Inside a pivotal week on Skye's energy future as 50 more turbines

The National

6 days ago

Three new planning applications — totalling 50 turbines up to 200 metres high — were lodged this week for sites at Glen Ullinish, Ben Sca, and Balmeanach. The developments add to the growing number of wind energy proposals across the island, with more than 130 turbines now either operational, approved, or awaiting consent.
The timing of the new applications has drawn sharp criticism from community members already engaged in the inquiry over the Ben Aketil Wind Farm repowering.
That project, led by developer Nadara, would double the height of existing turbines and extend the operational lifespan of the site.
At the public hearing earlier this week, Highland Tory councillor Ruraidh Stewart said the pace and scale of development was putting serious pressure on local authorities and communities.
'I was really speaking on behalf of the community, saying that a lot of people had contacted me about this development as it came through the process. Public speaking isn't a natural thing for many — they don't want to get involved in inquiries, he said in an interview with The National after the session.
'What they're proposing for Ben Aketil is 200-metre wind turbines. That's hard to visualise with no context — but for comparison, that's about the height of the observation deck of The Shard.
'Putting something like that in the middle of Skye is just, by and large, inappropriate. I made the comparison in the inquiry: Skye is the second most visited tourist destination in all of Scotland, only behind Edinburgh.
'If someone proposed putting wind turbines on top of Arthur's Seat, they'd be laughed out of a planning meeting.'
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Landowners and campaigners have also raised doubts over the promised benefits of repowering. Charles MacDonald, who owns land near the Ben Aketil site, told the inquiry that developers were overstating local gains, revealing that no jobs had been promised.
He shared that he had turned down three separate wind farm offers. Each company had made it clear that the construction phase wouldn't involve any local labour — workers would be brought in, complete the job, and leave.
Just 1.2 maintenance positions are expected to be delivered from the repowerment at Ben Aketil.
Campaigner Thor Klein (below), who attended this week's hearings, echoed that frustration. 'You've got consultants giving expert testimony who haven't even visited Skye. One of the cultural heritage experts admitted her whole report was done from a desk.'
He said the inquiry revealed a 'lack of preparedness' by developers, and called on Scottish ministers to pause new approvals until a full review of the Scotland's energy strategy can be completed.
'Even the applicant had to admit there's no comprehensive plan connecting these various wind farm projects,' Klein said.
'That lack of oversight is frankly shocking. We're facing a massive infrastructure transformation, but there's no roadmap. This leaves local councils like Highland Council completely overwhelmed, because corporations push multiple developments simultaneously, hoping something sticks.
'It's not a sustainable governance model, and I hope the reporter takes note of that.'
He also said there was 'little to no community benefit'. Nadara, the developer behind Ben Aketil, has claimed that its existing wind farm has delivered £700,000 in community benefits. But critics argue that amounts to just £1685 per megawatt—far below the Scottish Government's non-binding benchmark of £5000 per MW set in 2014.
READ MORE: 53 community councils unite to demand Highland energy projects pause
Stewart, who is also a crofter, noted the community was disillusioned with the process, but said he was glad to see so many locals attending the sessions throughout the week.
'By and large, the majority of the community opposes it. But there's a real disillusionment with the process.
'From what I've heard, the council, who objected, and the Skye Wind Information Group, who instructed their own experts, made very compelling points for refusal.
'But there's still doubt whether those views will be meaningfully considered.
'Look at the Ackron Wind Farm decision in East Sutherland. The government reporter recommended refusal, but Scottish ministers approved it anyway.
'There's a disconnect — a lack of trust that even after participating in the process, communities will be heard.'
Originally the council objected due to peatland impact, in line with another statutory body. The developers then reconfigured the turbine layout to avoid some peat areas, and those objections were withdrawn.
Stewart believes that on paper, the peat restoration plans sound reasonable. But the best protection for peat 'is not damaging it in the first place,' he said.
'Especially when so much of this power might never reach the market. Digging up thousands of tonnes of peatland in the name of green energy doesn't sit right with me.
'Peatland is vital for ecosystems, carbon storage, and climate resilience.
'The first Ben Aketil wind farm was supposed to operate for 33 years — now, 18 years in, they're digging it up and starting again.
'It happens time and again as turbines get bigger — they just dig up more.'
Residents have also raised fears over infrastructure, emergency planning, and fire risk. Turbine components would arrive via the pier at Kyle of Lochalsh and travel by truck to remote sites on Skye. But Klein said there were no detailed transport plans provided yet — only verbal assurances.
'We're talking about massive vehicles on single-track roads,' he said. 'And no one has explained how they'll deal with emergencies—especially fires at battery storage sites, which local fire services are not equipped to handle.'
Looking Ahead
With more projects entering the planning system each week, residents fear a tipping point is approaching.
'Right now, there are three more applications on the table—this week alone,' said Klein. 'That's another 50 turbines. It's too much, too fast, with too little oversight.'
As the volume of projects increases, pressure is growing on Scottish ministers to intervene. Both campaigners and councillors are calling for a coordinated national strategy that balances renewable energy goals with the protection of local communities and landscapes.
'I'm not against wind turbines or anything like that,' Klein said. 'it's really crucial to ask for a pause — to evaluate, think it through, and then make decisions.
'Because you're overwhelming local democratically elected bodies. It's a big danger."