A planning permission application has been submitted in a bid to develop a wind farm to generate the electricity to power a whisky distillery in the Highlands.
If the plans are approved, it would see Fred. Olsen Renewables develop Balnespick Wind Farm, which is located 5.6km east of Tomatin and 6.6km north-west of Carrbridge in the Highlands.
The wind farm would then generate up to 64.8MW of electricity and provide power directly to Tomatin Distillery.
Balnespick Wind Farm has been the focus of community consultation since 2023 and currently consists of nine turbines alongside a battery storage facility.
Fred. Olsen Renewables say they have gathered feedback locally to influence elements of the project, which they say will deliver locally and help create a unique partnership between wind farm developers locally focused on the needs of the area.
Tomatin Distillery was founded in 1897 and after an initial closure in 1906, it reopened three years later and has been going ever since.
The proposal for Balnespick Wind Farm includes a commitment to work Tomatin to deliver a private wire of electricity and help the distillery reduce energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase its use of non-fossil fuels.
Kelly Wyness, Senior Project Manager at Fred. Olsen Renewables, said: “Our plans for Balnespick Wind Farm have been designed to deliver for the Highland economy, tourism and community.
“A private wire to Tomatin Distillery could help the distillery to cut its energy costs, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and increase its use of non-fossil fuels.
“In turn we have also been working with local stakeholders to ensure that developers can collectively deliver for the local community, maximise the economic benefits that our proposals can bring to the area and support local aspirations.”
A spokesperson for Tomatin Distillery Ltd, commented: “Having produced whisky for 128 years, Tomatin Distillery is committed to delivering long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability.
“The environment is a key consideration in many of our decisions. Amongst many of our initiatives, in 2013 we became the first distillery in Scotland to install an environmentally efficient wood pellet fueled steam boiler for use in our production process.
“So, the opportunity to source our electricity requirements from a local low carbon supplier, like the Balnespick Wind Farm, is aligned with our commitments to both our net zero ambitions and to supporting the local economy.”
Fred. Olsen Renewables and Tomatin Distillery plan to partner with Caldera, which is a British cleantech pioneer, to decarbonise whisky production.
Electricity produced at Balnespick will be used by Caldera’s innovate storage boilers, storing it as heat to use in distillation.
James Macnaghten, Chief Executive Officer, Caldera, commented: “Caldera is committed to helping distilleries like Tomatin decarbonise their operations. Wind power is an amazing renewable energy source, but its availability doesn’t always align with production needs.
“Our Storage Boilers solve this challenge by capturing wind-generated electricity whenever it’s available and storing it as heat until required at a fraction of the cost of electric batteries.”
The planning permission also states Balnespick Wind Farm will provide a community benefit fund valued at more than £11 million over the 35-year lifespan of the wind farm.
Mr Wyness added: “We are committed to ensuring that all of our developments make a positive contribution to the country’s climate change targets and supports energy security.
“However, we also recognise that our proposals need to go much further than that – and we hope that Balnespick Wind Farm can help to demonstrate the true opportunities that a wind farm can provide.”