Energy / Work expected to get underway next year on second turbine on outskirts of Lerwick
WORK on a second wind turbine near to the northern entrance of Lerwick could get underway early next year, with the main construction expected in the summer.
The 2.3MW turbine at North Hoo Fields would have a maximum tip height of 100 metres.
It would be located near to the existing turbine in the area, which is to the left of the three-lane road when driving north out of Lerwick.
In 2019 North Fish (Shetland) Ltd, which owns the existing turbine, received planning permission for a second one with a height of 77 metres.
However, a new application for a larger turbine superseded the old one, receiving planning permission in 2024.
The wind generation at North Hoo Fields provides additional power to a nearby biomass facility at the Gremista Industrial Estate, which dries wood for energy use.
North Fish director Angus Grains said this week that planning conditions are being worked through just now “while we wait on the outcome of the grid reform process”.
“We are hopeful we should hear positive news on that front in a few weeks time,” Grains added.
It comes as work continues to connect the local electricity grid to the HVDC subsea cable which runs to the Scottish mainland.
This also involves the Lerwick Power Station going into standby mode.
There is also battery storage system being installed nearby to maintain supply in Shetland if the power station needs to come out of standby mode due to an outage on the HVDC link.
Grains added: “We’re hoping to be onsite in January 26 with main construction during the summer, and getting connected to the grid when the new GSP [grid supply point] and battery site are complete.”
He said power output from the second turbine can go into the grid, but will also be used in-hour.
Wood dried at the North Fish facility is then used to operate biomass boilers across Shetland, including at some leisure centres.
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