by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU). The scoping request was submitted in the Spring of 2024, and the full Section 36 application will be made in early 2025.

Community Engagement

At Galileo, we strongly believe in the need for ongoing dialogue regarding our projects. We promise to consult and listen carefully to views on the proposals for Lynemore Wind Farm, making changes where possible.

As part of this process, we believe in meaningful and effective pre-application consultation (PAC), aiming to engage early on with the local community and other key stakeholders, such as community councils and councillors, in advance of the submission of a Section 36 application to the Scottish Ministers.

This helps to identify issues and concerns, as well as benefits and opportunities, that we can then consider when developing and refining the wind farm proposal.

In advance of the submission of a scoping request to the Scottish Ministers via the ECU in March 2024, we met with key stakeholders, including local community councils, as well as a number of the properties closest to the turbines. 

Presentations outlining the project proposals were given to the Strathnairn and the Strathdearn Community Councils in March and July 2024, respectively. Locally elected members, including ward councillors, MSPs and the local MP, have all been updated with the plans as they have progressed.

Public Consultation Events 

As part of our pre-application consultation process, we held two rounds of public consultation events in the Farr Community Hall and the Strathdearn Hub in March and October 2024, respectively. These events allowed residents and community stakeholders to discuss the project directly with our team and provide feedback. 

At the October 2024 events, the project team presented an updated turbine layout, the final stage design, wirelines, and photomontages, which helped to give an impression of what the site could look like from different viewpoints in the area.

The exhibition boards that were displayed at our second round of public consultations and a summary of the feedback from the first round in March 2024 can be viewed by clicking below:

EXHIBITION BOARDS (ZIP) | 31/10/24 FEEDBACK PRESS RELEASE (30/05)

It is anticipated that a Section 36 application for consent will be submitted for determination in early 2025. At this point, there will be an opportunity to submit a formal representation to Scottish Ministers directly via the Energy Consents Unit.

A Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) report will accompany the application. This report will outline the public consultation that has taken place and been taken into account, addressing any comments on how feedback could not be accommodated.

Indicative Timeline

  1. 2022-2024

  2. Submitted June 2023
    April 2024 – Click Here

  3. March 2024 and October 2024

  4. Early 2025

  5. 2026

  6. 2029


  7. 2031

Galileo’s Community Offering

 Galileo is committed to developing projects that deliver meaningful and long-lasting benefits to the local area, strengthening community ties and fostering positive relationships.

We believe it is essential that local communities share in the significant economic and social benefits generated by the development of Lynemore Wind Farm.

If consented, the project will provide substantial funding to local communities over its lifetime through the Community Wealth Fund (CWF) and Construction Community Fund, along with the opportunity for community shared ownership.

These initiatives are voluntary and separate from the planning process, but they have the potential to deliver considerable long-term benefits.

Community Wealth Fund (CWF)

Lynemore Wind Farm presents an opportunity to establish a lasting and sustainable Community Wealth Fund, benefiting local communities throughout the wind farm’s operational life and beyond.

Through this fund, Galileo follows the Scottish Government’s Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits, guaranteeing an annual funding package worth £5,000 per MW of installed capacity. This sum is index-linked to inflation, ensuring its value grows over time.

Based on a total generating capacity of 98MW, this equates to approximately £490,000 per year (2024 prices), distributed over the wind farm’s expected 50-year lifespan—amounting to around £24 million in total. The real value will be higher due to inflation adjustments.

We actively encourage local input on how best to allocate these funds. So far, many great ideas have been suggested, including:

Renewable Electricity Discount Scheme (REDS)

Public consultations revealed strong interest in electricity bill discounts for those living near the wind farm.

The Lynemore Renewable Electricity Discount Scheme (REDS) will offer direct financial benefits to residents, businesses, and community properties within a 6km radius of the turbines. Properties closest to the wind farm will receive the largest discounts, with the benefit gradually reducing over distance.

Community Projects

The CWF could support:

  • Local community groups, village halls, and venues
  • Transport improvements
  • Environmental initiatives, such as rewilding, footpaths, and cycle trails

Education and Training Fund

Galileo could establish a bursary scheme for local students pursuing further education, apprenticeships, or land-based skills training. Working with local schools, further education providers, and Skills Development Scotland, this initiative would help aspiring learners access new opportunities.

Community Shared Ownership

Alongside the Community Wealth Fund, local communities will have the opportunity to acquire up to 10% shared ownership of Lynemore Wind Farm. Any profits generated from this stake can be reinvested to support local initiatives and ambitions.

Shared ownership provides a range of benefits, including:

  • A sustainable income stream controlled by the community
  • The chance to build strong partnerships
  • Increased resilience and long-term financial security

Galileo has a well-established partnership with Local Energy Scotland (LES), a Scottish Government-funded organisation that supports communities in renewable energy projects. LES provides expert advice on shared ownership, and with Galileo’s experienced team, local groups will be well-supported in realising the benefits of this opportunity.

Construction Community Fund

To offset any inconvenience during the construction phase, Galileo will establish a Construction Community Fund worth approximately £100,000. This fund will support local groups and organisations from the start of construction until the wind farm becomes operational.

Neil Thomson

Project Manager

About Galileo

Galileo is a fast-growing pan-European, multi-technology, renewable energy developer, owner and operator, with a mission to significantly contribute to achieving global emission reduction targets.

We aim to do this by developing enough smart efficient, high-quality and integrated green energy projects, so that renewable energy becomes the primary source of electricity for all energy consumers in Europe.

Founded in 2020, Galileo currently has a project development portfolio of over 7000 MW across multiple European countries, including the UK, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Poland.
Our senior management team is made up of leading energy and investment experts that bring decades of international experience across more than 30 markets.

Galileo’s funders are long-term infrastructure and pension funds with a global footprint, international mindset and a collaborative mentality.

Further Information

To discuss the Lynemore Wind Farm proposal in more detail, please contact:

Neil Thomson
Project Manager Galileo
7-9 N St David St Edinburgh EH2 1AW

Email: lynemore@galileoempower.uk
Web: galileoempower.uk

References

  1. RenewableUK, Statistics Explained. Using average domestic household consumption in UK of 3,239kWh. Accessible at: https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained
  2. RenewableUK, Statistics Explained. Using DESNZ ‘all non-renewable fuels’ statistic of 424 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide per GWh of electricity. Accessible at: https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDExplained
  3. Nimble Fins, Average CO2 Emmisions per Car in the UK. Calculation based on Avergae CO2 emmissions per car per year of 1.68 tonnes. Accessible at: https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/average-co2-emissions-car-uk#nogo