Bowbeat Wind Farm Repowering

Welcome to our website for Repowering Bowbeat Wind Farm.

At Belltown Power we are committed to working with local communities and stakeholders to responsibly develop renewable energy projects that help to deliver our Scottish climate change targets and ensure a green and sustainable future for generations to come.

Belltown Power has entered a partnership with landowners to redevelop and repower the existing Bowbeat Wind Farm when it reaches the end of its operational life, currently expected for 2030.

The aim of this website is to provide easy access to the latest information (proposals, documents and news) for the repowering project, as well as setting out how you can get involved and share your views. We look forward to hearing from you

Image Source: Show Your Stripes - Professor Ed Hawkins (University of Reading) Graphics show yearly global temperature change since 1850 (left) & yearly temperature change in Scotland since 1884 (right)
Image Source: Show Your Stripes - Professor Ed Hawkins (University of Reading) Graphics show yearly global temperature change since 1850 (left) & yearly temperature change in Scotland since 1884 (right)

The Climate Crisis

We are facing an unprecedented global climate crisis caused by the use of fossil fuels to power our societies. In the past 50 years weather induced disasters have increased five-fold. [1]

Necessary Actions

CO₂ ppm have risen by 28% in the past 50 years. [2] We need to urgently cut greenhouse gas emissions to prevent irreversible temperature rises and nature loss. As electrification of transport and heating continues our demand for electricity will rise. It is vital we meet this increase, and existing demand, from renewable sources.

Project Contribution

Repowering Bowbeat Wind Farm would ensure it can keep providing home-grown clean power into our energy mix, supporting energy security and the transition to our low-carbon future. The repowered project could produce enough energy to power over 74,000 households, compared with 24,000 homes currently. This contribution would save over 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year, up from approximately 50,000 tonnes annually from the existing Wind Farm. [3]

Bowbeat Repower would enable your community to go one step further in its efforts to deliver energy security and tackle climate change.

“We must go into emergency mode against the climate crisis. We need an avalanche of action.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

 

"If we don't act now, it'll be too late. Every day that goes by in which we don't do something about it is a day wasted."

Sir David Attenborough

1 - WMO, Weather-related disasters

2 - Statista, Historic average carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, Ian Tiseo

3 - Figures based on a Wind Farm comprising of 24 turbines at 1.3MW for 28 years and 9 turbines at 7MW for 40 years, calculated using DESNZ methodology and a site specific capacity factor and recognised assumptions stated here: RenewableUK, Statistics explained

The Existing Wind Farm

Bowbeat Wind Farm was built in 2003 and consists of 24 turbines with a total capacity of 31.2MW, located in the Moorfoot Hills northeast of Peebles on Bowbeat Ridge in the Scottish Borders.

Location Borders, Scotland
Capacity 31.2MW
Turbines 24x Nordex N60 (1.3MW) turbines
Status Operational
End of life estimate 2030
The existing Bowbeat Wind Farm site boundary
The existing Bowbeat Wind Farm site boundary

The Repowering Proposal

The proposal to repower Bowbeat Wind Farm would upgrade the existing infrastructure with fewer, larger, more powerful modern turbines.

For more information on repowering, please visit our webpage: RePower - Belltown Power

Bowbeat has excellent potential for repowering as the site is located in an area of very high wind speeds, and surveys undertaken so far show good potential for utilising parts of the existing track and turbine foundation infrastructure and minimising disturbance to deep peat.

Based on desk-based analysis and the seasonal surveys already conducted, including breeding birds and habitat surveys, the site can accommodate up to 9 turbines, with tip heights of up to 230m. This would generate up to 63MW.

We have submitted a scoping request to the Scottish government Energy Consents Unit (ECU) in October 2026. A copy of this can be found in the project documents section of the website, or on the ECU website under reference number: ECU00006486

We have also submitted Proposal for Application Notices to the Scottish Borders Council and Midlothian Council Local Planning Authorities (LPAs). Copies of these can be found in the project documents section of the website.

We have also submitted a press release about the project which can be read below.

Modern turbines at an operational Belltown Wind Farm
Modern turbines at an operational Belltown Wind Farm

What's next...

Public Exhibitions

Public Exhibitions will be held as part of the project's consultation process. 

More information can be found in the "Get Involved" section of the website.

Environmental Impact Assessment

The detailed design process is currently underway. Belltown Power’s Project Team is preparing to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with the support of specialists, to inform the new design. Once we have collected feedback we will further assess the site to feed into the detailed design process. We are committed to protecting the natural environment around our projects and aim to design projects that have a net environmental gain.

