Energy regulator Ofgem
has approved plans
for a subsea power cable
which would take energy
from Shetland to the
Scottish mainland.
Scottish and Southern
Electricity Networks
( SSEN )
wants to build a 600MW
electricity transmission link.
Ofgen said this would allow
new wind farms on Shetland
to export renewable electricity
to the rest of Britain.
The approval
is subject to evidence
that a Viking Energy
wind farm project
will go ahead.
It is estimated that the
subsea cable project
would cost more
than £600m.
It would connect Kergord
in Shetland to Noss Head
on the Scottish mainland,
near Wick in Caithness.
Energy consumers
throughout the UK
will end up paying
for the very expensive
transmission lines.
All energy consumers pay
for the cost of investment
in new network capacity
through their energy bills.
The only reason
for the cable
is to connect up the
proposed wind farm.
Ofgem’s approval
is subject to receiving
sufficient evidence
by the end of 2020
that the 457MW
Viking Energy Wind
Farm project planned
for Shetland is likely
to go ahead.
Currently most
of Shetland’s
electricity comes from
Lerwick Power Station,
a 66 MW diesel plant,
which is nearing
the end of its life.
Replacing
that plant
would be a
much cheaper
option.
Shetland would
still need to
import power after
Lerwick is shut,
rather than relying
on only the Viking
Wind Farm in Shetland
... when there is little
or no wind !
Construction of the
proposed Viking project a
long with the £600m cable
is green virtue signaling,
not common sense !