Lewis Wind Power wants to increase the maximum height of turbines at a site at Uisinis to 200m (656ft). The developer has also proposed increasing turbines to a site near Stornoway to a height of 187m (614ft). It said bigger turbines are more efficient and would help to attract subsidies to a subsea cable needed for exporting power to the mainland.
For more than 10 years, it has been planned to lay the cable, known as the interconnector, to link Renewable energy projects on the Western Isles with the mainland electricity grid. Lewis Wind Power, a consortium of EDF energy and Amec Foster Wheeler, already has planning Permission for a 45-turbine wind farm at Uisinis and a 36-turbine scheme near Stornoway. Larger turbines could mean reducing the number needed at each site.