Submitting our application for consent

We hope to submit an application for consent to the determining authority in 2027. There will be an opportunity for the public to provide feedback directly through the authority's website once the application has been submitted. 

If you have any questions please contact bowbeatrepower@belltownpower.com.

Project Documents

Timeline

2003

Bowbeat Wind Farm began operation

Q1 - Q3 2026

Initial design

Q4 2026

Public Consultation

Q4 2026 - Q1 2027

EIA studies and surveys

Q2 2027

Target submission

Q4 2028

Expected determination

2030

Decommissioning of Existing Bowbeat Wind Farm

Q2 2030

Target Construction Start

Q4 2031

Target Commercial Operation Date

Community event at a Belltown wind farm
Community event at a Belltown wind farm

Community Ownership – groundbreaking offer

At Belltown Power we fundamentally believe that renewable energy projects should benefit the communities that host them.

We offer a groundbreaking Community Ownership scheme that can bring tangible benefits to the heart of the community through the revenue generated by owning a stake in a renewable energy project. This includes:

  • Working with - or setting up - an Incorporated Entity that is run and owned by the community.
  • Giving that Entity 1% of the project ownership for free and offering the opportunity to buy a further 4% at cost, once the project is operational (plus more at market rate if desired), and offering them as much further ownership as they want to take at market value, up to a maximum 49% share of equity.There are various sources of community funding for this.
  • Helping to support the community through this process via Local Energy Scotland, an independent body that administers and manages the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES).

Community Benefit

In addition to the ownership offering, we will provide £5,000/MW (index-linked) in Community Benefit funding for the lifetime of the project.

This would:

  • Provide an annual Community Benefit fund of £315,000 per annum, an increase from the current wind farm's £156,000; and
  • Equate to £12.6 million over the project's 40-year operational lifetime*.

*The true value is expected to be higher, as the Community Benefit fund will be indexed to CPI.

Case Study

Near to our Tirgwynt site in Powys, Wales the Carno Primary School faced closure due to the condition of temporary buildings they were using. Due to our flexible community benefit offering we were able to substitute some of the annual payments with a larger, upfront payment which enabled the construction of a new school building allowing the local school to continue to serve the community for future generations.

Education - inspiring the next generation

We believe passionately in education and have been running the Belltown Education Programme since 2015 with the aim of inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists and climate emergency tacklers.

Get Involved

At Belltown Power, we recognise a fundamental part of good project development is early consultation to ensure local communities and stakeholders are given the opportunity to provide feedback and are kept informed of a project’s progress. As part of this consultation process and we look forward to engaging with any questions and feedback you may have about the project.

If you would like to get in touch to ask any questions you can request a call back from one of our team, or email us directly at: bowbeatrepower@belltownpower.com
Or come and meet us at one of our physical exhibitions.

Public Exhibitions

Public Exhibitions will be held as part of Bowbeat Repower's consultation process at the following venues and dates:

Eddleston Village Hall, Eddleston, Peebles, EH45 8QP

15:00-19:00 11/11/2026.

Peebles Hydro Hotel, 8 Hydro Gardens, Kings Meadows, Peebles, EH45 8LX

10:00-19:00 12/11/2026.

Feedback 

If you would like to provide feedback about the project online, please fill out the following form: https://www.bowbeatrepower.co.uk/feedback 

We want to hear your views on how Bowbeat Repower can best support your community. Do get in touch.

Opportunities for Local businesses and Suppliers

Belltown Power is committed to providing material benefit to the communities that host Wind Farms, such as Bowbeat. To ensure this happens we will use local supply chain where they meet the project’s HSEQ requirements and where they are within 10% of the best quote tendered.

There are a wide range of services and suppliers required to build and operate a wind farm including but not limited to:

  • Construction, drainage and fencing contractors,
  • Materials suppliers and building merchants,
  • Plant hire and security,
  • Fuel providers and waste management, and
  • Local hospitality providers and car hire.

To understand the full range of opportunities available please register on our supplier database and we will get in touch.

News

Belltown Power has entered a partnership with landowners to redevelop and repower the existing Bowbeat Wind Farm, northeast of Peebles in the Scottish Borders, when it reaches the end of its operational life, currently expected for 2030.

Built in 2003, the wind farm’s 24 turbines have a total capacity of 30MW. Repowering with the latest turbine technology will mean replacing them with fewer, larger turbines, keeping the site generating clean electricity for the long term.

Detailed design work and site surveys are underway. A formal public consultation on the draft proposals will follow, and this website will carry the details as they are confirmed. Questions in the meantime are welcome at bowbeatrepower@belltownpower.com.