SSE Renewables has placed an order with Vestas of 443 MW on the Shetland Islands in the North Atlantic for the Viking wind project.
Vestas is expanding its position in the UK onshore wind sector with this contract, where more than 2,000 wind turbines were installed with a total capacity of more more than 4 GW.
The Viking wind project will be Vestas’ largest stand-alone wind park order in Europe to date.
The project marks a big step forward for onshore wind in the United Kingdom at a time when renewable energy is setting new records to provide nearly 40 percent of UK electricity.
It demonstrates that onshore wind is one of the most cost-competitive sources of energy in the UK today and highlights its potential to play a key role in the commitment of the UK government to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
Vestas will deliver 103 V117-4.2 MW turbines in 4.3 MW Power Optimized Mode to SSE Renewables. By using a turbine model known for its ability to withstand intense wind conditions, this design is an excellent match for the strong winds of the site, which will optimize energy efficiency for the site and at the same time the the energy costs.
As part of the Viking project’s long-term service arrangement, Vestas plans to set up a Shetland Island-based business organization that offers high-quality work opportunities funded by an apprentice program.
“This contract represents another significant milestone for our Viking project. We are delighted to be working with Vestas again with whom we have a significant track record of project delivery. The optimised V117-4.3 MW machines provide the durability and performance that we require to ensure that Viking delivers to its full potential. Viking will be the largest onshore wind farm in the UK by output and will bring significant economic opportunities to Shetland and beyond.”
Paul Cooley, director of Capital Projects at SSE Renewables.
“We are pleased to continue our cooperation with SSE Renewables, an excellent partnership that dates back 20 years. The Viking project creates a highly competitive business case for our customer and sends a strong signal for economic growth and green recovery in Shetland Islands, the UK and beyond. It is an honour for us to contribute to the success of this landmark wind project.”
Nils de Baar, president of Vestas Northern & Central Europe.
Viking’s wind farm will harness the Shetland Island ‘s excellent wind conditions to produce nearly 2 TWh of energy annually –enough to power nearly half a million homes and reduce carbon emissions by half a million tons.
When complete, it will be the largest and most productive onshore wind farm in the UK in terms of annual electricity output, playing a crucial role in contributing to the net zero targets for the UK and Scotland.
The order covers the procurement, installation and commissioning of the wind turbines, as well as a service contract for 30 years of Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000). The project will incorporate a VestasOnline Business SCADA system, which will minimize downtime on turbines and thereby maximize energy production.
Deliveries and commissioning are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2023.
