OREANDA-NEWS. August 15, 2012. SSE Renewables has withdrawn its interest in a 26 turbine, 94 Megawatt wind farm at Pairc on the Isle of Lewis. Following assessments of environmental data and consultation with stakeholders it has concluded that a project of this size is no longer feasible due to environmental constraints, particularly in relation to predicted bird collision risks.

SSE Renewables still believes that there is the potential to develop a wind farm with fewer turbines on the Pairc Estate, but it has no plans to progress with a smaller development. Detailed and positive discussions with a local developer to transfer the SSE interest are ongoing with terms agreed in principle.

David Gardner, SSE’s Director of Onshore Renewables, said: “We are strongly committed to developing onshore wind farms, but as a responsible developer, we will only do so if the proposals are environmentally sustainable. Our studies show that for the size of development we were proposing at Pairc this would not have been the case so we do not plan to progress any further. Whilst we will not be progressing with our proposal, we do feel there is scope for a smaller development that could greatly benefit the local community.”