Energy / Energy Isles wind farm connection date pushed back to 2027
Plans for the proposed 23-turbine development were submitted to the Scottish Government last year
THE PROPOSED Energy Isles wind farm is now only expected to produce electricity from 2027 onwards after its timeline was pushed back by two years.
A spokesperson for developer Statkraft said connection dates are “often moved due to changes in the anticipated project timetable and tend not to be confirmed until consent is granted”.
The energy company is proposing to build 23 turbines in the north west of Yell, creating a capacity of around 160MW.
Final plans were submitted last year and the case is currently sitting with the Scottish Government’s energy consents unit due to the size of the development.
The Statkraft spokesperson confirmed the current connection date is anticipated to be 2027.
“We will maintain an ongoing dialogue with Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN),” they added.
“At the moment our focus is on continuing dialogue with the local community as well as statutory consultees to make sure Energy Isles delivers a much needed source of renewable energy, as well as economic and community benefits to the local area.”
The project – which is backed by a consortium of local businesses – would provide power each year equivalent to the needs of 190,000 homes.
Energy Isles is one of four large wind farms planned in Shetland.
Fourteen of its turbines would have a tip height of 200m, and the rest would be 180m. This is larger than Viking Energy’s tip height of 155m.
In July 2024 the 600MW subsea interconnector cable linking Shetland to the Scottish mainland is scheduled to be turned on, as will the Viking Energy wind farm.
The cable, which will export energy from renewable projects south, will also allow other wind farms such as Energy Isles to be connected.
A project is currently in the works from SSEN Transmission to connect Energy Isles to the local network, as well as Peel Energy’s consented Beaw Field and Mossy Hill wind farms, through a combination of overhead lines, and underground and subsea cables.
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