SSE Renewables requested to modify the authorization of Tangy wind farm to increase its capacity from 18.7 MW up to about 96 MW.
SSE changes the design of the Tangy repowering project
SSE Renewables submitted a request to the Scottish Government to amend the Section 36 authorization of Tangy Repower project the proposal envisions installing turbines with a maximum blade tip height of 200 meters.
The Tangy wind farm is located about nine kilometers northwest of Campbeltown, on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula within the Argyll and Bute area.
Currently, the facility has 22 wind turbines and a total power of 18.7 MW. The park began operating in 2003 and is nearing the end of its useful life.
The project authorized in 2019 is no longer viable
In 2019, the Scottish Government authorized SSE Renewables to replace the existing wind farm with a new installation of 16 turbines. The approved design called for wind turbines with a maximum height of 149.9 meters.
However, SSE explained that supply chain costs have increased since approval, and manufacturers have stopped offering the turbine specifications envisaged in the original design.
Therefore, the company believes that the project can no longer be executed with the approved parameters; the new application maintains the 16 units but allows the use of taller and more efficient wind turbines.
With this change, the capacity of the Tangy wind farm could reach about 96 MW, which is more than five times the power of the facility that currently operates.
Local consultation and site changes
Before submitting the application, the Tangy Repower team consulted with public bodies, community councils, and residents. The process included presentations held in August 2025 and March 2026 in South Kintyre.
According to SSE, the opinions received helped define the new parameters; the proposal also includes minor adjustments to the distribution of infrastructure within the site.
Ian Stewart, director of the Tangy Repower project, indicated that the modernization will allow them to leverage the experience accumulated over more than two decades of operation. He also noted that the new design would significantly increase the renewable electricity generated on the site.
Tangy could bring jobs and community funding
SSE estimates that the repowering could contribute around £4.3 billion to the Scottish economy over the park’s lifetime. The project would also support 44 jobs in the country.
Likewise, some of the economic activity would remain in Argyll and Bute, and the construction and operation would open up opportunities for contractors, service providers, and workers in the area.
If the project is approved and progresses to the implementation phase, SSE will establish a community benefit fund valued at up to £480,000 per year. These funds would be distributed among local groups and projects.
The company has already contributed over £300,000 to nearby communities during the current park’s 23 years of operation. Part of these funds has supported energy poverty programs, educational initiatives, and affordable heating services.
The project still requires several authorizations
Submitting the application does not guarantee that the upgrade will be built; SSE still needs to obtain urban planning authorization from wind farm and a separate permit for network connection.
In addition, the company needs to secure a commercial channel to sell the energy and make a final investment decision.
If it passes these stages, Tangy Repower would reinforce the onshore wind capacity of western Scotland with fewer turbines than the current park but with a much greater installed capacity.
Source: Renews
Photo: SSE
