Enabling works on Mossy Hill wind farm could get underway soon
PREPARATORY work on the planned Mossy Hill wind farm on the outskirts of Lerwick could start in the coming weeks.
This could include work on the site access and preparing the site for excavating the platform area for the development’s substation.
The Statkraft wind farm will contain of eight turbines on land between Lerwick and Scalloway, each reaching 145 metres from tip to height. By comparison, the Viking turbines are 155 metres.
Planning consent was granted for the wind farm in 2019, but it has since been revised from 12 turbines – which would have had a total generating capacity of 48MW – down to eight.
A substation building near to the junction with the A970 and Ladies Drive has already received planning permission.
Talks have started with a community liaison group, which includes representatives of the community councils from Scalloway, Lerwick and Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale.
A spokesperson for Statkraft said: “The project is at an advanced stage of development, and we are looking forward to commencing with the enabling works in the next few weeks.”
Planning conditions across a variety of topics, from traffic management to shadow flicker, are now being discharged.
There is also a planning application in for a temporary access track 210 metres in length to link a consented track to the Staney Hill quarry.
With the generating capacity of the wind farm decreased after the number of turbines was reduced, Statkraft reiterated that the community benefit from the development will be linked to installed capacity.
This stands to be at £5,000 a year per installed megawatt, but given there are now fewer turbines, there will be less paid out in community benefit overall.
The spokesperson said the management and administration of community benefit will be part of future discussions with the community liaison group.
“We have previously discussed community ownership with Scalloway Development Trust and this will also be a topic for further discussion at the community liaison group,” they added.
Statkraft also has two wind farms proposed in Yell – Beaw Field and Energy Isles, both of which have consent, while it is proposing ammonia plants at Dales Voe near Lerwick and Scatsta.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
