The company behind the community-initiated wind farm in Yell has submitted revised plans to the Scottish Government with fewer turbines and adjustments to the access track layout which will further reduce environmental impact.

Proposed changes to the Energy Isles Wind Farm in North Yell will see the overall number of wind turbines onsite reduced further from 23 to 18.

The changes also decrease the infrastructure footprint of the project by 27% and reduce the total volume of peat required to be excavated by 43% from the previous amended application (August 2020).

Two free webinars are being arranged to allow the local community an opportunity to learn more about the updated plans, particularly on the complex issues of peat management and ornithology.

The webinars will take place on the following dates:

• Tuesday 5th October (6pm – 7pm) – Overview of revised plans
• Thursday 7th October (6pm – 7pm) – Peat and Ecology

On the panels will be Charlotte Healey (Project Manager, Statkraft), Derek Jamieson (Director, Energy Isles) and environmental experts who have advised on the project so far.

The new plans include:

• 18 turbines with a tip height of 180m
• Installed capacity of approximately 126 MW
• Electricity generated equivalent to the annual consumption of over 157,000 homes
• Reduction in infrastructure footprint of 27% (based on August 2020 plans)
• 43% less peat excavated (based on August 2020 plans)

Speaking of the proposed changes, Derek Jamieson, Director of Energy Isles, said: “Statkraft has listened carefully to feedback. These alterations form part of the refinement process while still maximising electricity generation, which will increase the economic benefit for Yell and the Shetland Islands.”

Derek Jamieson added: “We are keen to keep local folk involved in the development. That’s why we’re hosting two public webinars to ensure that no question is left unanswered and that we deliver the best results for the people of Yell.”

Charlotte Healey, Project Manager for Statkraft said: “The support we’ve had so far from the local community has been incredible and their input, as well as discussion with statutory consultees has led to our most recent proposals. I really hope that those interested will join one of our webinars to learn more and ask any questions they might have.”

The revised plans are available to view on this website.

One of the most common questions we are asked when developing our projects is 'Why here?".

Statkraft's Head of Business and Project Development will help answer this question at a webinar on Tuesday, 29 June at 10am.

During the webinar Richard Mardon will take us behind the scenes of the development process, with a step by step guide on the challenges faced in finding the best sites to maximise Scotland's excellent natural wind resource. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions.

Register, and find out more by clicking here.

The event is being recorded and the link will be available shortly afterwards.

We are pleased to announce our commitment to use a free online portal to maximise the involvement of Shetland-based contractors and sub-contractors.

Statkraft has signed up to the Open4Business (O4B) portal and urges Shetland companies and suppliers to register so they can find out more about opportunities that will be available if the project is consented by the Scottish Government.

The Open4Business portal is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and managed by Inverness Chamber of Commerce. Shetland-based businesses so far registered, include civil engineering firms, plant hire companies, transport and haulage providers, accommodation providers, consultants and fencers.

The commitment to advertise contracts via O4B is the latest action taken by Statkraft to ensure local businesses and communities would benefit from the Energy Isles project. Other actions taken include:

• Suppliers Days in Lerwick and Yell
• Establishment of Shetland Renewables Development Network (SRDN)
• Commitment to deliver a community benefit fund of £24m over 30 years.
• Offering an opportunity for the community to participate in Shared Ownership of the project.

Charlotte Healey, Project Manager for Statkraft, said:

“The origins of this project within the Yell and Shetland communities make it even more important that the local economy gains the maximum benefit. We want to take advantage of the decades of experience that Shetland businesses have working in the energy industry and the O4B platform offers the perfect way of doing that.”

The proposed wind farm was initially conceived by a group of Shetland businesses who formed Energy Isles Ltd in 2014 to pursue the application which was originally submitted in May 2019. Statkraft was announced as the development partner in October 2019 and submitted its final plans for the wind farm to the Scottish Government in August 2020.

