Shetland windfarm - Viking Energy

[HonestJohnDoe]

What will be the true cost environmentally of building the wind generators and laying cables, pylons etc.? I don't think it makes sense to consider exporting energy at any cost to the environment. Smacks of a scheme to make a few people very rich. It would be good however to have self sufficiency...........................................................

[DavidThomson]

It's one of my main gripes with the photos provided - there appears to be no sign of pylons, for example - I presume they'll have as much (if not more) visual/environmental impact - and over a much wider area. Presumably a line will have to be laid down the full length of Shetland...

 

Also - consultation online is all very well - but where's the public meetings etc. etc we were promised? A lot of folk just can't access this stuff.

 

To address this before it gets too engrained:

The images contained no pylons because there will be no pylons associated with the Viking Windfarm project. Full Stop.

 

The website is only the first step of a fully considered communications strategy involving many other means of interacting with the affected communities. When the events have been arranged there will be no shortage of warning and no shortage of opportunity to find out more, have a say and be consulted on the development.

 

This project is more than 3 years into development. The consultation stage will last months and years not just weeks on a website.

[ArabiaTerra]

The website is only the first step of a fully considered communications strategy involving many other means of interacting with the affected communities. When the events have been arranged there will be no shortage of warning and no shortage of opportunity to find out more, have a say and be consulted on the development.

 

The paragraph above is an example of corporate sprootle of the highest order. Could the author please repost it in plain english?

 

Also, how do you intend to get the electrickery to the mainland? Bury the cable? The hydro have always maintained that burying cables was so stupendously expensive that it would bankrupt the entire universe (I never really believed them on that one) and, furthermore, isn't the controversy about the link from landfall on the mainland to the central belt precisely because of the size of the pylons? A little clarification on this would be appreciated.

 

Oh, and please use plain english for the benefit of those of us who haven't been to bullshi.., sorry, I mean, management school.

[DavidThomson]

The paragraph above is an example of corporate sprootle of the highest order. Could the author please repost it in plain english?

Oh, and please use plain english for the benefit of those of us who haven't been to bullshi.., sorry, I mean, management school.

 

No.

The Shetland Times shop sells dictionaries if any of the difficult words confused you.

[Claudias]

To address this before it gets too engrained:

The images contained no pylons because there will be no pylons associated with the Viking Windfarm project. Full Stop..

 

Is this because Viking Windfarm projects responsibilities end at the perimeter fence?

[DavidThomson]

To address this before it gets too engrained:

The images contained no pylons because there will be no pylons associated with the Viking Windfarm project. Full Stop..

 

Is this because Viking Windfarm projects responsibilities end at the perimeter fence?

 

The responsibilities of Viking Energy do indeed ultimately stop at the site fence. To avoid confusion, there is no actual site fence, just the existing ones.

However Viking Energy does have crucial influence over the site's electrical connection, which will be provided by someone else.

Basically, If we do not accept a proposed connection (say the proposal contained pylons) then it will not be built. As a community backed developer we would not accept a proposal that contained pylons in Shetland.

The final connection will be into the Scottish transmission network. There is a queue to connect to that network and plans for various steps of upgrading, expanding and reinforcing. We are in that queue. There are certain works that have to be completed before our project could connect, currently including the controversial Beauly-to-Denny line. These works involve pylons but will happen (or not) regardless of the Viking Energy project and so we do not hold influence or responsibility thereafter.

[Mag]

As a community backed developer we would not accept a proposal that contained pylons in Shetland.

 

So have Viking Energy stated publicly that there will be no pylons in Shetland connected with the Viking Energy project?

[DavidThomson]

So have Viking Energy stated publicly that there will be no pylons in Shetland connected with the Viking Energy project?

 

Watch this space (or at least the usual official channels).

It would be helpful if someone/anyone were to submit a question on that subject to the Viking Energy website. So far no-one has.

 

On this forum I can only give you my personal opinon, which is that the entire project team is utterly opposed to pylons. The intention at the moment is to underground all the windfarm related cables in Shetland but it is conceivable that small lengths of wire between the site and the interconnector convertor station might have to be put on telegraph poles. We won't know that until the provider issues their proposals.

