Golticlay Wind Farm (72.6 MW)

Golticlay Wind Farm is a 72.6 MW wind farm project in Highland, Scotland. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: under construction since 1 July 2025; the record was last updated on 23 February 2026. As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36.

How it works ↓

Data: REPD July 2026 extract · calculated 7 November 2026 · Methodology and sources

72.6 MWwind farm

under constructionstatus in REPD

23 February 2026record last updated

Highlandcouncil area

Planning timeline

Date	Stage
28 October 2016	Application submitted
30 October 2017	Appeal lodged
24 March 2021	Section 36 consent granted (Scottish Ministers)
24 March 2021	Appeal allowed
1 July 2025	Construction started

Project details

Technology: wind farm
Capacity: 72.6 MW
Status (REPD): under construction
Record last updated: 23 February 2026
Operator or applicant: RWE Renewables UK Limited
Planning authority: Scottish Government (S36)
Planning application reference: EC00003133
Appeal reference: WIN-270-10
Turbines: 11
Turbine height: 180 m
Address (REPD): Land 2040M NE Of Bulreanrob, Lybster
Council area (by location): Highland
Time to decision: 230 weeks
Contracts for Difference: AR6
REPD reference: 5195

North-east of Bulreanrob near Lybster, RWE Renewables UK Limited is building an onshore wind farm: 11 turbines, each 180 m tall, 72.6 MW. It has been listed as under construction since 1 July 2025, more than four years after the consent. The project received a Contract for Difference in round AR6.

The application was submitted on 28 October 2016, and an appeal was lodged on 30 October 2017. It was allowed on 24 March 2021, and on the same day Scottish Ministers granted Section 36 consent. That is almost twice their median of 127 weeks; 18% of applications are refused.

Neighbours within 10 km

Camster at 50 MW and Burn of Whilk at 22.5 MW are operational, while Forse at 60 MW has been abandoned. A separate record, Golticlay Wind Farm 2 at 13.2 MW, is listed at the same spot. For everything else nearby, see the pages for KW3 and Highland. Record last updated 23 February 2026; stages taken from the REPD extract for July 2026.

Who decides

As a project over 50 MW in Scotland, it is decided by Scottish Ministers under Section 36. Scottish Government (S36) refused 18% of 334 decided solar, wind and battery applications in REPD (median 127 weeks to a decision). Across all UK planning authorities 19% of 10,236 decided applications were refused.

Other large projects within 10 km

Project	Type	MW	Status	km
Golticlay Wind Farm 2	wind farm	13.2	no application required	<0.1
Forse Wind Farm	wind farm	60	abandoned	5.7
Burn of Whilk	wind farm	22.5	operational	7.4
Camster	wind farm	50	operational	7.7
Hill Of Lynchrobbie, Dunbeath	wind farm	7.2	application submitted	8.0
Boulfruich	wind farm	13	operational	8.5

Status and dates as recorded in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract); the database is compiled from public sources and can lag behind council decisions. Location: REPD grid reference (58.3466, -3.3285).