Newsletter April 2026

It has been a while since the last CaSHWIG newsletter.  This is mainly because on the surface not a lot has been happening, however there has been a lot that is of relevance to this proposal which we feel we need to update everyone on.

Force 9 Energy recently confirmed that the recent changes to the process that allocated entry dates for power export has resulted in a delay to the proposed windfarm planning application.

It is important to give some context.  Planning permission is a devolved matter (the decision is taken either by Holyrood or local councils); however, the electrical distribution system (National Grid) is not a devolved matter.

The Network Energy Systems Operator (NESO) has until recently allocated entry dates based upon a “First Come, First Serve” basis (NESO terminology, I would describe it as “First ask, First reserve”).  This has resulted in there being 738GW (NESO data) of projects in the queue for network entry.  However, a large portion of these are not viable projects which do not get built and will not ever be economically viable so are “clogging” up the system.  The total need UK requirement by 2030 is 200-225 GW.

Consequently, NESO has changed the way network entry is granted, introducing a 2-gate process.  The intention being “The right projects are built in the right place.   The grid remains secure and isn’t over loaded.  Consumers are protected from paying for unnecessary network upgrades.  Great Britain can meet its energy goals.” (NESO website).  “These reforms aim to remove unviable projects from the queue and prioritise those critical to delivering clean power and wider industrial decarbonisation.” (NESO website).

Consequently, all future energy connection dates are being revised to remove non-viable projects or projects that will not be ready to meet their entry dates and reprioritise the projects that will have the greatest strategic impact and make better use of the existing infrastructure.  NESO have also stated “Onshore wind in England/Wales is prioritised over oversupplied zones in Scotland” (NESO website).

The 2-gate process comprises: Gate 1 being all applications that can’t meet Gate 2 entry criteria; Gate 2 being those projects that have planning consent and/or secured land to locate the project on and can show they have secured the land and meet the Strategic criteria (this bit is complex).  These criteria require “evidence” to be submitted.

There are currently over 1,750 projects with future entry dates assigned under the old system which are being reassigned new entry dates.  Those projects that satisfy Gate 2 criteria are being offered entry dates first, then those projects in gate 1 will be offered indicative dates once NESO gets a better view of needs and capacity.  The Correen Hills Windfarm proposal is in the old list but has no gate status allocated yet.  We know the proposal does NOT have planning permission.  We do not know whether the proposal has evidence of secured land, nor its fit with strategic criteria, nor whether Aberdeenshire is classed as an “oversupplied zone in Scotland”.

The old list had a connection for the Correen Hills proposal as September 2031, but this may well slip given the size of the current list and the other unknowns.  Once there is a connection offer EDF/Force 9 will then decide how to continue with the project.

There are other associated matters of relevance to the Correen Windfarm proposal. 

In February 2026, Scotland’s highest civil appeal court, the Court of Session in Edinburgh, reversed the approval of the controversial Wull Muir wind farm in the Scottish Borders.  The approval decision was overturned following a legal challenge which argued that the environmental impact assessment failed to consider the off-take  connection to the grid required to export electricity, treating the turbines and grid works as separate projects.

The decision concluded that while separate planning applications and proposals may be made for the windfarm and the power off-take, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed windfarm has to take into account the impact of the offtake as the windfarm is useless without it. 

The Correen Hills Windfarm proposal has the power off-take going to a new proposed windfarm called Craig Watch near Dufftown.  The Craig Watch Windfarm proposal is currently with the Scottish Planning and Appeals Division (DPEA) because of objections raised.  It is unlikely that the EIA for the Correen Hills proposal includes the EIA of the off-take, so more work may be required to take the generated power to a project that is under review and may not be approved.

The Hill of Fare proposal is also with the DPEA and it is understood that the Reporter has requested the developer submit additional information, most likely an EIA for their offtake.  The Reporter’s report was expected prior to the end of 2025, but required by mid-January, this was then moved out to March, we are now in April 2026.  The planning proposal for this development was made in November 2023.

There are two additional windfarms proposed for the area of Correen Hills, these being a new 200m set of turbines to be located on the Foudland hills (south side of the A96 near the BT masts) and a second new proposal called Dunscroft Windfarm for 200m turbines to be located on the west side of the glen at Gartly.

A large group of Community Councils across Aberdeenshire and Angus (and possibly Moray) have got together to form a group to request a pause on approvals of onshore wind planning applications until Scotland has a plan for onshore wind, which unbelievably it does not.  This group is similar in structure and intent to the group of Highland Community Councils and one on the Borders.  The Aberdeenshire/Angus/Moray group is called the North East Scotland Convention of Community Councils (NESCCC).

So, while nothing has happened on the surface, in summary it is probable that the planning application Correen Hills Windfarm is going to be further delayed: there is a recognition that the current system of allocating entry slots to the National Grid need to be overhauled; the environmental impact of power offtake is part of the project.  There are two more proposals for the local Clatt/Insch/Gartly area and there is a group of Community Councils that have joined forces to request a pause of approvals for major developments until there is a strategy and plan.

CaSHWIG will continue to monitor the situation and update everyone as and when things change. We will keep a watching brief and maintain our surveillance of the relevant websites.  We are also combining forces with folks keeping an eye on the Foudland and Dunscroft proposals to ensure we stay aligned and support each other as and when necessary.

In the meantime summer is over the horizon and there is no windfarm construction going on the Correen Hills this year.