Golticlay wind farm received planning consent in 2021 for 19 turbines. Since receiving this consent, RWE has been carefully reviewing our options for the site going forward. The renewables industry, and in particular turbine technology, has evolved considerably since the initial application was submitted back in 2016 and there is now a need to reconsider the design of the wind farm.

In January 2023 RWE submitted a Scoping Report to the Scottish Government which requests feedback from all statutory consultees. This, combined with public consultation, will inform our final design of the Golticlay variation and allow us to begin the variation application process.

In October 2023, RWE submitted a variation to the Consented Development to the Energy Consenting Unit (ECU). Key changes include the reduction of the number of turbines to 13, increasing the maximum tip height of the turbines from 130 metres (m) to a maximum of 200 m and the increase of the operational period from 25 to 35 years. The design has been based on additional technical and environmental studies and feedback from statutory, non-statutory consultees and public consultation.

In December 2024 RWE received final planning consent from the Scottish Government 

Status: In Construction

July 2025: We have begun construction activities on site with initial work started on the temporary construction compound and the site access tracks.  RWE has appointed two main contractors to undertake the construction of the project.  Farrans, a leading civil engineering contractor, is responsible for managing the construction operations and is committed to working with local subcontractors to maximise RWE’s investment locally. It is currently working with local contractor Alan Gow Groundworks which expects to employ 25 people on site during its contracted works, further maximising the impact of the project’s investment locally.

RWE has also partnered with the Nordex Group to manufacture and supply 11 of its Delta4000 series N149/5.7 turbines, which will be delivered to the nearby port of Wick.

Our upgrade works on the c1053 are now complete and RWE would like to extend a thank you to all local residents and wider road users for your patience whilst we undertook this work.

* The picture on top is an example of Bowbeat Onshore Wind Farm *