Overview
Gairnieston Farm is an operational onshore wind farm in the United Kingdom with a capacity of 2.3 MW, contributing to the country's renewable energy targets.
Gairnieston Farm is an onshore wind farm located in the United Kingdom, operating with a capacity of 2.3 MW. This facility is part of the UK's growing renewable energy infrastructure, supporting the transition to low-carbon electricity generation. The wind farm utilizes wind power as its primary fuel source, converting kinetic energy from wind into electrical power. The UK has a robust regulatory framework for renewable energy, including the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and the Renewables Obligation, which have driven significant investment in onshore wind. Gairnieston Farm operates under these policies, benefiting from stable revenue support. Onshore wind is one of the most cost-effective renewable technologies in the UK, and this facility contributes to the national grid's diversification. Environmentally, Gairnieston Farm helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuel-based electricity. Onshore wind farms like this one are typically sited in rural areas with good wind resources, and they play a key role in meeting the UK's legally binding net-zero emissions target by 2050. The facility's modest scale allows for integration into the local grid with minimal infrastructure requirements.
Environmental context
Onshore wind farms like Gairnieston Farm can have visual impacts on the landscape and may affect local bird and bat populations through collisions. However, proper siting and mitigation measures, such as turbine spacing and operational curtailment during peak migration periods, help reduce these risks. The UK's planning framework requires environmental impact assessments for wind projects to address these concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Gairnieston Farm is an onshore wind farm located in the United Kingdom, with coordinates approximately 57.5936 N, -2.4240 W.
Gairnieston Farm has a capacity of 2.3 MW, making it a small-scale wind farm typical of rural installations in the UK.
The operator of Gairnieston Farm is not publicly listed, but the facility is operational and contributes to the UK's renewable energy grid.
UK onshore wind farms are supported by the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and the Renewables Obligation, which provide stable revenue and incentivize low-carbon electricity generation.
Onshore wind farms in the UK must undergo environmental impact assessments addressing visual impact, noise, and wildlife effects, particularly on birds and bats. Mitigation measures are often required to minimize ecological disruption.