Quantans Hill Wind Farm

Quantans Hill Wind Farm is a proposed onshore renewables project north-east of Carsphairn, aiming to deliver biodiversity enhancements, local economic opportunities, and community benefits.
With 14 turbines, battery storage, and a potential capacity of 90 MW, this Vattenfall investment would add to Scotland’s renewable energy capacity.

Visit the Virtual Exhibition to find out more about the proposals or see the full proposal documents by following this link to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit portal here. 

Why Quantans Hill Wind Farm?

Vattenfall’s proposals for Quantans Hill Wind Farm outline the potential for:

• 90 MW capacity for renewable energy generation – estimated to avoid up to 4 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions over the project’s lifetime, based on standard industry assumptions.
• Up to 50 MW battery storage, supporting the energy transition, grid resilience, and security of supply.
• Deploying modern turbine technology to increase Scotland’s renewable energy capacity, contributing to national targets with onshore wind
• Local economic opportunities estimated at around £7 million, as part of Vattenfall’s wider investment across south-west Scotland.
• A community benefits package estimated at up to £16 million, subject to ongoing consultation with local communities.
  Planned investment in habitat enhancement measures across the site – including new broadleaf planting, heathland restoration, and peat restoration.
• A potential regional biodiversity programme being explored for implementation during the project’s lifetime.
  Plans for approximately 15 km of signposted hill tracks for outdoor recreation, along with information boards and measures to protect sites of historic interest.
• Estimated annual contribution of around £600,000 to local tax revenues.
• Supporting diversification of the agricultural sector and measures to maintain non-forested, biodiversity-enhanced heathland and peatland.

Designing the best, biodiverse and beneficial wind farm we can

Unlike many other types of development, wind farms are subject to stringent planning regulations, and at Vattenfall we invest time and resources to design wind farms that take account of environmental and community considerations.

Local feedback has been an important factor in the design of Quantans Hill, helping us strike a balance between the transition to renewable energy and the aspirations of local communities. Detailed environmental studies have also been undertaken on birds, wildlife, hydrology, habitats, noise, visual impact, archaeology, landscape, transport and aviation. All of this has helped us refine the proposal:

• Reducing turbines from 21 to 14
• Lowering the maximum tip height from 250m to 200m
• Removing and repositioning turbines to better protect water, deep peat, heritage and natural heritage whilst mitigating visual and noise cumulative impact
• Integrated additional public access features

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Evolution of the site design

View a short video animation showing the evolution of the site design.

Built in biodiversity

Quantans Hill Wind Farm represents an opportunity to deliver biodiversity enhancements.
The construction of the wind farm is planned to include habitat management measures with the aim of achieving biodiversity Net Gain in line with recognised standards. Proposed actions include restoration of historic heathland and peatlands, and new planting of native broadleaf trees.
Beyond the site boundary, there may also be opportunities for regional habitat enhancements, subject to further assessment and consultation.

Pathways and preservation

Plans include creating approximately 15 km of accessible tracks for the wind farm, with proposals for long-term management during its operational period. We also propose adding information boards to provide details about the site’s habitats and cultural heritage. In addition, a footpath towards the village is being considered to improve walking access from Carsphairn and guide visitors to a part of the site where, some distance beyond any turbines, they can see the crash site of a World War II aircraft linked to the development of radar technology.

Maximising local opportunities and community benefits

Vattenfall aims to create opportunities for local jobs and businesses. From 2020–2025, during the construction of nearby South Kyle Wind Farm, independent analysis indicated that this approach supported hundreds of jobs and resulted in millions of pounds spent with businesses in south-west Scotland.
With Quantans Hill, we aim to build on this approach by developing local networks, sharing knowledge, and exploring ways to support future skills development in the renewable energy sector.

Vattenfall aims to provide meaningful community benefits with Quantans Hill Wind Farm. We’re exploring how funding associated with the wind farm could support local communities in achieving their goals, and considering innovative approaches to develop a tailored benefits package. To this end, we commissioned an independent study to gather community feedback and inform the design of the package.Community Development Strategy, a starting point in highlighting what could be achieved with funding from Quantans Hill Wind Farm.

What’s next?

Our South Kyle Wind Farm project, now constructed north of Carsphairn, illustrates Vattenfall’s approach to working with local communities to increase opportunities where possible.

With Quantans Hill, we aim to build on this approach by developing local networks, sharing knowledge, and exploring ways to support future skills development in the renewable energy sector.

Proposals for Quantans Hill Wind Farm are currently under consideration by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit. 

In autumn 2026, an Environmental Impact Assessment of the project’s proposed grid connection was added to Quantans Hill Wind Farm’s Planning Application. This Additional Information will be subject to a 30 day consultation with the Energy Consents Unit, commencing 2 October 2026

UK Wind Energy Database (UKWED) | RenewableUK

Get in touch

If you have any questions about the Quantans Hill Wind Farm Proposal please get in touch: quantanshill.windfarm@vattenfall.com