[ArabiaTerra]

The Shetland Times shop sells dictionaries if any of the difficult words confused you.

 

touche

 

I must apologise. I was a little bit pissed when I wrote the previous post and I went a bit overboard, but I do find that kind of language annoying.

 

Anyway, I have to say that I fully support your windfarm proposals regardless of the type of transmission proposed. In fact it would still have my support even if you intended to use pylons the same size as the windmills themselves. (Though I am glad to hear you rule them out)

 

The only problem I have with the scheme is the same problem I have with the whole world's response to the crisis of global warming, namely that it is far too little, far too late. You are proposing 300 turbines. Why not 3000? Surely we have room for them? Global warming is happening now and it will be bigger and happen faster than even the worst of the current forecasts. Every time the predictions are revised, every new bit of data points towards this trend. Did anyone else see that report on News 24 about the melting of the Siberian permafrost? Terrifying stuff.

 

I really do fear that, in Shetland, we are already f****d, that by 2020 we can kiss goodbye to the Gulf Stream and our nice temperate climate and say hello to the next ice age.

 

Hopefully I am dead wrong on this, but I fear the worst.

[trout]

Further information pertaining to the project is now available in the form of the Stern Report.

 

On 31st October 2006 Sir Nicholas Stern (Head of the Government Economics Service and Adviser to the Government on the economics of climate change and development) published his report on The Economics of Climate Change.

This significant work is now available for review.

The report gives context to the development of the Viking Windfarm and strengthens the need for such important projects.

 

A relevant comment from the Executive Summary is the note that "The power sector around the world would need to be at least 60% decarbonised by 2050 for atmospheric concentrations to stabilise..."

The Viking Windfarm will offer carbon free power offsetting more than two million tonnes of annual Carbon Dioxide emissions.

 

Anyone interested in Viking Energy is recommended to review the report.

 

The Executive Summary is available here

The Government Press Release, Presentation and Full Report is available here

[Njugle]

Something i heard the other day i hadn't thought of was that offshore or even shoreline wind, wave or tidal generators will be liable for rent to the Crown Estate Commission. That old chestnut. Udal Law anybody?

 

(I'll see if i can dig up a source, haven't done so yet)

[trout]

Quote from the vikingenergy mailing list:

 

 

Following feedback from users, we have amended the Viking Energy website to include larger versions of the draft photomontage images presented. The images can be seen in the screen as before but also now full size with the abilty to scroll beyond the visible area. The images are still the non-specific examples intended to give an idea of the scale of the proposals (and prompt discussion) but it is hoped that high quality images of the actual proposal will be available early in the new year.

 

There has been plenty activity on the site with many comments left by users. Some new FAQ's have been added and I would encourage anyone who has not completed the questionnaire to do so.

 

Anyone having not checked out the website and or filled in the questionnaire you can do so from here:

 

http://www.vikingenergy.co.uk/

 

The questionnaire to fill in!

 

Various images of proposed wind farm too.

[Flaming Mo]

http://www.savewesternny.org/news/The_hidden_cost_of_wind_turbines.html

 

Windfarms on peat....not good according to this.

[earlofzetland]

Looking at those images it looks like the only place the windmills wont be visible from is Sumburgh!!!

[trout]

Viking Energy’s proposed Consultation Arrangements Strategy has been launched publicly today for comment and feedback.

 

The document sets out the plan to ensure community and interested organisations or individuals are able to make comment on the Viking

Windfarm proposals in order to allow adjustments before the application for consent is sent to the Scottish Executive.

 

The consultation under discussion is programmed to start mid-to-late January 2007 and last for nearly three months. Viking Energy is seeking comment on the proposed arrangements to identify potential amendments and/or improvements.

 

Submissions are invited until Wednesday 10th January 2007. Relevant suggestions relating to the consultation process will be accepted thereafter on an informal basis only.

 

The document has been posted in the News pages on Viking Energy’s website and a copy is available for review at the Shetland Library in Lerwick.

 

Any comments should be directed to Viking Energy by e-mail (info@vikingenergy.co.uk), by telephone (01595 744919), by fax (01595 744920) or by mail to Viking Energy Ltd, The Gutters’ Hut, North Ness Business Park, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0LZ