Vattenfall Meeting

Vattenfall is a new name in the Borders, who are they and what are their plans? The following article gives a flavour of what this Swedish government owned company is planning at Minch Moor.

We are proud of our history at Vattenfall. This year we celebrate our one hundredth year of electricity generation from our beginnings as a hydro generator, hence the word Vattenfall means waterfall in Swedish. We have been working with wind energy for over 40 years.  The Minch Moor scheme will benefit from Vattenfall’s wind farm experience.

Vattenfall began working in the UK in October last year.  Their first priority was to inform local residents that the Swedish firm would be taking the Minch Moor project forward. We called this ‘Fresh Start’ and an open day was held at Walkerburn Village Hall where representatives from Vattenfall were on hand to answer questions about the company and its developments.

We have explained that our plans are very long term. Over the last 100 years as a generator we have grown and through the use of fossil fuels we have become a contributor to climate change. However we can assure you that we are focusing a great deal of time, effort and investment into renewables, wind being a key technology along with other emerging technologies such as wave and tidal.  We are also looking to reduce our carbon emission by use of carbon capture and storage. Our commitment is in making electricity clean.

Following our engagement with the local community we submitted our supplementary environmental information during August 2009. We followed this by attending and organising exhibitions and meetings, including with the local tourism group. We have been pleased by the constructive dialogue that has taken place with many of those in attendance. For example, people from the local biking groups attended the tourist group meeting and could see how the project could provide potential for the formation of new and better tracks both in access to the downhill track and new off road routes for families. We have been further encouraged by a range of positive comments we received from members of your local community.

 As we move forward with Minch Moor, it is vital that we listen to issues the community has raised in our recent meetings and exhibitions. Such as concerns about the impact on local roads. We work closely with the roads department during our development process but recognise the importance of speaking directly to local people and addressing their concerns. We have outlined a number of measures that mitigate the potential impact of development including, surveying all routes before, during and after to check for damage.  Specific traffic management will be put in place at sensitive locations such as schools. This approach has been highly successful during the construction of our Edinbane Wind Farm on the Isle of Skye.

Another query we have clarified for many local residents is the proposed boundary for the Minch Moor wind farm. The larger area indicated in published plans should not be interpreted as meaning there will be plans for future expansion. In fact, in 2005, after consultation with local people and the Council the number of turbines for Minch Moor were actually reduced from 14 to 12 and re-sited, consequently no turbines will be visible from Walkerburn.

We promise to continue talking to local people and businesses every step of the way and to listen carefully to what local residents have to say. Vattenfall hope, if successful the completed wind farm will play its part in combating climate change and delivering real benefits to the local community. This is a long term commitment that we are making and we will be a good neighbour for as long as there is a Vattenfall wind farm on Minch Moor.