Councillors in Orkney have given the green light to the development of a windfarm by the council at Quanterness.

The 6 turbine 28.8MW windfarm was backed unanimously by members of the  Policy and Resources Committee.

The decision was unsurprising given how far ahead the SSEN Transmission Project, Pathway to 2030 is.

SSEN Orkney Project : Pathway to 2030

The Quanterness windfarm is estimated to cost £50m to build. It will generate a profit of £3.3m per year for the 25-year lifespan of the project accumulating an expected £120m over that full term.

It is expected to  contribute £135,000 in community benefits, 60% of which will go to Kirkwall and St Ola Community Council as the host community, with the remainder being split amongst the remaining 19 community councils.

Construction should start in 2027 and generation beginning the following year.

The decision by the committee must now go to the full council on March 5.

For decades Orkney has been trying to get an additional subsea cable. Pathway 2030 will allow that to go ahead.

Underground, Overground, Cabling Queries: The Orkney Connection

Decisions are still to be made on other windfarm developments by the council.

• Wee Fea in Hoy paused due to costs of connection
• Island of Faray

OIC Faray Windfarm Approved by Scottish Government Despite Reporter’s Recommendation to Refuse

Two other windfarms proposed by Low Carbon, Costa Head and Hesta Head, were refused planning permission by the council, but controversially were given the go ahead by the Scottish Government. The Decision by Malcolm Mahony, a Reporter appointed by the Scottish Ministers stated:

“I find that the proposal would have significant but acceptable impacts on seascape, landscape and visual amenity and on archaeological assets.”

There has been no further news on those developments.

Click here for more information about Orkney Community Wind Farms

Fiona Grahame