O4B Programme Manager Sandra McCaughey welcomed the strong commitment shown at this early stage by Statkraft to ensure Shetland businesses have visibility of contract opportunities and the chance to bid for work which would be available through the Energy Isles project. She added:

“I am delighted that Statkraft has signed up to use Open4Business. By making a commitment to using the Open4Business portal Statkraft are strengthening the actions they have already taken to ensure local businesses and communities will gain maximum benefit from the Energy Isles project. I am looking forward to working closely with Statkraft to support their aims to deliver a positive impact for Shetland businesses and communities”

David Taylor, HIE – Senior Development Manager, Energy and Low Carbon said:

“The Open4Business online portal has been fantastic in connecting developers with local contractors, including more than 70 Shetland firms who are registered on the free portal. Inverness Chamber of Commerce have done great work in promoting O4B to global company Statkraft, who clearly recognise the potential benefits of the portal in connecting with the wider Shetland supply chain.”

Katrina Wiseman HIE Shetland Area Team Leader said:

“We are delighted to see developers committing to promoting future opportunities through the O4B site with the Energy Isles project as the next prospect. This will allow Shetland businesses to tender for work increasing the local economic benefits and employment arising from these projects.”

Wildfires which devastated much of the Moray countryside in the north of Scotland last year have led to increased environmental benefits being proposed by Europe’s largest renewable energy producer.

Work on Statkraft’s proposed extension to the Berry Burn Wind Farm, near Forres, has been shortlisted for the Outstanding Project Award, at the Scottish Renewables ‘Green Energy Awards’. In April 2019, a catastrophic wildfire spread throughout the site causing damage to precious habitats and threatening the project all together. The fire burnt for over a week and it took some time to ensure that peat fires were extinguished, and safe access could be allowed.

Unfortunately, the habitats and vegetation across a large area - including the entire proposed extension area – were utterly devastated.

Experts from ecological consultancy Avian Ecology worked tirelessly to ensure the project could continue by working with NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage) and the local community to find ways to restore and then enhance the biodiversity of the site.

Avian Ecology mapped out an engagement approach, with a high emphasis on early and on-going consultation with NatureScot to deliver an innovative habitat management plan that would bring a biodiversity net gain to the fire-damaged area, helping to turn around the catastrophe. In addition, they proposed measures to prevent the spreading of future wildfires, reducing the chance of such extensive damage reoccurring. The plan was carefully designed so as to provide improved peatland habitats for wildlife and carbon storage, providing clear benefits over and above those already in place for the operational Berry Burn Wind Farm.

That work has now been recognised for its quality with the shortlisting for the prestigious Green Energy Awards.

Mícheál Ó Broin, Senior Development Manager at Statkraft said: “Avian Ecology has exceeded our expectations. Their innovative ideas to minimise impacts to the natural environment is paramount in this industry as we work towards our ambitious net-zero target. We are delighted that this project partnership is getting the recognition it deserves.”

Howard Fearn, Director at Avian Ecology Limited said: “The devastating wildfire of April 2019 significantly impeded our normal process to survey and assess ecological impacts of the proposed extension. An entirely new approach was required, and we recognised this as an opportunity to increase the environmental benefits the project could deliver. It required innovative thinking and a close-working relationship with NatureScot. The wind farm extension would enable a significant biodiversity gain through improving peat habitats, accelerating recovery from fire damage and reducing damage from future wildfires.”

Due to Covid-19, this year’s Awards event will be held online on Thursday 26 November.

A brief summary of the Energy Isles Wind Farm has been published, showing how it has evolved since first being proposed eight years ago. From its first beginnings as a 63 turbine project, the wind farm has constantly been re-assessed and refined as more information and feedback has been received.

The 23 turbine project submitted this year strikes the right balance between utilising the wind resource of the North Isles to generate clean energy, and respecting the local environment and landscape. Ask a question or comment on the project.

We want to make sure we keep you informed on the project - please register for updates.

Read the Project Information Leaflet

Final plans for a proposed wind farm in North Yell have been submitted to the Scottish Government by Energy Isles Shetland.

The Supplementary Environmental Information (SEI) submitted to the Scottish Government by renewable energy company Statkraft represents the final plans for the proposed wind farm which was initially conceived by a group of local businesses in 2012. The group later formed Energy Isles Ltd in 2014 to pursue the application which was originally submitted in May 2019. Statkraft was announced as the development partner in October 2019.

The final proposals for the Energy Isles wind farm include 23 turbines, 14 with a tip height of 200m and 9 with a tip height of 180m, with an installed capacity of approximately 160MW. The project is estimated to generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of 190,000 homes. A Community Benefit Fund for the project would deliver £800,000 per year, a total of £24m over the 30-year life of the wind farm.

