Notice is hereby given that Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES), a company incorporated under the Companies Act with company number 1589961 and having its registered office at Beaufort Court, Egg Farm Lane Station Road, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, WD4 8LR has applied to the Scottish Ministers for consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate the Hill of Fare Wind Farm (“the proposed Development”), located approximately 6 km north of Banchory in Aberdeenshire (Central Grid Reference NJ 70063 02717). The Proposed Development will have a generating capacity of approximately 105.6 MW for the turbines and approximately 100 MW for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and will comprise of up to sixteen turbines with ground to blade tip heights ranging between 180 - 200 m. The proposed Development is subject to Environmental Impact Assessment and RES has had an Environmental Impact Assessment report (“EIA report”) produced.

RES has also applied for a direction under Section 57(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 that planning permission for the proposed Development be deemed to be granted.

A copy of the application, with a plan showing the land to which it relates, together with a copy of the EIA report discussing RES’s proposals in more detail and presenting an analysis of the environmental implications, are available for public inspection in person, free of charge, during normal office hours at:

The EIA report can also be viewed on the application website at www.hilloffare-windfarm.co.uk and at www.energyconsents.scot.

Copies of the EIA report may be obtained from RES (telephone: [+44 1872 226 931 / carey.green@res-group.com) at a charge of £1,500 hard copy and £15 on USB stick. Copies of a short non-technical summary are available free of charge.

Any representations to the application may be submitted via the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (the ECU”) website at www.energyconsents.scot/Register.aspx; by email to the ECU mailbox at representations@gov.scot; or by post to the Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU, identifying the application and specifying the grounds for representation.

Written or emailed representations should be dated, clearly stating the name (in block capitals), full return email and postal address of those making representations. Only representations sent by email to representations@gov.scot will receive acknowledgement.

All representations should be received not later than 12 January 2024, although the Scottish Ministers may consider representations received after this date.

Any subsequent additional information which is submitted by RES will be subject to further public notice in this manner, and representations to such information will be accepted as per this notice.

As a result of a statutory objection from the relevant planning authority, or where the Scottish Ministers decide to exercise their discretion to do so, the Scottish Ministers can also cause a Public Inquiry to be held.

Following examination of the environmental information, the Scottish Ministers will determine the application for consent in two ways:

· grant consent to the proposed Development, with or without conditions attached; or

· reject the application.

Fair Processing Notice

The ECU processes consent applications and consultation representations under The Electricity Act 1989. During the process, to support transparency in decision making, the Scottish Government publishes online at www.energyconsents.scot. When making an email or paper representation you will automatically be opted in to its publication unless you choose to mark it as confidential. We may share your personal data with DPEA and local planning authorities but will not publish your personal data (e.g. your name and address) as this is removed beforehand in compliance with the Data Protection Act. Should you choose not to provide your personal data then your representation will only be considered by the Scottish Ministers and not be shared for consideration with any other party. If you have any concerns about how your personal data is handled, please email us at: Econsents_admin@gov.scot or write to Energy Consents Unit, 4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU.