April to June 2019 - Launch Events

It was announced in April 2019 that the project team was to investigate an additional two sites for potential community wind farms in the county - to add to the project already under investigation on Hoy.

The new projects under consideration were located at Faray, in the North Isles - which the Council had purchased in January 2019 -  and at Quanterness in St Ola.

The additional sites offered development potential of up to 32MW on the island of Faray (eight 149.9m blade tip height turbines) and up to 24MW (six 149.9m blade tip height turbines) at Quanterness. The proximity of the project at Quanterness to Kirkwall could also enable a separate private wire network project in which the Council could directly supply electricity to its own buildings as a means to reduce costs.

Public engagement events were held in Kirkwall, Eday, Rendall and Westray during May and June 2019.  Proposed plans for the developments were on display at these, with Elected Members and Council Officers on hand to discuss the plans with members of the public.

The proposals for each site were expected to evolve as further site investigation work and consultation was undertaken. Site investigations, including bird and telecommunications studies, would be ongoing at all three sites.

The display boards that were used at the event, are available in the Related Downloads section of this page.

These consultation events formed part of the planning phase of the project with planning permission for the Quanterness and Hoy wind farms granted in December 2021 and planning permission for the Faray wind farm granted in December 2022.