Welcome to our website for Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project

Galileo Empower is exploring the potential for an onshore renewable development, on land situated approximately 4km east of the coastal village of Kinlochbervie, in the north-west Sutherland area of the Scottish Highlands. The site is located east of B801 and north of the A838.

The initial proposals envisage:

  • Up to 18 turbines with a maximum tip height of up to 200m
  • A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to store the renewable energy that is produced on the site
  • Solar photovoltaic panels are also being considered at the location, subject to the completion of further technical studies
  • The proposal will have the capacity to generate over 100MW of clean, green energy.

As Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project will have total generation capacity of over 50 megawatts (MW), an application for its development and operation will be made to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

The Highland Council will be consulted on the application, along with other statutory consultees, such as NatureScot and Historic Environment Scotland.

Local businesses interested in exploring commercial opportunities are invited to complete our Local Contractor Portal at the link below

Local Contractors Portal

We are committed to ensuring that, wherever practically possible, local employees and contractors are used in all aspects of the development of the project. Potential opportunities include:

  • Construction, fencing, drainage and forestry contractors
  • Electrical contractors
  • Materials suppliers, such as building merchants
  • Plant hire and security
  • Waste management and fuel providers
  • Local hospitality providers, such as B&Bs

Public Exhibitions 

Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project’s second round of public exhibitions will be held at the following venues, times and dates:

  • Monday 27th October – Kinlochbervie Village Hall (IV27 4RG), 10am – 2pm
  • Monday 27th October – Durness Village Hall (IV27 4QA), 4pm – 8pm
  • Tuesday 28th October – Scourie Village Hall (IV27 4TE), 10am – 2pm

We will be displaying our updated propsals.

Representatives from Galileo Empower will also be at Kinlochbervie Community Council’s public meeting on Tuesday 28th October at Kinlochbervie Village Hall at 7pm.

The planning application will be submitted early 2026..

If the planning application is approved, Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project will generate over 100MW of renewable energy, enough to power up to 108,000 homes (1). 

This could offset some 125,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, assisting in tackling the climate emergency and supporting Scotland to achieve its target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 (2).

Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project will be developed in close partnership with the local community, with an extensive and wide-ranging consultation which will provide local people with opportunities to participate in and contribute to the development of the project.

Below the zone of theoretical visbility (ZTV) has been uploaded based on the 15 turbine layout following requests from the second round of public consultation events. The ZTV indicates the maximum theoretical visibility of the indicative turbines using ordnance survey Terrain 50 data only and do not take account of any screening from vegetation or built-form (included buildings, phone masts etc). The ZTV also includes an adjustment that allows for the Curvature and Light Refraction of the Earth.

OCTOBER 2025 EXHIBITION BOARDS OCTOBER 2025 EXHIBITION VISUALISATIONS ONline Feedback form Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV)

100MW

generation capacity which would produce the equivalent of the annual power demand of over
108,000 homes

Up to 18 turbines

with a maximum tip height of 200m

Potential to displace 125,000 tonnes of CO2 per year – equivalent to taking 66,000 cars off UK roads

Turbine Layout

Click image below to download a hi-res PDF.

Project Proposal 

Renewable energy – tackling the climate emergency and delivering home-grown energy.

The proposal for Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project 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.

Scotland, like every other part of the world, is experiencing the devastating consequences of man-made climate change. Figures from the Met Office show that Scotland’s 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1997.  The average temperature for the decade from 2014-2023 was 1.02°C  warmer than the 1961-1990 average and the warmest year on record was 2022.

The development of renewable energy production will play a significant role in boosting Scotland’s energy security by reducing its reliance on imported fossil fuels and decoupling energy supply from volatile international markets, which in recent years have driven a huge increase in energy bills.

Over the next decade, Scotland needs to increase its wind power capacity – from both onshore and offshore sources to meet net-zero targets set by the Scottish Government. A clean energy future will safeguard our energy security, provide lower-cost electricity to ease the cost of living for households, boost the competitiveness of Scottish businesses and supply chains, and support thousands of new jobs.

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

Onshore wind is one of the cheapest sources of new-build electricity generation in the UK, and already makes an important contribution to the renewables mix.

Facts and Figures

Location

The site is located on land in the north-west of the Sutherland area of the Scottish Highlands. The focus area of the planned development is approximately 4km to the east of the coastal village of Kinlochbervie. It is east of B801 and north of the A838.

