Highland Council Greenlights West Of Orkney Windfarm Onshore Plans
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
The Highland Council has approved the onshore plans of the 2 GW West of Orkney Windfarm project, being developed by TotalEnergies, Corio Generation, and Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG) in Scotland.
These are the first three paragraphs.
The onshore application for planning permission in principle was approved on 4 June and outlines the underground cables and electrical infrastructure required to connect the offshore wind farm to the national transmission network.
Last year, the project became the first ScotWind proposal to submit both its offshore consent application to Scottish Ministers and its onshore planning application to The Highland Council.
The onshore application provides information on proposed cable landfalls on the north Caithness coast, the project’s substation at Spittal in Caithness, and the underground cables which will extend around 25 kilometres and connect to the substation.
According to the project page of the West of Orkney wind farm web site, the target for commissioning of the wind farm is 2029.
This wind farm appears to be making a play to be the first of the ScotWind Leasing developments to be commissioned.
I have some thoughts.
Converting The Flotta Oil Terminal To The Flotta Hydrogen Hub
This first paragraph of the Wikipedia entry for the Flotta Oil Terminal, describes it like this.
The Flotta oil terminal is a major crude oil reception, processing, storage and export facility on the island of Flotta, in the south of Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. It receives and processes crude oil delivered by a subsea pipeline from the Piper, Claymore, Tartan and Golden Eagle platforms and associated fields. The terminal includes facilities for exporting stabilised crude oil (and formerly liquefied petroleum gases) by tanker.
It is now proposed to add the Flotta Hydrogen Hub to the Flotta Oil Terminal.
This document on the Repsol web site, describes the Flotta Oil Terminal.
- This page is the Flotta Hydrogen Hub web site.
- This page discusses, what will be done with the green hydrogen produced by electrolysis.
- The green hydrogen page, has an excellent map of the hydrogen and electricity flows to and from the Flotta Hydrogen Hub.
The Flotta Oil Terminal will be developed into a major hydrogen production and distribution facility.
Thoughts On The Future Of Orkney
This article on the BBC is entitled Orkney Votes To Explore ‘Alternative Governance‘
This is the sub-heading.
Orkney councillors have voted to investigate alternative methods of governance amid deep frustrations over funding and opportunities.
These paragraphs outline the story.
Council leader James Stockan said the islands had been “held down” and accused the Scottish and UK governments of discrimination.
His motion led to media speculation that Orkney could leave the UK or become a self-governing territory of Norway.
It was supported by 15 votes to six.
It means council officers have been asked to publish a report to Orkney’s chief executive on options of governance.
This includes looking at the “Nordic connections” of the archipelago and crown dependencies such as Jersey and Guernsey.
A further change which would see the revival of a consultative group on constitutional reform for the islands was accepted without the need for a vote.
My Thoughts On The Economic Future Of The Islands
The economic future of Orkney looks good.
Tourism and the traditional industries are on the up, but the islands could play a large part in renewable energy.
The West of Orkney offshore wind farm, which will be a 2 GW wind farm with fixed foundations, is being developed and a large hydrogen production hub at Flotta is being proposed, along with the development of a large quay in Scapa Flow for the assembly of floating wind farms.
The West of Orkney wind farm could be the first of several.
If the future wind farms are further from shore, they will most likely be based on floating technology, with the turbines and their floats assembled in Scapa Flow, from components shipped in from mainland UK and Europe.
Political Future
With a good financial future assured, I believe that Orkney will be able to choose where its political future lies. It could be a Crown Dependency or join Norway.
Whichever way it goes, it could be an island that effectively prints money, by turning electricity into hydrogen and shipping it to countries like Germany, The Netherlands, Poland and Sweden!
From a UK point of view, a Crown Dependency could be a favourable move.
Would Shetland follow the same route?
Offshore Hydrogen Production And Storage
Orkney is not a large archipelago and is just under a thousand square kilometres in area.
It strikes me, that rather than using up scarce land to host the large electrolysers and hydrogen storage, perhaps it would be better, if hydrogen production and storage was performed offshore.
Aker Northern Horizons
In Is This The World’s Most Ambitious Green Energy Solution?, I talk about Northern Horizons, which is an ambitious project for a 10 GW floating wind farm, which would be built a hundred kilometres to the North-East of Shetland, that would be used to produce hydrogen on Shetland.
Other companies will propose similar projects to the West and East of the Northern islands.
This map shows the sea, that could be carpeted with armadas of floating wind farms.
Consider.
- There are thousands of square miles of sea available.
- As the crow flies, the distance between Bergen Airport and Sumburgh Airport in Shetland is 226 miles.
- A hundred mile square is 10,000 square miles or 2590 square kilometres.
- In ScotWind Offshore Wind Leasing Delivers Major Boost To Scotland’s Net Zero Aspirations, I calculated that the floating wind farms of the Scotwind leasing round had an energy density of 3.5 MW per km².
- It would appear that a hundred mile square could generate, as much as nine GW of green electricity.
How many hundred mile squares can be fitted in around the UK’s Northern islands?
Orkney Council To Look At Proposals To Become Territory Of Norway
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
The Orkney Islands could change their status in the UK or even become a self-governing territory of Norway under new proposals.
