Orkney Community Wind Farms shortlisted for prestigious award

Orkney Community Wind Farms has been shortlisted as a finalist in this year’s COSLA Excellence Awards.

The 2023 Excellence Awards are an annual celebration of Scottish Local Government success – celebrating the very best of Scottish Local Government.

The project is one of three finalists in the category ‘Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy’.

All 32 of Scotland’s Councils were invited to submit entries earlier this year with over 200 applications received across five categories.

The proposed project, which consists of three 6-turbine wind farms, has the potential to generate an average real profit of £5.5 million per annum for the Council, which over the 25-year lifespan, would equate to a profit of nearly £138 million.

The wind farms also made an essential contribution to meeting Ofgem’s ‘Needs Case’ of the 220MW transmission cable linking Orkney to the Scottish mainland and will support the vital renewable energy industry in Orkney.

Orkney Islands Council Leader, James Stockan, said: “With over 200 submissions to the COSLA Excellence Awards this year, and only 11 Councils shortlisted, this really is an outstanding accomplishment.

“The Council is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions as part of our contribution towards tackling the climate emergency, and the wind farm project is yet another example of this commitment.

“Without the wind farms, Ofgem would not have approved the new cable which is needed to take advantage of the boundless wind, tidal and wave resources that Orkney has, and unlock enormous levels of low carbon energy.

“If the project is approved by Councillors next year, Tthere will also be major socio-economic benefits for Orkney which is imperative given the Council’s financial challenges. All of these factors have contributed to this project being a finalist at these prestigious awards.

“I’d like to personally congratulate the project’s team on their hard work to receive this recognition and wish them the best of luck at the awards ceremony in September where the winners will be announced.”

The Orkney Community Wind Farms project team will be holding community drop-in events throughout September with dates to be announced next week.