Welcome to our website for the Craig Nab Wind Energy Hub
At Belltown Power we are committed to working with local communities and stakeholders to responsibly develop renewable energy projects that help to deliver our Scottish climate change targets and ensure a green and sustainable future for generations to come.
Project Proposal
The site is located on grazing land, 4km east of New Luce. The project will consist of up to 5 turbines with tip heights ranging between 200-230m. We will work together with the local community and the landowners – Stair Estates – to deliver a project that maximises local benefits and clean energy, whilst sympathetically protecting and enhancing the natural environment. The proposal includes a battery storage facility. As we move towards a decarbonised network, storing clean energy and discharging it when it is most needed allows us to help balance the grid network so it remains stable and runs efficiently.
Virtual exhibition
The virtual exhibition for our second round of public consultation is here. It will open up in a new window. You can leave feedback for the team, after you've viewed it.
What’s next...
We welcome all feedback so we can take your views on board as we continue to develop our proposal. Our second public consultation events will take place on 26 & 27 March 2024, where we will present our developed plans ahead of submitting the proposal to Dumfries and Galloway Council.
- Fig 3.1 Proposed Development (9.33 MB)
- Fig 5.1 Zone of Theoretical Visibility and Scoping Viewpoints.pdf (9.33 MB)
- Fig 5.2 Designated and Protected Landscapes (9.33 MB)
- Fig 5.3 Other Wind Farm Developments Within 25km (9.33 MB)
- Fig 6.1 Hydrology and Peat (9.33 MB)
- Fig 7.1 Ecology and Ornithology Designated Sites Within 10km (9.33 MB)
- Fig 9.1 Known Cultural Heritage Assets Within 10km (9.33 MB)
- Fig 9.2 Known Non-designated Cultural Heritage Assets Within Site (9.33 MB)
- Fig 12.1 Visual Flight Rules Chart Showing Airspace Up To 5000ft (9.33 MB)
- 22_2231_SCO-EIA_Scoping_Report-1288383 (668.45 KB)
Timeline
June 23
First Consultation Events
July - Oct 23
Preparation of Planning Submission
Q2 24
Second Consultation Events
Q3 24
Target Planning Submission
Q3 25
Expected Planning Determination
Q1 26
Start Construction Target
(Subject to Consent)
Q2 28
Target Commercial Operation Date
Community – groundbreaking ownership offering
Community Benefit
We are committed to providing £5,000/MW (index linked) Community Benefit for the lifetime of the project. Depending on local need, we can enable communities to front load some - or all - of this.
These funds will be made available for communities to invest in initiatives most needed by the community.
Feedback from our first public consultation last year, showed strong support for an energy discount scheme (EDS), making up 70% of all suggestions made. Based on this feedback, we propose to use a large portion of the community benefit fund on an EDS, with the remaining money going to fund community projects in the area, if the wind farm is consented.
Belltown’s Energy Discount Scheme (EDS): how it would work
Each household and business within approximately 10km of the site (see map below) will be invited to participate in Belltown’s EDS. Once a property has applied to the EDS, a £150 (index linked) discount will be deducted from their energy bill each year. The EDS will operate for the full 40 year operational lifespan of the project.
Belltown will use all remaining funds after the EDS, to fund local community projects. The community benefit fund is expected to total around £60,000 per year and will be distributed between existing local community groups.
Community Ownership
At Belltown Power we fundamentally believe that renewable energy projects should benefit the communities that host them. Communities local to the Craig Nab Wind Energy Hub could benefit through our groundbreaking community ownership scheme.
On top of the £180,000 a year community benefit fund already outlined above, Belltown would also donate 1% equity in the project for free, with an additional 4% purchasable at cost and further ownership at market value. This community ownership opportunity ensures the community has a direct stake in the project.
Case Study
Near to our Tirgwynt site in Powys, Wales the Carno Primary School faced closure due to the condition of temporary buildings they were using. Due to our flexible community benefit offering we were able to substitute some of the annual payments with a larger, upfront payment which enabled the construction of a new school building allowing the local school to continue to serve the community for future generations.
Education - inspiring the next generation
We believe passionately in education and have been running the Belltown Education Programme since 2015 with the aim of inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists and climate emergency tacklers.
Local Environment
Everyone at Belltown Power is involved in the renewable energy industry through a desire to tackle the climate crisis and nature emergency. In addition to powering over 30,000 homes annually and displacing over 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the life time of the project* we will implement a comprehensive and tailored Ecological Management Plan in order to ensure that the Craig Nab Wind Energy Hub delivers a net ecological benefit through careful habitat design, creation and management.
* Figures based on a wind energy hub comprising 5 turbines at 7.2 MW for 40 years and recognised assumptions stated here.
Opportunities for Local businesses and Suppliers
Belltown Power is committed to providing material benefit to the communities that host them. To ensure this happens we will use local supply chain where they meet the project’s HSEQ requirements and where they are within 10% of the best quote tendered.
There are a wide range of services and suppliers required to build and operate a wind farm including but not limited to:
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Construction, drainage and fencing contractors,
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Materials suppliers and building merchants,
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Plant hire and security,
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Fuel providers and waste management, and
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Local hospitality providers and car hire.
To understand the full range of opportunities available please register on our supplier database and we will get in touch.
Meet the Buyer
In future, we will be holding “Meet the Buyer” events where you can meet the project team, we can learn more about your business and we can discuss opportunities to work together.
