Written by Chris Cope
The operator of Scatsta Airport says it will object to initial plans for a
wind farm of up to 63 turbines in the north of Yell due to concerns over
the effect the proposed development could have on aircraft operations.
Serco believes the 200MW wind farm could, in its current design, have a
“significant impact” on the approach to and climb out from the North
Mainland airport, with potential for communication problems with planes and
helicopters.
It is also concerned that the turbines, with a hub height of up to 100m,
could “generate unwanted clutter on air traffic control display screens”,
potentially masking aircraft.
But it said it is open to the proposals being changed in mitigation to its
concerns.
Serco’s letter of objection, written by contract/airport director John
Thorne, follows concerns it initially raised in 2016 in relation to Peel
Energy’s proposed Beaw wind farm, also in Yell, which ultimately received
consent from the Scottish Government in December.
Thorne said the proposed windfarm – which has been devised by local
consortium Energy Isles Ltd and would also need government approval – said
the location of the turbines would be “directly aligned with the flight
path to the Magnus offshore installation, among others”.
Energy Isles Ltd said it would not comment on individual objections and
would look at all responses together with the government’s energy consents
and development unit when appropriate.
The proposed development, which is in its primary stages, would be located
around 1.5km west of Cullivoe and 1.1km south of Gloup.
The boundary of the site would be around 26km north of Scatsta Airport,
which is located between Brae and the Sullom Voe oil terminal and handles
between 14,000 and 20,000 plane and helicopter flights a year for the oil
and gas industry.
“In its proposed location, the development may have a significant impact on
the final approach track and climb out, requiring amendment to the
instrument flight procedures (IFP),” Thorne said.
“Not withstanding that the development is situated beneath the main inbound
and outbound route to and from Scatsta Airport, the location of the
turbines is directly aligned with the flight path to the Magnus offshore
installation (among others) and Serco is specifically concerned that the
development may adversely affect communications with fixed wind and rotary
aircraft travelling on this flight path.”
Serco also noted that there is “insufficient information provided in a
number of respects in order to enable proper assessments of the application
to be undertaken” at this stage.
Scatsta Airport is one of a host of proposed consultees alongside the likes
of Historic Environment Scotland, the RSPB, Sullom Voe Terminal and the
Unst and Yell community councils.
The proposed wind farm would be reliant on a subsea interconnector cable
being laid to the Scottish mainland to allow large Shetland renewable
projects to export energy.
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