CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed East Lothian Council's decision to object to repowering a windfarm with turbines more than twice the height of Big Ben's tower.
Crystal Rig windfarm is situated between Dunbar and Duns in Berwickshire, straddling the border between East Lothian and the Scottish Borders.
East Lothian Council’s planning committee voted unanimously to object to the repowering proposal, due to “significant omissions” in the impact assessments provided by Fred. Olsen Renewables.
Crystal Rig comprises four linked sites, with a total of 102 turbines due to be in operation once the final phase is completed next year, along with 50,000 solar panels.
At the same time as the ongoing development of Phase 4, Crystal Rig 1 has come to the end of its life.
The developer now intends to remove the 25 original turbines and their concrete foundations, rebuilding with 10 taller turbines, of which six will have a maximum tip height of 230m – the equivalent of 46 double-decker buses stacked on top of one another.
The other four turbines will have a maximum tip height of 200m, more than twice the height of Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben.
Rory Steel, chair of Lauderdale Preservation Group, commented: “We welcome the objection brought forward by East Lothian Council.
"This so-called repowering is in fact a major new construction project, following on from two decades of construction and disruption for people living in the area.
“This is already one of the UK’s largest onshore windfarms and the new turbines will be absolutely huge, visible for miles around.
"Fred. Olsen Renewables describes it as re-powering but it in fact requires new turbines, while the concrete foundations will need to be dug up and disposed of, along with the construction of new concrete foundations.
"The carbon emissions from this development are likely to be significant.
“Crystal Rig has been an eyesore in the area for more than 20 years. It is just one of the many massive industrial projects which have been built here, destroying the tranquillity of the region and devastating the previously unspoilt landscape.”
The majority of the turbines at the Crystal Rig site are within the Scottish Borders Council area, but the new turbines will be transported across East Lothian.
East Lothian Council officials highlighted several omissions from the developer’s environmental impact assessment report, including up-to-date ecological surveys for the entire route to be used by the construction vehicles and an up-to-date tree survey.
The planning committee also noted “the potential for significant impacts arising during the construction and decommissioning phases, particularly along the public road network”.
Dunbar Community Council, in its response to the Crystal Rig consultation, stated: “It is noted that Fred. Olsen Renewables Ltd have chosen to repower the current windfarm rather than remove the current structures and restore the land as was proposed in the original application.”
The group questioned whether the current turbines would be recycled or discarded, and also highlighted road safety issues as the turbines are removed and new turbines transported along rural roads, including accident hotspots.
The community council also raised concerns about the cumulative impact of numerous renewable energy developments on the landscape of the Lammermuirs.
It is expected that the Scottish Government’s ECU (Energy Consents Unit) will rule on the repowering proposal in the coming weeks.
A spokesperson for Fred. Olsen Renewables said: "The Fred. Olsen Renewables team are continuing to engage constructively with East Lothian Council and we are confident that the technical matters raised at their recent planning committee meeting can be fully addressed.
"Crystal Rig has delivered over £2 million to local communities since 2003, with around £240,000 per year now being provided through Crystal Rig IV and the potential to deliver over £12 million more through repowering.
"The proposal is supported by the host community council, reflecting decades-long local support for our presence in the area, and we remain firmly committed to advancing this important investment in the area."
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