Third planning extension sought for Yell wind farm
THE DEVELOPER behind a planned wind farm in Yell is requesting a third extension to the time it needs to commence development by.
The 17-turbine Beaw Field wind farm was first given planning consent in 2017, but with a condition that development was to start within five years.
An extension was later granted to push the commencement date to 2024, and then again to November 2026.
However, with a grid connection only now slated for 2032, developer Statkraft is seeking a further extension to 30 November 2031.
Planning documents say the 72MW project has been prioritised in the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 Phase 2 (2031-2035) plans and currently has a grid connection date of 29 October 2032.
But they highlight that the grid connection route for the project also requires planning consent and regulatory approval.
Power from Beaw Field, and Statkraft’s other planned Yell wind farm Energy Isles, is proposed to travel into a new substation on the island before travelling through a subsea cable to the Shetland mainland.
It would then connect into a large, new northern substation hub, which has been mooted for the Scatsta or Toft areas.
Beaw Field was first developed by Manchester firm Peel Energy, gaining consent from the Scottish Government in 2017.
The project was then acquired by Norwegian company Statkraft in 2023, which also bought Peel’s smaller Mossy Hill development near Lerwick at the time.
Of the three Statkraft wind farms Mossy Hill is the most advanced, with planning conditions now being discharged for its development.
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