SSE opened its doors to its Strathy North wind farm at the weekend giving local residents the opportunity to see round the operational site.
More than 50 people toured the wind farm and learned more about how the 33 turbine site generates electricity for the National Grid.
Located just south of Strathy Village on the north coast of Scotland, the Strathy North wind farm can provide clean, renewable energy to around 64,000 homes each year. Planning consent was granted in 2011 and the wind farm became fully operational in November 2015.
Noel Cummins, SSE’s Major Projects Liaison Manager said: “We’re proud of the work that has been, and continues to be done at Strathy North so it was a real pleasure to invite the local community to come and meet the team involved, take a trip on to the site and to find out more about how wind energy plays its part in our energy mix. The sun came out and there were lots of smiles all round. So I think it’s safe to say that everyone enjoyed their time with us. ”
The local area has already seen significant benefits from having the wind farm located nearby. The Strathy and Armadale community benefit fund has provided a one off payment of £228,000 to projects in the community council area of Strathy and Armadale and the Strathy North Joint Fund will provide £170,000 per year for projects in the community council areas of Strathy and Armadale, Melvich and Bettyhill, Strathnaver and Altnaharra.
Photo credit: Jim Johnston.