Opponents of 370-MW Viking wind project continue with appeals

Aug 8, 2014 - Protest group Sustainable Shetland will file an appeal with the Supreme Court in London after three senior judges backed the Scottish government's decision last month to approve a 370-MW onshore wind farm in the Shetland Islands.

The campaign group did not comment the matter any further in its short statement published on Thursday.

Scottish ministers gave the green light to the project more than two years ago. However, in September 2013 Judge Lady Clark at Scotland’s Court of Session ruled out that the government did not follow its obligations under a European birds directive when it gave approval to the 103-turbine scheme. On July 9, 2014 the project developer Viking Energy said that the top three Scottish judges have supported the government's decision.

Viking Energy is a 50/50 joint venture between Viking Energy Shetland LLP and utility SSE Plc (LON:SSE). The firm has received consent to erect turbines at the site with a maximum capacity of 457 MW. If the developer decides to use 3.6-MW machines for a total capacity of 370.8 MW, the wind park will be able to power up to 335,000 households, the project's website says.

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