Payments received from onshore windfarms: FOI release

Information requested

How much money, since the beginning of the financial year 2013/14, the Scottish Government and its associated arms length organisations has received in payments from the developers of onshore windfarms.

You specified that the payments that you would like details of are ones made by the developers in relation to the following specific projects as listed below, and in relation to planning applications or sites.

Falck Renewables - Boyndie Airfield, Aberdeenshire; Ben Aketil, Highlands; Kilbraur, Highlands;

Millennium Glemoriston, Highlands; Earlsburn, Stirling

Natural Power/Fred Olsen - Paul's Hill, Moray; Rothes, Moray; Crystal Rig, Borders

Scottish Power - Wether Hill, Dumfries and Galloway; Clachan Flats, Argyll and Bute; Whitelee, East

Renfrewshire; Hagshaw Hill, North Lanarkshire; Green Knowes, Perth and Kinross; Dun Law, Borders;

Arecleoch, South Ayrshire

Eneco - Tullo, Aberdeenshire; Twinshiels, Aberdeenshire

SSE - Toddleburn, Borders; Carcant, Borders; Achany Estate, Highlands

AES - North Rhins, Dumfries and Galloway

EDF - Longpark, Borders

Wind Prospect - Burnfoot Hill, Stirling

GDF - Craiegengelt, Stirling

You stated that you wish the payments to be broken down by which developer made the payment, how much was paid, which part of the Scottish Government received it, and the reason for the payment.

Response

1. Payments made to the Scottish Ministers in relation to applications for energy consents. These are statutory fees required on applications made under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Developer - Scottish Power. Date 07/02/2019. Amount - £18000. Division - Energy Consents Unit.

Payment for application made to extend Whitelee Wind Farm.

Developer - Natural Power. Date 22/02/2019. Amount - £24000. Division - Energy Consents Unit.

Payment in relation to application to construct/operate Rothes 3 wind farm.

Developer - Falck Renewables. Date 23/05/2014. Amount - £18000. Division - Energy Consents Unit.

Payment in relation to application to construct and operate Millennium South wind farm.

Developer - Scottish Power. Date 07/06/2019. Amount - £18000. Division - Energy Consents Unit.

Payment in relation to application to extend Arecleoch Wind Farm

Developer - Natural Power. Date 30/05/2018. Amount £18000. Division - Energy Consents Unit.

Payment in relation to application to construct/operate Crystal Rig 4.

Developer - Natural Power. Date 29/05/2018. Amount £18000. Division - Energy Consents Unit.

Payment in relation to application to extend Paul's Hill Wind Farm.

Developer - Scottish Power. Date 20/12/2018 Amount - £18000. Division - Energy Consents Unit.

Payment in relation to application to construct and operate Hagshaw Hill Wind Farm

Developer - Scottish Power. Date 30/03/2021 Amount - £125000 Division - Energy Consents Unit.

Payment in relation to application for Solar/Battery construction/operation at Whitelee

2. Information on payments made to Transport Scotland

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested in relation to Prestwick Airport. However from enquiry, we understand that Prestwick Airport has not received any payments from the projects that you have listed. The airport is operated on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government.

3. Information on payments made to Forestry and Land Scotland

Wind Development Income FY 19/20
Type of Income	Total Income (£)
Option Fees	£262,979.58
Development Fees	£114,092.44
Windfarm Rental Income	£10,863,082.05*
Access Only Rents	£639,422.72
FLS Staff Time	£271,936.54
Mineral Royalties	£0.00
Timber Crop Compensation	£10,453.39
SRF Payments	£595,824.33

 

Wind Development Income FY 20/21
Type of Income	Total Income (£)
Option Fees	£313,153.30
Development Fees	£160,383.56
Windfarm Rental Income	£12,420,562.02*
Access Only Rents	£688,501.33
FLS Staff Time	£357,614.85
Mineral Royalties	£916,984.08
Timber Crop Compensation	£0.00
SRF Payments	£195,051.97

Only data from financial years 19/20 and 20/21 falls within the scope of the request, because Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) have only been a Scottish Government agency since 2019.

The data above is for all payments made to FLS for wind farm developments on Scotland's national forests and land.

The data is not broken down by developer or project. This is because disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice substantially the commercial interests of both the developers and Forestry and Land Scotland. An exception has been applied under 33 (1) (b).

For further information, only 3 of the developments listed are sited on Scotland's national forests and land - Rothes, Whitelee, and Arecleoch.

All of the renewable energy developments on Scotland's national forests and land is available publicly at the following website: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/what-we-do/renewables/wind-hydro

Individual lease agreements are registered with Registers of Scotland and are obtainable for a small charge.

4. Information on payments made to other areas of the Scottish Government

Requests were made to Planning and Architecture Division (PAD) and Scottish Forestry. PAD confirmed no payments had been received in respect of the listed projects. Scottish Forestry hold no relevant information.

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