Wind project update

Orkney Islands Council’s Policy and Resources Committee has agreed that OIC should take forward the further development of a substantial wind energy project.

Earlier this year, the Council decided to investigate the potential for large scale wind energy generation to serve as an important source of income for the county.

As part of the process, landowners in Orkney were invited to put forward possible sites for consideration.

OIC Leader James Stockan said: “The Council is taking an entrepreneurial approach to addressing the twin challenges we face – an expected fall in Government funding over the years ahead, while demand for many of our services continues to grow.

“The Committee agreed that we should progress with investigations linked to the development of plans for substantial wind energy generation. This reflects our commitment to finding significant new sources of income that could play a key role in enabling us to maintain services and reduce the need for cuts in the future.

“A number of landowners have been in touch with us and analysis has been undertaken of a number of potential sites. As commercially sensitive information is involved, this was discussed in private at the meeting of the Committee.”

Significant new generation would require a new grid connection for the export of power to mainland Scotland.

Councillor Stockan added: “We are engaged in positive discussion on this with the UK Government.

“We aim to provide further information about the development of this innovative project when possible.”