If you believe you can supply our development or simply want to understand more we would love to hear from you. All you need to do is register above or email us and one of our team will be in contact to collect further details and answer any questions.
The Climate Crisis
We are facing an unprecedented global climate crisis caused by the use of fossil fuels to power our societies. In the past 50 years, weather induced disasters have increased 5-fold. [1]
Necessary Actions
CO2 ppm have risen by 28% in the past 50 years.[2] We need to urgently cut greenhouse gas emissions to prevent irreversible temperature rises and nature loss. As electrification of transport and heating continues our demand for electricity will rise. It is vital we meet this increase, and existing demand, from renewable sources.
Project Contribution
Craig Nab Wind Energy Hub has the potential to make a sizeable contribution to the decarbonisation of our electricity system and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Stats: the project could produce enough energy to power 30,000 homes annually [3].
This project is an opportunity for your community to contribute to tackling climate change in a significant way through hosting and part-owning a modern wind energy hub.
“We must go into emergency mode against the climate crisis. We need an avalanche of action.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres
"If we don't act now, it'll be too late. Every day that goes by in which we don't do something about it is a day wasted."
Sir David Attenborough
- WMO, Weather-related disasters
- Statista, Historic average carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, Ian Tiseo
- RenewableUK, Statistics explained
Get involved
At Belltown Power, we recognise a fundamental part of good project development is early consultation to ensure local communities and stakeholders are given the opportunity to provide feedback and are kept informed of a project’s progress.
Our first public consultation period lasted from 12 June - 7 July 2023 and included four public exhibitions which were hosted in New Luce, Glenluce, Newton Stewart and Stranraer. We were pleased to welcome 35 people to our exhibitions and we received over 60 feedback responses which have helped shape our community benefit offering.
Our second consultation period will run from 18 March - 15 April 2024 (the Virtual Exhibition will remain online) and will include another set of public exhibitions in the same locations as the first round. We look forward to engaging with any questions and feedback you may have about the project.
Do please ask any questions, provide feedback via our feedback form or request a call back using the form below or simply email the team at craignab@belltownpower.com
Public Exhibitions
We would like to invite you to join us in-person to meet the team and ask any questions
• 26 March: Stranraer Millennium Centre, 0915-1245hrs
• 26 March: Glenluce Public Hall,1430-1900hrs
• 27 March: Newton Stewart, McMillan Hall 0915-1245hrs
• 27 March: New Luce Village Hall,1430-1900hrs
Come join us at one of these events and see how your community can contribute to tackling climate change in a significant way through hosting and part-owning a modern wind energy hub.
Get in touch
You can also get in touch directly via the below form. Feel free to leave a question or comment, register for project updates or as a local supplier, or request a call back from one of our team.
Get in touch
News
Local residents are being invited to view plans for a new Wind Energy Hub to the east of New Luce. The plans, from Belltown Power, will be on display for three days at public exhibitions and the company are keen to get local feedback. The Belltown team will be on hand to answer any questions local residents may have and to gather views on the proposal. The exhibitions will include detailed information about the project including visualisations from several viewpoints.
Commenting on the consultation, Fraser Shepherd, Senior Asset Manager at Belltown Power said, “This is our first consultation event and we are keen to hear what local residents think of our plans for the Craig Nab development. We are trying to reach out to as many residents as we can to get their views. We’re holding in-person exhibitions in Newton Stewart, Stranraer, New Luce and Glen Luce as well as a virtual exhibition on our website and we have posted out an invitation and feedback form to households across the area.”
The site currently comprises grazing land. The project will consist of up to 5 turbines with tip heights ranging from 200-230m. We will work together with the local community and the landowners – Stair Estates – to deliver a project that maximises local benefits and clean energy, whilst sympathetically protecting and enhancing the natural environment.
A scoping request was submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council in November 2022.
Commenting further, Fraser Shepherd, said, “We are fully committed to a full community benefit package that includes £5K per MW installed per year for the 40-year lifetime of the project. We’ve also developed a ground-breaking community ownership package that enables local communities to take an ownership stake so that they’re really invested in the project and so it brings tangible benefits to the heart of the community.”
The online virtual exhibition will run on the website from 12 June showing all the exhibition materials and allowing residents to leave feedback up to 7th July 2023.
Public Exhibitions
We would like to invite you to join us in-person to meet the team and ask any questions
• 13 June: McMillan Hall Newton Stewart, 1000-1300hrs
• 13 June: New Luce Village Hall, 1500-1900hrs
• 14 June: Stranraer Millenium Centre, 1000-1300hrs
• 14 June: Glen Luce Public Hall, 1500-1900hrs
Come join us at one of these events and see how your community can contribute to tackling climate change in a significant way through hosting and part-owning a modern wind energy hub. If you're not able to come along you can view the virtual exhibition and fill in a Feedback form.
Our second round of public consultations takes place in March 2024. There will be in-person drop in exhibitions held at:
- 26 March: Stranraer Millennium Centre, 0915-1245hrs
- 26 March: Glenluce Public Hall,1430-1900hrs
- 27 March: Newton Stewart McMillan Hall, 0915-1245hrs
- 27 March: New Luce Village Hall, 1430-1900hrs
Please come along and find out more about the proposal, ask any questions you may have, leave feedback and tell us how you'd like to see the community benefit fund used. There is now also a virtual exhibition online for anyone who isn't able to make it along in person.
