Since 1962 the Eskdalemuir Seismic Monitoring Array near Langholm has listened for nuclear explosions around the world. Its work supports both the international Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (1968) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (1996).
Since the craze for subsidised wind took off however, speculators and developers have repeatedly argued that their profit interests should come before UK national security. The Ministry of Defence is a statutory consultee and has objected to applications for nearby wind turbines when those vibrations would interfere with the ultra sensitive listening equipment.
The Eskdalemuir Working Group (EWG) was established by the Scottish Government in 2004 to push for more turbines within the 50km sensitive area. Since 2025 the UK govt Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has chaired the EWG. The EWG has a consultation on pushing up the acceptable Seismic Impact Limit around the Array. Closing date Friday 12th of June 2026.
Lauderdale Preservation Group has concerns about transparency and conflicted interests in the way the wind developers are trying to squeeze more turbines into a sensitive area. We also dispute the whole rationale for the EWG. Our response is below.
Why does this matter to Lauderdale? We are just at the edge of the 50 km radius. Previously the speculation now called Longmuir has been turned down to due its impact on the SKA. In addition, if there’s little or no space for additional turbines within the Array’s 50 km SIL, then the already weak case for new major substations and powerlines through the Borders becomes even weaker than it already is.
Lauderdale Preservation Group Submssion
There should be no Eskdalemuir Working Group. National security, NATO commitments and defence intelligence should come ahead of the interests of wind farm developers. The MoD should have the veto on windfarms within the 50 km zone around the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array (EKA).
Failing that, and if our Governments persist with expensive, remote, unreliable electricity generation, Ministry of Defence data should be used to judge additional windfarm applications inside the restricted zone 15-50 km out from the EKA.
We are concerned to see our two Governments potentially intervene in national security matters on behalf of commercial interests. These include the wind industry trade bodies; Scottish Renewables, Renewables UK and Aviation Investment Fund Company Ltd. Also wind speculators Muirhall Energy, ESB Energy, On Path Energy and CWP Energy. Most of whom have funded reports by Xi Engineering and others. It may not be a coincidence that Xi Engineering calculates lower seismic impacts than MoD assessments.
It is inappropriate to have a private consultancy, such as Xi Engineering, create an ‘Industry Tool’ as a private venture funded by wind farm developers. The arrangements around the current Xi Engineering Tool are murky. It is not clear who owns the Tool; to what standard it was created, or who would maintain it ongoing. The consultation proposes that wind farm developers fund and manage a Tool, in an entirely opaque way. To have those same developers rely on their own Tool to get planning permission could be described as corrupt.
It would show a lack of judgement on DESNZ’s part to have such a compromised Industry Tool as a legal requirement for windfarms developers when they put in their applications. Decisions made by such a Tool could be open to legal challenge.
In terms of Seismic Impact Limit allocation, we favour re-powering existing industrial sites over previously undeveloped ground. If a SIL budget is set, we think re-powering schemes should be at the top of the queue.
Both the Working Group and this consultation are fundamentally flawed, as a further 4 GW or 6 GW of intermittent energy is of such little value that it would only be built in response to the lucrative subsidies offered by Ofgem, NESO and DESNZ, paid for by households and businesses. Another 6 GW of remote energy on windy days adds no value to Britain’s energy security. While meddling with the EKA degrades our defence capacities.