29 Jun 2026
Concerns have been raised that the UK’s national security is at risk after an energy developer began a legal battle to pursue a major windfarm development close to the UK’s only seismic monitoring station.
CWP Energy was refused consent for Scoop Hill windfarm near Moffat, after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) objected, on grounds of national security.
The site lies within the safeguarding zone for the Eskdalemuir seismic monitoring array in the Scottish Borders – the UK’s only facility to detect nuclear tests carried out anywhere in the world.
Now the energy developer has mounted a legal challenge in an attempt to overturn the refusal.
Chris Houston, chair of Borthwickwater Landscape Conservation Group said: “This is a laughable move by an aggressive developer. There are a cohort of wind farm companies all submitting proposals near to the Eskdalemuir array in the hope that, due to the sheer number of applications, the MoD will eventually cave in. But we must protect our vital national security first and foremost.”
The MoD in its objection to the windfarm cited “the unacceptable impact the proposed wind energy development would have on the operation and capability of the Eskdalemuir seismological recording station.”
The MoD’s consultation response also raised the risk to military aircraft, which use this area for training exercises, stating that “the proposed development will cause a potential obstruction hazard to low flying military air traffic.”
The air traffic control organisation NATS also objected to the development, as did RSPB, which raised concerns about the impact on golden eagles and osprey in the area.
CWP Energy is seeking to build 60 wind turbines, with a maximum tip height of 250 metres, plus new access tracks, energy storage facilities, substation, three masts of up to 125m in height, battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure. The development would be among the largest windfarms in the UK if granted permission.
Other energy companies which have applied to build windfarms within the area of the Eskdalemuir seismic array are Muirhall Energy, for the 52-turbine Teviot Windfarm, and Invenergy, for the 13-turbine Mid Hill Windfarm.
Chris Houston added that Scotland’s energy policy favours continual development, despite energy supply already exceeding demand:
“This is all against a backdrop of Scotland having already exceeded its 2030 targets for renewable energy, with so many developments either being built or re-powered that the 2035 targets are also met.
“What’s happening with renewable energy in Scotland is a scandal. There is no financial benefit to the country from the renewable energy revolution because nearly all of the companies which own the windfarms and our energy network are based abroad. What we are going to be left with is a legacy of devastated countryside, broken rural communities, big businesses profiteering and we’re going to be all the poorer for it. Shareholders win while we locals lose, lose, lose.”
Scotland’s current energy generating capacity is 17.6GW – 10.4GW from onshore wind, 4.3GW from offshore wind and 2.9GW from other onshore generating sources. This represents four and a half times current peak demand of just over 4GW in the winter. By 2030, Scotland will be generating close to five times its peak demand for energy.