Millmoor Rig Wind Farm - ESB Energy

Millmoor Rig Wind Farm

Utilising the Natural Environment to Harness Clean, Zero Carbon Energy

Millmoor Rig Wind Farm

Utilising the Natural Environment to Harness Clean, Zero Carbon Energy

 

 

ESB is developing proposals for Millmoor Rig Wind Farm. If consented, the Millmoor Rig Wind Farm will utilise the natural environment to harness clean, zero carbon energy and also support the long-term management of the forest in which Millmoor Rig Wind Farm will be located. 

Millmoor Rig Site Location Plan

Project Summary

The site is located in the Scottish Borders, within a large area of commercial forestry in the Wauchope Forest. View the Location Plan for a detailed map of location.

The Millmoor Rig Wind Farm proposal comprises:

  • Up to 15 turbines, with a maximum height of 200m and a generating capacity in excess of 50MW. View Initial Turbine Layout to view preliminary layout
  • Plans to co-locate battery storage with the wind farm to maximise the use of the grid connection
  • On-site access tracks linking the turbines and connecting to the A6088 road via a mixture of new and existing roads, using the route of an existing forestry track
  • On-site grid substation
  • Site office and staff welfare facilities
  • An offer of a Community Benefits Package and Shared Community Ownership

Millmoor Rig Early Stage Development

Early Stage Development

The Millmoor Rig Wind Farm proposals are at an early stage. ESB submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Request to the Scottish Government, which sets out the range of environmental studies proposed to be undertaken in order to both shape the design and assess the impact of the project.

ESB is following Scottish Government guidance in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. ESB is currently working towards submission of an application for planning consent during 2022.

Millmoor Rig Project Background

Project Background

The location of the proposed Millmoor Rig Wind Farm, within an area of extensive commercial forestry, is broadly similar to that proposed for another wind farm development known as Highlee Hill Wind Farm. However, Millmoor Rig Wind Farm is an entirely new proposal and ESB has no connection with either the former Highlee Hill Wind Farm proposal, which was withdrawn from planning in May 2017, or its developer.

In deciding whether to progress with its proposals for the Millmoor Rig Wind Farm, ESB carefully considered each of the consultee responses and representations to the Highlee Hill Wind Farm planning application.

Landscape Visual Assessment Millmoor Rig

Landscape and Visual Assessment

A digital Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) model was created to illustrate the geographical area within which views of development are theoretically possible. This is based on a 'bare-earth' scenario, whereby the screening effect of areas of existing vegetation or built features in the landscape are not taken into account.

We have proposed 18 viewpoint locations are intended to be representative of the visual experience in a general location or from a specific or important vantage point.  Click on the viewpoint location from the list below to view an initial wireline visualisation, shown with a 90-degree horizontal field of view, illustrating the Scoping stage layout.

 

VP1 - A6088 Chesters

VP10 - Pike Fell

 

VP2 - A6088 Southdean

VP11 - Footpath Chesters Brae

 

VP3 - Fort NE of Southdean

VP12 - Rubers Law

 

VP4 - A6088 W approach to Chesters

VP13 - A6088 Bonchester Bridge

 

VP5 - Bonchester Hill

VP14 - Wolfelee Hill

 

VP6 - B6357 Viewpoint

VP15 - Pennine Way Black Halls

 

VP7 - Footpath at Knox Knowe

VP16 - Five Stanes

 

VP8 - A6088 NW of Carter Bar

VP17 - A7 Approach to Hawick

 

VP9 - Carter Bar E

VP18 - Borders Abbey Way Black Law

 

 

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View the development timeline → 

 

ESB continues to follow Scottish Government advice regarding working, travel and social distancing and will review and revise development in line with the latest Scottish Government advice.

 

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Millmoor Rig Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment

As part of the development process we must undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to assess the effects of the development on the natural, physical and human environment.

The number, size and layout of the turbines will be determined by environmental, technical and commercial constraints identified during the EIA and iterative design processes. 

The EIA, which will be published in an EIA Report, will cover topics including landscape and visual amenity; traffic and highways; noise; ornithology and ecology; archaeology and cultural heritage; geology, hydrogeology and hydrology; forestry; and socio economics. Consultation with statutory and non-statutory authorities and with the public is a key part of the EIA process.

ESB has appointed RSK Environment Ltd (RSK), an experienced environmental consultancy, as lead consultant to carry out the EIA and related assessments to accompany a Section 36 application to Scottish Ministers.

Public Consultation

 

ESB will be holding public consultation events in early Summer 2022 prior to making the S36 application, in order for the public to comment on the proposal as it moves through the design process. Further public consultation events would be held as the application progresses.

Details of the upcoming events will be posted here.

The Benefits of Millmoor Rig Wind Farm

The development of Millmoor Rig Wind Farm would bring several important benefits at both the local and national levels spanning the environment, economy and community.

  • Major positive impacts on the environment, providing clean, renewable energy, and helping the Scottish Government reach its target for net-zero carbon by 2045 and interim 2030 targets
  • Supporting the local economy via contracts for tender and local construction spending
  • Community benefit funding of £5,000 per megawatt installed generating capacity, shaped to local needs, over the lifetime of the project if consented and constructed.

 

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The Benefits → 

Read more about the benefits of the Millmoor Rig Wind Farm Development

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Contact Us

For information about the Millmoor Rig Wind Farm project, please contact:
Jessica Yanetta, ESB Asset Development UK Ltd - E: millmoorrig@esb.ie
 
For media enquiries, please contact ESB's press office at:
T: 00353 1 702 6009 (Media Enquiries Only) / Out of Hours: 00353 87 255 7186 (Media Enquiries Only) E: corporatecommunications@esb.ie

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Latest News → 

Keep up to date with the latest news relating to the Millmoor Rig Wind Farm Development

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