Abstract
This report outlines three broad scenarios for turbine layouts at the Argyll Array proposed wind farm site and their relative potential impacts on sensitive ornithological receptors. These scenarios represent two levels of turbine removal, and compare these two potential layouts to the original proposed array configuration. The reduction in risk to avifauna from displacement and rotor collisions has been modelled and assessed for each of the layouts.
Each potential turbine layout was created using distance adjusted density maps of the species thought to have the highest sensitivity to displacement or collision due to behavioural patterns or on-site numbers. Turbine layouts were then designed by excluding turbines from areas with high levels of bird activity using three different density thresholds. The resulting layouts are intended to provide broad brush guidance in reducing any predicted negative effects on the species of concern.
Comparison of the configurations used in this analysis shows that the second, and more moderately reduced, configuration offers a significant reduction in predicted negative impacts to the avian species of primary concern whilst retaining most of the original proposed turbines. Furthermore, as this report presents a broad analysis, a more detailed approach may offer options for the inclusion of more turbines whilst maintaining the reduced collision and displacement risk.