Current Status

Vestas and Force 9 Energy submitted an application to the Scottish Government for the proposed Balblair Wind Farm, approximately 2km north-west of Bonar Bridge, in March 2025 following two public exhibitions held in March and September 2024.

In June 2026, Additional Information sets out a proposed design change to the windfarm, to remove one turbine and reduce the height of three of the turbines in the array in response to consultation during determination of the application. All other infrastructure remains the same as the original application. The Additional Information also provides environmental assessment of a proposed grid connection for the windfarm, following a recent Court of Session judgment.

If approved, the project will:

• Generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 30,000 homes per year.
• Include up to seven wind turbines, three of which would be up to 149.9m to blade tip, two at up 180m to blade tip and two up to 200m to blade tip, together with an energy storage system, with a total capacity in excess of 50MW.
• Provide a Community Benefit Fund equating to an anticipated £157,500 annually, or approximately £4.7 million over the project’s 30-year operational lifetime.
• Support local employment and economic growth through supply chain opportunities and Vestas’ service base in Inverness.
• Deliver biodiversity enhancements through the removal of self-seeded Sitka spruce and the restoration of peatland habitats across the site, with benefits to Black Grouse and other bird species.

The application is accompanied by a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Additional Information submission, which demonstrate how the project has been designed to avoid, reduce and mitigate environmental effects.