These paragraphs outline their possible strategy.
A motion will go before the council next week to investigate “alternative forms of governance”.
Council leader James Stockan said Orkney does not get fair funding with its current relationship within the UK.
He wants to look at Crown Dependencies like the Channel Islands and overseas territories like the Falkland Islands.
He suggested another possible future could be like the Faroe Islands – which is a self-governing territory of Denmark.
Councillor Stockan told BBC Radio Scotland there were many areas where Orkney was being “failed dreadfully” by both the UK and Scottish governments.
These are my thoughts.
Has Orkney Been Failed Dreadfully By The UK And Scottish Governments?
I wouldn’t be surprised, if the legal and economic framework between the Orkney, Scotland and the UK, dates back hundreds of years and didn’t really expect to see a more independent Scotland.
This is a quote from Council leader James Stockan.
And the funding we get from the Scottish government is significantly less per head than Shetland and the Western Isles to run the same services – we can’t go on as we are.
I could argue, they should be similar.
Orkney’s Income From Oil, Gas And Wind
Orkney doesn’t have Shetland’s oil, gas and wind infrastructure, so perhaps Scotland and the UK, think Orkney is the other’s problem.
Wind Development In Orkney, Shetland And The Western Isles
This map from Cross Estate Scotland shows all the wind contracts for Orkney, Shetland and The Western Isles.
These wind farms could send wind power to Orkney.
- 7 – Ayre – 1008 MW
- 13 – West of Orkney – 2000 MW
That is a total of 3008 MW.
These wind farms could send wind power to Shetland.
- 18 – Ocean Winds – 500 MW
- 19 – Arven – 1800 MW
- 20 – ESB Asset Development – 500 MW
That is a total of 2800 MW.
These wind farms could send wind power to the Western Isles.
- 14 – Havbredey – 1400 MW
- 15 – N3 Project – 495 MW
- 16 – Spiorad na Mara – 840 MW
That is a total of 2735 MW.
On this quick look, it does appear that there is a fair balance of investment in wind power between Orkney, Shetland and The Western Isles.
The Flotta Hydrogen Hub
The Flotta Hydrogen Hub is being planned and it has its own web site.
It looks like it will be linked to the West of Orkney wind farm.
The Ferries
CouncilStockan says this about the ferries.
We are really struggling at the moment, we have to replace the whole ferry fleet which is older than the CalMac fleet.
And it is well-known, that the Scottish Nationalist Party got into a muddle with ferries.
Conclusion
If you read the Wikipedia entry for Orkney, the islands would appear to have a sound future, based on hydrogen, tourism and wind.
I would hope that a discussion around some good local food and the local whisky could sort out Otkney’s worries.
Offshore And Nearshore Survey Work Complete For 2 GW Scottish Wind Project
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the first paragraph.
The developers of the West of Orkney Windfarm have completed its 2022 offshore and nearshore surveys for the project area, located around 25 kilometres off the Sutherland coast in Scotland.
Note.
- Surveys were on time and on budget.
- Consent applications are expected next year.
- Both fixed and floating turbines are being considered.
The West of Orkney wind farm has its own web site, with this proud mission statement.
Designed For Delivery, Driven By Scale
The West of Orkney Windfarm has the potential to power more than two million homes and deliver long-term economic benefits to communities across the north of Scotland.
The web site says that the target for first power generation is 2029.
In How Long Does It Take To Build An Offshore Wind Farm?, I said that it typically takes between six and eight years to for consent to commissioning for an offshore wind farm.
So with consent in 2023, commissioning in 2029 could be possible.
Will Orkney Become A Major Green Hydrogen Production Centre?
Two projects seem to be coming together to the West of and on Orkney.
The West Of Orkney Wind Farm
This map shows the awarded leases in the latest ScotWind round, which I analysed in ScotWind Offshore Wind Leasing Delivers Major Boost To Scotland’s Net Zero Aspirations.
Note the wind farm numbered 13 to the West of Orkney.
- It is now called the West of Orkney wind farm.
- It has its own web site.
This page on the web site describes the project.
The West of Orkney Windfarm is being developed around 30km off the west coast of Orkney and around 25km from the north Caithness coast. With an expected capacity of 2GW, and first power scheduled for 2029, the project will be capable of powering the equivalent of more than two million homes.
The West of Orkney Windfarm lies wholly within the “N1” Plan Option, which is one of 15 areas around Scotland which the Scottish Government considered suitable for the development of commercial scale offshore windfarms. The Scottish Government published the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy in October 2020 following over two years of extensive analysis, consideration and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.
In January 2022 OWPL were successful in securing an Option Agreement from Crown Estate Scotland for the project in the ScotWind leasing process.
The West of Orkney Windfarm has a grid connection agreement with National Grid for a connection in Caithness. Additionally, the project partners are exploring an option to power the Flotta Hydrogen Hub. There is the potential for both power export options to be utilised.
The project is currently considering both fixed-bottom foundations and floating substructures for the wind turbines.
The West of Orkney wind farm will be one of the largest offshore wind farms in Scotland.
