Property firm Bidwells is predicting a “significant boom” in revenue from onshore windfarms in the far north as existing projects move through the pipeline and new land opens up for development.
Clive Meikle, Inverness-based partner at Bidwells, said he expected to see a big rise in both revenue and jobs from the onshore wind sector.
It comes in the wake of a study by Oxford University researchers downgrading the potential for tidal power from the Pentland Firth.
Mr Meikle said: “Over the last few years people have looked towards the Pentland Firth for growth in the north of Scotland’s development of clean, green electricity.
“But there is still significant opportunity onshore across Caithness and Sutherland.
“Grid connections are opening up, a number of developments are moving into the construction phase and more still are going through the planning process.
“All of these have the potential to develop revenue for farmers as well as jobs for the local communities.
“The proposal for the draft strike price for onshore wind included in the (UK) government’s consultation on electricity market reform last week suggests it is confident that the sector still has much to offer.
“Farmers will continue to receive approaches from developers and should be ready to negotiate for the best deals.”
