SSE commits to UK’s largest onshore wind farm

SSE has approved the final investment decision for construction of a 103-turbine wind farm in Shetland.Its capital expenditure on the wind farm is estimated to be about £580m.The 443MW Viking onshore wind farm is wholly owned by SSE Renewables having been developed in partnership with Viking Energy Shetland.SSE now awaits the outcome of consultation on Ofgem statement that it was minded to approve a 600MW transmission connection from Shetland to the GB mainland.This is expected in July 2020. Final approval from Ofgem was conditional on Viking wind farm reaching the positive final investment decision that SSE has now confirmed. The transmission connection is critical for Viking to proceed.Construction on the enabling works for the transmission link has started, with works on the wind farm starting late summer.Viking will harness the excellent wind conditions in Shetland, which will result in an estimated load factor of around 48%. Once built, it will be the largest onshore wind farm in the UK in terms of annual electricity output, said SSE. The output is expected to be about 1.9TWh each year.SSE now awaits the outcome of the consultation on Ofgem’s minded-to position to approve a 600MW transmission connection from Shetland to the GB mainland, expected in July 2020. Final approval from Ofgem was conditional on Viking wind farm reaching a positive final investment decision which this announcement confirms. The transmission connection is critical for Viking to proceed.SSE’s decision is conditional on the outcome of several industry code modifications which are currently in progress. These include the code changes that facilitate the contribution from the distribution network operator, SHEPD, to the cost of the transmission link. Ofgem is expected to publish a decision on these ahead of the decision on the needs case.