The Flotta Hydrogen Hub
The Flotta Hydrogen Hub is described on its web site.
This section describes the low carbon ambition of the Flotta Hydrogen Hub.
This potential £multi-billion project would utilise a repurposed area of the existing Flotta Terminal to create a green hydrogen hub powered by offshore wind projects in the seas to the west of Orkney.
If successful, this ambitious plan – which could be realised in the later years of this decade – would deliver a new wave of renewable employment alongside significant quantities of green hydrogen.
This hydrogen could be exported to Europe or other destinations, blended into the gas grid at St Fergus and drive forward an international maritime green hydrogen refueling hub.
If realised, the Flotta Hydrogen Hub would contribute significantly to the UK’s low carbon ambitions, sustain and create long-term skilled jobs and place Scotland at the front of the global hydrogen revolution.
The proposal is supported locally by EMEC Hydrogen which has spearheaded Orkney’s leading position in green hydrogen production.
It is certainly a comprehensive vision.
I have my thoughts.
Will The West Of Orkney Wind Farm Have Fixed Foundations Or Floating Substructures?
If you look on the map earlier in this post, you will notice a cluster of wind farms at the North of Scotland.
- 7 – DEME Concessions Wind – 200 km² – 1.0 GW – Floating
- 8 – Falck Renewables Wind – 256 km² – 1.0 GW – Floating
- 9 – Ocean Winds – 429 km² – 1.0 GW – Fixed
- 13 – Offshore Wind Power – 657 km² – 2.0 GW – Fixed or Floating
- 14 – Northland Power – 390 km² – 1.5 GW – Floating
- 15 – Magnora – 103 km² – 0.5 GW – Floating
Given that floating wind farms outnumber those on fixed foundations, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the West of Orkney wind farm, built as a floating wind farm.
Where Is Flotta?
This Google Map shows the North of Scotland and the Southern part of Orkney.
Note.
- Flotta and its Oil Terminal in the North-East corner of the map.
- John o’Groats in the South-East corner of the map.
- The ferry between Scrabster and Orkney.
- Dounreay in the South-West corner of the map.
The West of Orkney Windfarm web site says that the wind farm is being developed around 30km off the west coast of Orkney and around 25km from the north Caithness coast.
This Google Map shows the island of Flotta.
Note.
- The oil terminal is clearly visible.
- Will it get tight for space on the island of Flotta, if they need a tank farm for all the hydrogen?
- I suspect that a pipeline to deliver hydrogen elsewhere, would have a high priority!
This Google Map shows the Caithness coast in more detail.
Note.
- Thurso and Scrabster are at the East of the map.
- The former nuclear research at Dounreay, is in the South-West corner of the map.
This article on the Stornaway Gazette is entitled SSE Plan To Bypass Isles Condemned and has this sub-title.
The Western Isles could be massively disadvantaged for decades to come if Scottish and Southern Energy are allowed to take power from offshore windfarms direct to a hub at Dounreay in Caithness.
This appears to indicate that West of Orkney wind farm and others in the area could be connected to the National Grid using a sub-station at Dounreay.
What Will Be The Capacity Of The Flotta Hydrogen Hub?
As I said previously, if the Flotta Hydrogen Hub is well-designed, possibly with a pipeline to take hydrogen out, that the Flotta Hydrogen Hub will have limitations on how much hydrogen it can produce due to the site size.
So the limitation of the capacity of the Flotta Hydrogen Hub will depend on the size of the electrolyser and how much electricity can be fed from the West of Orkney wind farm and possibly other wind farms to the site.
The West of Orkney wind farm has a capacity of 2 GW.
The other site that could possibly be connected would be Northland’s 1.5 GW wind farm in ScotWind N2.
Note that the combined area of these two wind-farms would be a 33 km square.
This Google Map shows the North of Scotland, Orkney, Shetland and the Faroe Islands.
Note.
- The distance between Cape Wrath and John o’Groats is just over 100 km.
- There is nothing to the West of Orkney, except a few rocky stacks, sea, fish and sea-birds.
- I could see the West of Orkney wind farm and the one Northland are building in the ScotWind N2 being extended further out.
A 100 km square would hold about 13.5 GW of floating turbines, so lets say that a round 10 GW could be cabled to Orkney.
Could The West of Orkney Wind Farm And ScotWind N2 Use Identical Technology?
I wouldn’t be surprised if this happened and a massive floating wind farm expanded to the North and West.
The capacity of the wind farm could be upwards of 10 GW.
How Much Hydrogen Could Be Produced In The Flotta Hydrogen Hub?
In Can The UK Have A Capacity To Create Five GW Of Green Hydrogen?, I said the following.
Ryze Hydrogen are building the Herne Bay electrolyser.
- It will consume 23 MW of solar and wind power.
- It will produce ten tonnes of hydrogen per day.
The electrolyser will consume 552 MWh to produce ten tonnes of hydrogen, so creating one tonne of hydrogen needs 55.2 MWh of electricity.
A GW of electricity for a year is 8760 GWh, which would produce over 150,000 tonnes of hydrogen.
Conclusion
This plan could generate huge amounts of green hydrogen on Orkney.
The Anonymous Widower 