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Onshore Wind

In construction | Onshore Wind Farm

Golticlay

Facts & Figures
Latest Information
Planning Documents

Turbine Blade Delivery Update

Today’s (Wednesday 3rd June) convoy is due to depart the Blade Transfer Area at approximately 09:30am

As per the delivery schedule below, further deliveries from the Blade Transfer Area to the Wind Farm will continue throughout this week (Wednesday, Thursday & Friday). On all days the convoy is expected to depart at approximately 09:30am. This will be dependent on acceptable weather conditions and other operational factors so could be cancelled at the last minute.

Further detail on the route can be seen by clicking on the “More about turbine blade delivery” link below.

Each convoy can be tracked live via the tab below (a new link is created each morning prior to departure)

Live Track the Convoy
A stylized teal map of a coastline with a yellow road and anchor at "Wick Harbour" and a blue label "Blade transfer area".

Click on the image to zoom.

Delivery Schedule (week commencing 1st June)

  • Monday 1st  June: 1 Blade with lifter (Port to Blade Transfer Area)
  • Tuesday 2nd June: 3 Blades (Blade Transfer Area to Wind Farm)
  • Wednesday 3rd June: 3 Blades (Blade Transfer Area to Wind Farm)
  • Thursday 4rd June: 3 Blades (Blade Transfer Area to Wind Farm)
  • Friday 5th June: 3 Blades (Blade Transfer Area to Wind Farm)

Project History

Golticlay Wind Farm received planning consent in 2021 for 19 turbines at 130m. However, turbine technology evolved considerably since the initial application was submitted (back in 2016) and the decision was made to submit a variation to the original application for a redesigned layout. 

In October 2023, RWE submitted a variation to the Energy Consents Unit (ECU). Key changes included 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.

In December 2024 RWE received final planning consent from the Scottish Government. The consented layout was for 13 turbines at 180m.

Status: In Construction

Phase 1 Facts & figures

Up to 00 MW

generating capacity

00

turbines

Construction Started in Summer 00

Latest Information

Here you’ll find the latest news about Golticlay.

Turbine Blade Delivery

Safely managed turbine transports from Wick Harbour to Golticlay

As part of the construction of Golticlay Wind Farm, near Lybster, we will be starting the delivery of wind turbine components. The 16 mile delivery route commences at Wick Harbour and completes at the wind farm entrance on the C1053.

To ensure safe delivery, the components will be delivered in a convoy with a police escort. Temporary parking restrictions will also be in place in Wick to enable the convoy to pass and appropriate signage will be in place to advise of this.

A massive white wind turbine blade dominates a street, mounted on a heavy trailer beside stone buildings under a bright blue sky.
Huge turbine blades were transported from the Port of Wick in Scotland to the site of RWE’s Golticlay Onshore Wind Farm ready for installation.
Small moored boats fill the marina foreground as a long white wind-turbine blade rests on a barge by the stone quay under an overcast sky.

This was the first time RWE has used a blade lifter in the UK.

A long white wind turbine blade on a blue trailer occupies town street near stone buildings and grassy verge with a sign reading "Caithness General Hospital".

The technology eases the challenges of transporting long turbine blades along short and narrow streets.

Blade Lifter

Golticlay’s wind turbine blades require a specialist transport vehicle, known as a blade lifter, to navigate safely through the narrow streets of Wick.

The blade lifter angles the blade in order to turn tight corners. As it travels very slowly, it is not possible for the blades to be transported the entire journey on the blade lifter.

Once the convoy is through Wick, the blades will be transferred at the blade transfer area onto more conventional trailers for the onward journey to the wind farm. The two stages of this process are shown in the maps.

For the planned route, please refer to the information below:

Delivery Notices

Deliveries are currently planned to take place from April to July 2026 although dates may change due to weather and operational requirements. Movements will take place during daytime hours.

Download Public Notice

Grid Works

The Golticlay Wind Farm will connect to the existing Mybster Substation, located approximately 15km north of the site. The connection will comprise an underground electricity cable linking the wind farm substation to the final connection point, with the route broadly following the A9. Works to accommodate the cable are currently underway.

We appreciate the concerns being raised in regards to bird deterrents along our grid route. We would like to reassure local people that RWE takes very seriously its commitment to protecting wildlife in and around it projects. Works are being undertaken under supervision of a competent ecologist to ensure mitigation measures are adhered to. We are already conducting ornithological surveys and will continue to do so throughout the full breeding season.

These deterrents are short-term and designed to protect birds by deterring them from nesting immediately adjacent to the cable route. This allows RWE to work quickly and safely, including through the breeding season, while minimising any risk to birds.

These deterrents are well established tools, recognised as safe and effective and do not impact bird populations, nor will they deter birds from nesting along the cable route in the future.

* The picture above is an example from Bowbeat Onshore Wind Farm *

A person wearing a navy sweater with a zip and a light blue shirt stands against a plain light wall background.
Nick Taylor

Nicholas Taylor

Stakeholder Manager

Scotland Onshore

If you have any questions about the information presented here, please email us.
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