UP TO 15,000 wind farm turbines may be built across Scotland — five times more than was previously thought, an official report has revealed.

The study by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the national environment agency, has exposed the full scale of planned wind farm developments, provoking outrage among environmental campaigners.

Nearly 500 farms, with turbines up to 460ft high, are planned in the next few years.Previous estimates had put the number of turbines operational or awaiting planning permission at 3,000 and wind farm developments at 300.

The numbers have alarmed SNH and campaigners who believe such large-scale development could devastate the environment and damage Scotland’s tourist industry. They fear that the turbines could kill rare birds such as golden eagles, black-throated divers and species of wader.

There is also concern that new pylons will be built across hundreds of miles of countryside to carry electricity from the turbines to the national grid.

The latest research will prove embarrassing for Scottish ministers who support renewable energy projects to cut greenhouse gases but are conscious of growing public alarm over wind farms.

Surveys suggests a public preference for a greater reliance on wave-power schemes and offshore wind farms. However, substantial government subsidies for wind farms mean that developers have little interest in alternatives.

Recently, a parliamentary committee criticised the executive’s energy policy as lacking direction and having an over-reliance on onshore wind power.

The latest SNH report reveals that 97% of new renewable energy proposals entering the planning system are for onshore wind farms. Currently, Scotland has 27 developments, using a total of 367 turbines.

Last night an SNH spokeswoman said: “We are concerned there are so many applications for onshore wind farms. This level of development could lead to a serious impact on wildlife, including wild birds, and on the landscape.

“We are in favour of renewable energy. Climate change is a big issue for us but it is really important to get the right projects in the right places. We hope there will be more emphasis on offshore and other types of renewables like tidal power.”

SNH said 221 wind farms were already in the planning system and that it had held secret talks with developers about a further 268 schemes at the “pre-application” stage.

Wind farm developers face mounting opposition in Scotland. More than 2,000 objections have been lodged with the executive about plans to build one of the world’s largest wind farms on the Isle of Lewis. Last month protesters on the island demonstrated by burning a 30ft effigy of a turbine.

Among high-profile opponents of wind farms and the pylons needed to connect them to the national grid are Gabby Logan, the sports presenter, and her rugby-playing husband, Kenny, and Sir Jeremy Isaacs, the former head of Channel 4, who is objecting to plans to build a wind farm in Edinbane on the Isle of Skye.

Gillian Bishop, a spokeswoman for Views of Scotland, an environmental pressure group, said of the SNH findings: “I’m gobsmacked. This is a nightmare situation. Jim Wallace, the enterprise minister, recently denied the executive was in thrall to wind development but if this is not being in thrall to wind farms I don’t know what is.”

Bishop claimed the projects would blight large swathes of the Scottish countryside and warned the executive that it now faces a major backlash from the public.

Another research group, the Scottish Wind Assessment Project (Swap), claims the growth in wind farms will lead to overcapacity. It says evidence from Denmark, Germany and Ireland shows that because wind power is intermittent and unpredictable a grid system can absorb no more than about 10% of input from wind power. It says the wind farms planned in Scotland would exceed capacity by 50%.

“There is a real danger that the over-capacity in wind power will make many, if not most, of these sites redundant. It’s the Holyrood fiasco 20 times over,” said David Bruce, Swap’s project manager.

Times Recommends

• Sarah Brown says 'no thanks' to veal at G8 - twice
• Stockton-on-Tees is obesity capital of Britain
• Stores blame poor sales on Murray factor