St Andrews applies to renew windfarm planning permission

Tuesday 3 March 2020

The University of St Andrews has submitted an application to Fife Council for the renewal of planning permission for a windfarm at Kenly.

The move is a central initiative in the University’s response to the climate crisis.

In 2013 the University was given planning permission to build a windfarm consisting of six wind turbines at Kenly capable of generating 12.3MW of electricity saving over 9,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

A strict condition of that permission is that construction of wind turbines can only start once agreement has been reached with the Ministry of Defence over a solution to ensure the turbines do not interfere with the radar systems at the former RAF air station at Leuchars. Despite numerous, repeated and high-level attempts by the University to explore solutions, the MoD has consistently declined to engage and refuses to negotiate to find a way forward.

The new application is effectively for a continuation of the planning permission granted in 2013.

Map of Kenly windfarm location
Location of Kenly windfarm

St Andrews Quaestor and Factor Derek Watson said: “The University has set a goal to become carbon neutral for our energy use and the award-winning biomass plant at Eden Campus and Kenly are essential elements in achieving that aim.

“The windfarm at Kenly would save 9,000 tonnes of carbon per year, enable the University to comply with its duty under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, secure energy pricing into the future freeing up funding for world-class teaching and research and enable St Andrews to become self-sufficient for electrical energy.

“We are fully committed to our plans for Kenly, which have already won approval from Scottish Ministers, and will continue to work to put in place the consents necessary to allow building work to go ahead quickly in future, if a radar mitigation solution is found.

“This project will safeguard local jobs, cut carbon emissions and help protect world-leading research in St Andrews.”


Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office.

Category Public interest stories

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