First blades reach Viking wind farm in Shetland

The construction of the Viking wind farm in Shetland has hit a significant milestone with the first three blades making their way from Lerwick port to the project site. 

Vestas, which is supplying the 103 wind turbines which make up the wind farm, is responsible for managing the process of getting the wind turbine blades and other components from their factories to Lerwick and then delivering them from there to the Viking site.

“Now that the period of extreme weather has passed, I’m pleased to say that the first turbine blade convoy was able to make its way to site this afternoon. It went to plan thanks to the continued expertise of McFadyen’s Transport and the wider supporting team,” said Robert Yeates, lead project manager with Vestas.

Yeates added that the journey was completed with the minimum of disruption to road users with the help of specialist Police Scotland escorts.

Delivery schedule

Up to three convoys with up to four wind turbine components per convoy are scheduled to head to the Vikin site on a daily basis, six days a week, SSE Renewables, noted in its statement.

The timings of the movements have been planned to seek to ensure that the early morning convoy will be off the public highway by 8 am and the mid-afternoon convoy will be off the public highway by 3 pm to avoid the relevant peak travel periods.

“Delivery of the first turbine blades marks yet another significant moment in the construction of Viking wind farm,” Aaron Priest, stakeholder manager for the Viking wind farm, said.  “It was particularly impressive to watch the first turbine blades being transported to site and, again, we would like to thank all those involved in the delivery process. It is their excellent co-ordination which continues to ensure that road users’ journeys are not significantly impacted,” he added.

Priest further noted that erection of the first turbine sections at the Viking wind farm site is now underway. The wind turbine component convoys are expected to conclude in July at the latest.

The Viking wind farm

Viking wind farm will be a 103-turbine, 443MW onshore wind farm that will harness the wind conditions in the Shetland Islands to be capable of producing enough energy to power the equivalent of almost half a million homes.

When complete in 2024, it will be the UK’s largest onshore wind farm in terms of annual electricity output, playing a crucial role in contributing towards the UK and Scotland’s net zero targets.