Environment / Viking Energy applies for further changes to its consent
RENEWABLE energy developer Viking Energy has applied to have the upper limit of 457 Megawatts (WW) for its consented 103-turbine wind farm removed and replaced with the looser term of “greater than 50 MW”.
If approved by the Energy Consent Unit, it will allow the company to potentially use larger turbines than anticipated when planning consent was first granted in April 2012.
Changing this element of the consent is included in Viking Energy’s application to increase the size of the individual turbines to a maximum of 155 metres, which was submitted to the Energy Consent Unit in November.
The proposed change in the “maximum generating capacity” was spotted during a meeting of the Lerwick Community Council last week, leaving members initially thinking it was a spelling mistake.
However, since the planned wind farm will be built on land outside Lerwick, the community council decided just to note the application without commenting.
Responding to a request for clarification by Shetland News, Viking Energy said the company was following advice from Scottish ministers.
“The relevant legislation does not require the maximum generation capacity to be stated or limited in the consent for a wind farm,” a statement issued at the weekend said.
“The likely generation capacity of the wind farm stated in the EIA [Environmental Impact Assessment] report is based on currently available ‘candidate’ turbines and this is used in the report for, amongst other things, calculating the carbon balance of the project.
“If Viking gains consent for a higher tip height there are a number of current turbine models which would fit and these are in the range of 4.2MW to 4.5MW.”
The full 57-page application document can be found here.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
