Viking Wind Farm
The Viking wind farm is a 103-turbine, 443MW onshore wind farm that will harness the excellent wind conditions in the Shetland Islands to be capable of producing enough energy to power the equivalent of almost half a million homes, including every home in Shetland*.
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.
The original consent for the wind farm was approved by Scottish Ministers in 2012, following a decision by Shetland Islands Council not to object in 2010. A revised application was consented again by Scottish Ministers in May 2019, following approval by Shetland Islands Council in December 2018.
Number of turbines
Maximum installed capacity (MW)
Approximate number of homes powered
£580m investment and construction nearing completion
In June 2020, SSE Renewables took a final investment decision to proceed with Viking with an investment of around £580m, delivering significant social and economic benefits to Shetland at a time of great economic challenge and uncertainty.
In July 2020, Scottish firm RJ McLeod was appointed principal contractor and in August it was announced that Vestas will manufacture, deliver and install the 103 wind turbines. As part of the deal Vestas will service the wind farm when operational, with the ambition to establish a Shetland-based service organisation providing high quality employment opportunities supported by an apprentice programme.
The project has since supported the island’s, Scottish and wider UK supply chains, creating around 400 jobs at peak construction and creating a skilled workforce in Shetland throughout its operational lifetime.
For more on how Viking will become the UK's largest onshore wind farm in terms of annual electricity output when complete, please click here.
The last of the 103 wind turbines was installed in August 2023, as shown below.
Benefits
Community Benefit Fund
Viking is committed to a community benefit fund of around £72m (when indexed) over the 25 year lifetime of the wind farm.
The four community council areas which play host to Viking’s turbines will be prioritised in the distribution of these benefits.
Benefits
Connecting Shetland to the GB mainland
The wind farm underpins the Shetland HVDC link and unlock Shetland’s wider renewable energy potential, delivering Shetland’s future security of electricity supply and helping to decarbonise Shetland’s oil and gas sector. In July 2020 Ofgem approved the Final Needs Case for the 600MW HVDC transmission link connecting Shetland to the GB mainland.
Benefits
Improved infrastructure and access
Once construction is complete, Viking will provide a new public road (formerly a project haul road) at Sandwater which will benefit the travelling public in Shetland for decades to come and improve east-west linkage of the public road network.
Viking will also cooperate with the aims and objectives of the Shetland Outdoor Access Forum to improve the public’s access and enjoyment of the wind farm site.
Benefits
Improved biodiversity
Much of the Viking site is located on heavily eroding and degraded peat and is therefore a net emitter of that stored carbon. Viking’s Habitat Management Plan (HMP) has been approved by SEPA, SNH and Shetland Islands Council.
An independent expert advisory group, Shetland Windfarm Environmental Advisory Group (SWEAG) will oversee the comprehensive programme of conservation measures, which include extensive peat restoration over 260 hectares of significantly damaged and eroded habitat.
Additional benefits
The people of Shetland will benefit from a preferred return on Shetland Charitable Trust’s initial financial stake in Viking each year for the lifetime of the wind farm. Shetland Islands Council will benefit directly as a landowner on the site and over 200 crofting families will benefit from 50% of the wider ground rental payments on crofted estates.
* 475,099 homes powered per annum based on annual GB average domestic household consumption base of 3.781MWh published by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as of November 2018, and projected total generation output by Viking Wind Farm of 1,796.35 GWh per annum. Equivalent every home in Shetland claim based on 10,235 recorded households in Shetland, published in Shetland in Statistics 2017 by Shetland Islands Council, 2018.
^ Most productive UK onshore wind farm claim based on projected total generation output by Viking Wind Farm of 1,796.35 GWh per annum and a comparison with the leading UK operational and in construction wind farms.
Visit Viking's dedicated website for more information
Visit vikingenergy.co.uk