The development and construction phase is expected to bring a total of £20.3m of investment to Shetland.

Charlotte Healey, Project Manager for Statkraft, said: “The Energy Isles wind farm is a very important renewable energy project for Statkraft and I am very proud to see the final plans and Supplementary Environmental Information submitted to the Scottish Government.”

“Working with the initial consortium who conceived and developed this project has been nothing short of inspirational. The support and information we have had from the community has been incredible and they truly see the potential for this project to help transform Shetland into a hub for renewable energy.”

Derek Jamieson from Energy Isles Limited said: “It’s been a long hard road to get to this point where the final plans for the Energy Isles wind farm can be submitted. The work by local folk to develop an initial idea from way back in 2012 to today shows the enthusiasm to bring renewable energy to Yell.”

“Throughout this process the project has received strong support from local folk, but we’ve also worked very hard as a team to, where possible, address matters raised by consultees and the wider public so that our final submission reflects a project we hope the communities of the North Isles can be truly proud of.”

The full application can be viewed on the project website and will be open for public comment between 4 September – 12 October 2020 at www.energyconsents.scot.

Statkraft is also a member of the Shetland Renewable Development Network (SRDN) and has held 2 Suppliers’ Days, attended by over 100 local businesses.

As part of the community consultation, three separate series of exhibitions have been held as the project has evolved, in June 2018, February 2019 and February 2020. Statkraft have also held discussions locally involving Local Energy Scotland and local people over the possibility of Shared Ownership in the project.

END

Notes for Editors:

About Energy Isles wind farm:

• Energy Consents Unit Reference: ECU00001844
• 23 turbines
• 14 turbines with 200m tip height
• 9 turbines with 180m tip height
• Approximately 160MW installed capacity
• Equivalent to the average annual electricity demand of 197,572 typical homes*

*based on average consumption of 3,618 kWh pa. BEIS, 2019

In October 2019, Energy Isles Limited, the consortium of over 50 mainly Shetland-based companies working together to develop a wind farm in the north of Yell, announced their new development partner, Norwegian energy company, Statkraft.

The announcement follows the submission of a full planning application for a 29 turbine wind farm in May 2019 to Scottish Ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act.

Director of Energy Isles Derek Jamieson said: “We’ve undertaken a great deal of work on this project over the past five years and, as a consortium made up of primarily small to medium-sized local businesses, we were clear from an early stage that there would come a time when we’d need to bring on board the right development partner to help us take things forward.

“In choosing Statkraft we have found a company that shares our commitment to maximising the benefits of Shetland's emerging new renewable energy sector.

“Statkraft has a great reputation in the green energy sector across the world and has the financial capability to help us deliver the Energy Isles wind farm. They understand the work that has already gone into the project and have the expertise to help us take it to the next stage.”

Statkraft UK Managing Director, David Flood said: “We are delighted to come to an agreement with Energy Isles and this fits perfectly with our onshore wind power strategy”.

"The Energy Isles team has done a great job in getting the scheme to where it is today. We are sure that adding our experience and expertise will allow the development of the wind farm to continue to progress and we look forward to working together.”

Derek Jamieson added: “Over the coming decades onshore wind power has a crucial role to play in helping to meet our climate change targets. By investing in renewable energy solutions, Shetland has the opportunity to continue exporting energy to the wider world, diversifying our economy and creating opportunities for future generations.

To find out more about Statkraft, go to www.statkraft.co.uk

Visit www.energyisles.co.uk/documents to view historical project information, and learn more about the Energy Isles consortium,

Local residents from the North Isles were invited to view updated plans for the Energy Isles Wind Farm on Yell. The plans from Statkraft, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, were on view at Cullivoe Hall on Tuesday 4^th February 2020 from 12 noon - 7pm.

Charlotte Healey, Project Director for Statkraft said; “This is our third consultation and we have talked to a lot of local residents about our proposals. The feedback we received has influenced how we have taken the project forward.

“We have continued to work behind the scenes with key statutory consultees and this has led us to the final layout and design that we will be showing to people at the exhibition.”

In 2019, Energy Isles Limited announced a development partnership with Statkraft. The project is continuing under the banner of Energy Isles Shetland Limited.

View the information on display.