The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Isles power link approved
Renewables: Ofgem backing for cable puts wind farm back on map
Energy regulator Ofgem has approved a huge power link cable from Shetland to the Scottish mainland.
The decision, announced yesterday, is “crucial” to the future of energy developer SSE Renewables’ plan to build the 103-turbine Viking onshore wind farm on Shetland.
A proposal tabled by SSE subsidiary Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to build a 600 megawatt (MW) subsea electricity transmission link was rejected last year.
But SSE’s plans for the Viking project was boosted in April after Ofgem said it was ready to rubber stamp proposals for an energy link with mainland Scotland on the provision the wind farm reached a final investment decision.
It is understood the project will support around 400 jobs at peak construction with a further 35 full-time local operation and maintenance jobs.
SSE’s chief executive, Alistair Phillips-Davies, said the decision marks a “significant milestone in delivering a ‘whole system’ solution to meet Shetland’s future needs”.
He added: “It has been a long journey but, with a combined investment in excess of £1 billion, the construction of the subsea transmission link, all associated onshore infrastructure and the Viking Energy wind farm will deliver substantial socio-economic and environmental benefits to Shetland’s, Scotland’s and the UK’s economy, supporting hundreds of skilled jobs in the process.”
Viking lost out on a UK Government subsidy bid last year, forcing SSE to look at new routes to market.
But last month, SSE Renewables announced it had secured £580 million backing for the development.
Scheduled for completion in 2024, the 443MW project will be the UK’s largest onshore wind farm in terms of output.
It is understood the development will cover 17,396 acres of Shetland’s central mainland.
Frank Hay of campaign group Sustainable Shetland said: “It is a sad day for the people of Shetland, and also energy consumers, who will end up paying for it all.
“An energy solution for Shetland which should have cost about £100m will end up costing £1.3bn and we will probably end up with an unreliable system.
“When the latest consultation was announced we felt, in the light of comments by Ofgem chief Jonathan Brearley, that the consultation was a sham.”