SVT turbines approved after marine radar interference solution found
PLANNING permission has been approved for two wind turbines at Sullom Voe Terminal.
It comes after mitigation measures were agreed regarding the potential impact on marine radar coverage in the Sullom Voe harbour area.
An objection from Shetland Islands Council’s (SIC) Sullom Voe Harbour Authority has now been lifted as a result.
Plans were lodged last year by SVT operator EnQuest for two turbines at the terminal. They would reach 149.9 metres from ground to tip height, with an output of 4.8MW each.
Currently SVT is fuelled by its own 100MW gas-fired power station, but this stands to go out of service once the terminal is connected to the grid, with work ongoing to lay cabling in public roads.
SVT operator EnQuest previously said it was considering up to seven turbines at the site as it looks to decarbonise its operations while moving activity at the terminal towards new energy such as hydrogen production.
A potential spanner was thrown into the works, however, when the SIC’s port infrastructure manager Andrew Inkster said in an objection that one of the two proposed turbines would would cause “unacceptable” interference with the radar system at the Sullom Voe harbour.
But a document published this week said the issue has now been resolved.
“Following discussions between the applicant and the harbour authority, an agreed mitigation solution has now been identified, whereby additional radar equipment will be installed to address the potential impact of the turbines on marine radar operations,” it said.
“The applicant has confirmed that the equipment will be installed and operational prior to the turbines generating electricity.
“The harbour authority has subsequently withdrawn its objection on the basis that this mitigation is secured.
“It is therefore considered that, subject to a condition preventing the generation of electricity from the turbines until the agreed radar mitigation equipment has been installed and is operational, the proposal would not give rise to an unacceptable impact on marine radar coverage or navigational safety.”
Earlier this month planning permission was also given for two turbines, developed by local firm EMN Plant, which would be located south of Brae.
Plans have also been submitted to the Scottish Government for eight turbines as part of the proposed Neshion Energy Park.
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