Viking Wind Farm
| Viking Wind Farm | |
|---|---|
 Location of Viking Wind Farm
|
|
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Location | Shetland Islands |
| Coordinates | 60°18′24″N 1°13′15″W / 60.30661°N 1.22077°WCoordinates: 60°18′24″N 1°13′15″W / 60.30661°N 1.22077°W |
| Status | consented, awaiting consent for the Shetland HVDC Connection |
| Construction cost | £566 million (estimated, 103 turbines) |
| Owner(s) |
Shetland Islands Council SSE |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | Onshore |
| Hub height | 90 m (300 ft) |
| Power generation | |
| Units planned | 103 3.6MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 370MW |
|
Website www |
|
Viking Wind Farm is a proposed wind farm being developed by Viking Energy, a partnership between Shetland Islands Council and SSE plc.
Initially proposed as a 150 turbine 600 MW project in 2009, the scheme had significant opposition, on grounds including effects on wildlife, and the general environment; part of the wind farm was also removed because of a potential interference with equipment at Scatsta Airport.
A 370 MW wind farm received planning permission in 2012, but an objection by Sustainable Shetland was successful in Sep 2013 on the grounds of inadequate assessment of impact on the Whimbrel bird, and on licensing regulations relating to the 1989 Electricity Act. This decision was subsequently overturned by two higher courts in 2014 and 2015.
In 2005 SSE and Shetland Islands Council (via development company Viking Energy.) signed a memorandum of understanding to combined independent proposals for 300 MW wind farms on mainland Shetland and jointly develop a large scale (600 MW) wind farm. The companies formalised the agreement in January 2007.
In 2009 the developers submitted a planning application for 150 turbines (estimated 600 MW capacity) on the main island of Shetland.
In 2010 the plan was reduced in scope, with the number of turbines reduced to 127; the turbines were to be 3.6 MW machines with hub height of 90 metres (300 ft) and blade tip height of 145 metres (476 ft). The scope area of the wind farm was 129 km2 (50 sq mi), of which only 104 ha (1.04 km2) would be permanently built upon, additionally the plan required construction of approximately 104 km of access roads, and the quarrying of 1,470,000 m3 (0.00147 km3) of rock, and the disturbance of between 650 and 900,000 cubic metres of peat. The development was dependent on the Shetland HVDC Connection being built connecting Shetland to the UK mainland's national grid. The cost of the connector was estimated at £300 million in late 2011; Viking Energy would be liable for 10% or less of the cost, other energy producing projects in Shetland, such as Aegir wave farm, were also dependent on the grid connector being built.
...
Wikipedia