Energy / Wind developer hopeful of Energy Isles decision by end of 2023
THE DEVELOPER behind the proposed 18-turbine Energy Isles wind farm in Yell hopes that it could be given consent by the end of the year.
Norwegian company Statkraft has an application for the wind farm in with the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
But the application for the wind farm proposed for the northwest of Yell has been under consideration since spring 2019.
Since then the plans have been reduced in size, from 29 turbines to 18, and a change in Scottish planning framework resulted in consultees – such as Shetland Islands Council – being asked again for their views.
A high number of applications to the government unit are also thought to have resulted in time pressures.
A spokesperson for Statkraft told Shetland News: “The Energy Consents Unit remains under pressure due to the number of applications under consideration, but given the strong community support and the lack of statutory objections, we are asking that a decision be made quickly, and hope this will be by the end of 2023.”
Energy Isles is under consideration by the Scottish Government’s energy consents unit because its generating capacity is more than 50MW.
Earlier this year Statkraft announced it has bought two other wind developments in Shetland from Peel Energy – the 12-turbine Mossy Hill on the outskirts of Lerwick and Yell’s Beaw Field, which will host 17 turbines.
Both of these developments already have consent to go ahead.
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