The focus area lies:

  • 15km north of Scourie
  • 22km south-west of Durness

 

Specification

Wind

  • Up to 18 turbines, with a maximum tip height of 200m
  • Over 100MW of renewable energy generation

Solar

  • Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
  • 30MW renewable energy generation
  • Subject to completion of further technical studies

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

  • 50MW battery storage
  • Storing renewable energy generated on the site

The connection from Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project to the national grid will be subject to a separate planning application.

Indicative Timeline

Our indicative timeline for the development of the project is as follows. The design will be an iterative process, and the project timelines may shift based on ongoing feedback.

  1. Studies began onsite

    March 2023

  2. First round of public consultation.

    Kinlochbervie, 24th March 2025; Durness, 25th March 2025

  3. To be submitted to the Scottish Ministers and early community engagement on initial proposals.

    Spring 2025

  4. From all stakeholders

    Summer 2025

  5. Autumn 2025

  6. End of 2025

  7. Expected 2027

*A Scoping Report, submitted to the Scottish Ministers via the ECU, sets out and seeks to obtain the scope and level of detail of information that needs to be provided in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report that will accompany the Section 36 application.

Scoping report available to view here

Galileo Empower is committed to developing projects that deliver substantial and tangible benefits locally and foster strong community relations.

Galileo Empower is committed to developing projects that deliver substantial and tangible benefits locally and foster strong community relations.

Our responsible approach towards project development will ensure that Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project is delivered in a way that’s good for our neighbours, the surrounding environment, and the local community. We will:

  • Commit to offering a community wealth fund of £5,000 per MW (index linked) per year for the operational lifetime of Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project.
  • Support aspirations for local and shared ownership by offering ownership options in Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project of up to 10% – where the profits generated by an ownership stake can be used to benefit the community.
  • Explore the possibility of a local electricity discount scheme to provide an annual discount on the electricity bills of consumers living near the proposed wind farm and welcome any initial thoughts on this.
  • Explore opportunities to deliver green skills and jobs in the local area.  We are keen to ensure that wherever possible, the local supply chain helps us deliver the services we need for this project. 
  • Listen to community feedback on the proposals and support local initiatives where possible. 

 

 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

  • Grassroots groups and community-led projects in the north-west Highlands are being invited to apply for a share of a new £10,000 sponsorship fund.

    The fund is designed to support efforts that enhance local life. It could be anything from sport and youth groups to cultural events, training and environmental ventures.

    The fund is being offered as a gesture of goodwill, with Galileo Empower the proposed renewable energy project still in its early stages.

    We are committed to working with local communities now, not just if the development goes ahead.

Sponsorship fund application

We want to hear your views

We are committed to working closely with the local community from the outset to ensure people fully understand our proposals for Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project and can share their views and ideas with us.

Public Exhibitions


We held two public exhibitions in March 2025.

The events in Kinlochbervie and Durness were well attended and offered an informal opportunity for residents and stakeholders to find out about our proposals, ask any questions and share their thoughts and ideas with the project team.

We will be following these events up with further consultations in Autumn 2025.

Consultation Boards (PDF) Summer Newsletter community council presentation june 2025

All feedback will be collected in full compliance with GDPR regulations, and any personal information provided will be stored securely and used solely for purpose of the project.

We will review all the feedback we receive and take it into account as we continue to develop our proposals for the site.

There will be more opportunities for people to meet the team and discuss the proposals at further public exhibitions in the future as we approach the stage of finalising our plans, collating data and submitting the planning application to Scottish Ministers.

Full details of these public events are publicised closer to the time.

Laura Petrie

Senior Project Manager

About Galileo Empower

This project is being developed by Galileo Empower, 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 such that renewable energy becomes the primary source of electricity for all energy consumers in Europe. Galileo Empower has a number of projects in development, in both Scotland and Wales. 

Our Edinburgh-based project team is committed to developing projects which deliver substantial and tangible benefits locally and foster strong community relations. 

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 Kinlochbervie Renewable Energy Project in more detail, please contact:

Laura Petrie
Senior Project Manager, Galileo

Email: kinlochbervie@galileoempower.uk
Telephone: 0131 202 3259
Address: Galileo Empower, East Suite, First Floor, 25 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA  

References

1 Based on DESNZ statistics for Annual GB average household consumption: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65b12dfff2718c000dfb1c9b/subnational-electricity-and-gas-consumption-summary-report-2022.pdf

2 Based on DESNZ’s “all non-renewable fuels” emissions statistic of 437 tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes