The Novar Wind Farm, developed by npower renewables, was official opened in 1997. Located on hills of the Novar Estate in Ross-shire, north of Inverness, the site consists of 34 turbines capable of generating some 17 megawatts of electricity.
The wind farm covers an area of 300 hectares, but the turbines themselves only take up 1% of that land. It is located at an altitude of about 600 metres above sea level, and the immediate environment consists of moorland used for light grazing and the support of game at very low intensity.
Novar generates enough electricity to supply the annual needs of some 9,500 homes with clean, sustainable electricity.
Although there are no statutory land designations affecting the site, the developers approached the Highland Council at an early stage and consulted widely to ensure that the ecology and archaeology of the site was preserved. Consultees included: the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, (as was the Highland River Purification Board), Ross-shire Area Committee (as was the Ross and Cromarty District Council), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, the West Scotland Archaeological Trust, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and the Community Councils for the nearest settlements.
Novar Wind Farm
Location Map
