West Woodburn · Elsdon · Kirkwhelpington
Twenty turbines of up to 230 metres on the moors above our villages.
Vattenfall wants to build Ray II next to the existing Ray Wind Farm. Its turbines would stand almost twice the height of the ones already here. We are not against renewable energy — we are against a project of this scale, in this place.
The problem in one number
This is not "more of the same".
The turbines already on the Ray Estate are 125 metres to the tip of the blade. Vattenfall says Ray II could reach 230 metres — machines from a different generation, on the same skyline.
A 230-metre turbine is taller than any structure most people in Northumberland ever see. From the villages, the fells and the roads that thread between them, a line of them changes the character of the landscape completely — and once built, they are there for around 35 years.
See the full proposal and how the two schemes compare →
Why we object
Six concerns, grounded in the developer's own figures.
Overbearing scale
At up to 230 m, the turbines would be almost double the height of the existing wind farm and would dominate views for many miles.
Cumulative impact
Ray II would sit alongside Ray I and the many wind farms already built across this part of Northumberland. Enough is enough.
Battery storage risk
The scheme includes a large battery energy storage system. We are pressing for clear answers on fire safety and end-of-life decommissioning.
Peat and carbon
Building on upland moorland disturbs peat that stores carbon and supports rare habitat. The climate case must count what is lost, not just what is generated.
Living alongside it
Noise, shadow flicker, construction traffic and years of disruption fall on the same small communities, again.
A fair say
Because it is over 100 MW, Ray II is decided nationally. Local people have to organise early to be heard at all.