In developing the project to the point that planning can be applied for. TREL has undertaken a number of studies to establish whether the project as well as being financially viable, is acceptable given its impact on the island's landscape, noise levels and birds, as well as the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) and the Ministry of Defence.

The financial planning for the project has involved the creation of a sophisticated model aimed at calculating when the project will breakeven and generates profits. And has involved the analysis of large number of factors to reach those conclusions, including the number of hours the turbine could be expected to turn and generate revenues, the cost of the turbines and the cost of financing their purchase and erection.

A landscape impact assessment has been undertaken to assess what the impact of the turbine will have on the landscape of Tiree. Leading consultants in the field, Land Use Consultants (LUC) based in Glasgow, have therefore been employed to look at all aspects of the potential visual impact that the turbine could have on the island and make recommendations regarding its height, colour and location to minimize that impact. LUC has also developed photomontages to allow planners to have some idea of how the turbine will look in the island's landscape from a variety of locations, including the approach by ferry and from the neighbouring islands of Coll and Mull.

The noise of the turbines is obviously of concern, but the levels generated by the type of modern turbine proposed are very low. The noise at 400m little more than a whisper and at 600m should be inaudible

Quite obviously the strength of the wind blowing over the site is critical to success of the venture, in particular for those banks undertaking the financing of the building of the turbine. There is therefore a need to establish average wind speeds to calculate just how much revenue the turbine could hope to generate to convince them to commit to the project. To establish the wind speeds TREL has recently received planning permission for a temporary 50m meteorological mast that will be erected on the site following the completion of a bird study.

Over the last 12 months a bird study has been undertaken on the site to assess the potential damage a turbine might do to birds passing through the site and to those nesting close by. The study aimed at calculating the probability that birds will collide with the turbine's blades using a computer model, as well as recommending the most appropriate timing and approach to the construction of the turbine so as to minimize disruption to the local and migrating bird populations. The results of the study are expected soon.

Discussions have also taken place with NATS and the Ministry of Defence regarding the potential impact of the turbine on the NATS radar and low flying aircraft.