World first for Shetland as community-owned seabed turbine feeds local grid

A seabed tidal turbine off the island of Yell in Shetland has become the first in the world to feed electricity to a local grid. It will power 30 homes, an ice plant and a small industrial estate.

Full BBC story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-27490726 

Viking Energy response to Government consultation on island wind power

The UK government is proposing a further incentive for Scottish island wind power projects like the Viking Wind Farm because their success could cut costs for the renewables industry and help it diversify. In a consultation launched this week the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) says “considerable longer term benefits” could flow to the renewable energy sector from “new and innovative technologies” delivered by projects in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles. Specific benefits pinpointed include: Knowledge gained from use of large-scale turbines onshore for the first time to generate maximum electricity from windy locations; [1] Expertise developed from using multi-terminal undersea high-voltage direct current cabling (HVDC) could cut costs for future electricity interconnectors, including links from offshore wind farms and across the EU; Infrastructure put in place to support future wave and tidal stream projects in the islands. DECC says island wind projects combine factors which make them “unique within the UK” with expected high transmission costs, high load factors from the abundant wind and the potential for large projects to “make a major contribution to the UK’s renewable generation targets in the immediate and the longer term”. The consultation document Electricity Market Reform: Allocation of Contracts for Difference states: “We propose to continue to treat wind generation on the Scottish islands as a new and innovative technology, distinct from onshore wind located elsewhere in the UK.” [2]  To help ensure projects like Viking Wind Farm go ahead, DECC proposes shielding island wind developers from direct competition for government support under the Contracts for Difference (CfD) regime, which will apply to new renewables projects coming onstream from 2017. More “established” technologies, like mainland-based wind farms and solar photovoltaic installations, will compete with each other for generation incentives. But DECC proposes that island developers sit in a separate technology grouping of their own or with “less established technologies”, such as offshore wind, wave and tidal stream power. The UK and Scottish governments have already agreed to tackle the extra costs and challenges of developing wind power in the Scottish islands by backing an enhanced island “strike price”. This would guarantee a payment of £115 per megawatt-hour (MWh) under the CfD regime. Commenting on DECC’s new consultation, Viking Energy development manager Aaron Priest said: “We are encouraged by the launch of this consultation which is extremely welcome for Viking Energy and other island renewable developers. It is increasingly clear that both the UK and Scottish governments are fully committed to getting the islands connected, paving the way for Shetland to reap the benefits that the Viking project will bring. “Another valuable part of that process took place in Shetland this week with a two-day visit from National Grid which had constructive talks with Viking Energy on the interconnector link to the Scottish mainland and visited the proposed wind farm site.” The full DECC consultation document can be read here.

Isles could benefit from special wind farm classification

Shetland could benefit from UK Government proposals to classify renewable developments on Scottish island groups as a separate "technology group" to the rest of the onshore industry. 

Consultation has begun on new proposals which could shield Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles projects from mainland competition for allocations under the 'Contracts for Difference' system.
Full story here: http://renews.biz/66477/island-wind-freed-from-mainland-rivalries/

Lerwick Harbour development continues with new jetty construction

The fishing industry will be the main beneficiary of the next major project in the continuing development of Lerwick Harbour where the construction of a large new jetty at Holmsgarth North is due to begin in the third quarter this year.

It will provide deeper berthing and more working area for the fishing fleet, while the outer arm of the L-shaped jetty will create a dock sheltering a planned new white fish market. The outer arm will also be suitable for offshore industry vessels.

Extending to over 630 metres, with ultimately 10 metres of water alongside, the Holmsgarth North project is scheduled for completion, at an estimated cost of £17 million, at end 2015.

It will be followed by the construction of the market, timetabled to start in early 2016 at Mair’s Quay.  The quay was completed last year and has already brought benefits to the fleet.  It will be the berthing area used for net repair and working with fishing gear during the construction of the large new jetty.

Sandra Laurenson, Lerwick Port Authority Chief Executive, said: “The commitment by the Port Authority to develop these next projects for the fishing industry will secure Lerwick as a leading fishing port in the UK and complement the excellent service provision for the fleet available here in Shetland.  The main economic driver for this community is the marine sector and by meeting the requirements for fish landings in the future, that economy can flourish.”

The positive approach by the Port Authority is underlined by increased fish landings. Latest figures, for the first quarter, show a total of 32,577 tonnes landed, valued at £33.14 million, up 40% on tonnage and 57% on value compared to the same period in 2013.