Vestas wins 443 MW landmark deal in the U.K.

SSE Renewables (Dublin, Ireland), a leader in renewable energy in the U.K. and Ireland, was reported on August 19 to have placed a 443-megawatt (MW) order for the Viking wind project on the Shetland Islands in the Northern Atlantic. With this landmark deal, Vestas (Aarhus, Denmark) is said to reinforce its presence in the U.K. onshore wind market, where it has installed more than 2,000 wind turbines with a total capacity of more than four gigawatts (GW). The Viking wind project will be Vestas’ largest stand-alone wind park order in Europe to date.

According to Vestas, the project marks a significant step forward for onshore wind in the U.K. at a time when renewable energy is setting new records by providing almost 40% of the U.K.’s electricity. It is said to also show that onshore wind is one of the most cost-competitive energy sources in the U.K. today and underlines its ability to play a key role in the U.K. government’s ambition to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Vestas says it will supply SSE Renewables with 103 V117-4.2 MW turbines in 4.3 MW Power Optimized Mode. By using a turbine model known for its ability to withstand extreme wind conditions, this solution was considered an exceptional fit for the site’s strong winds, which will maximize energy output for the site and simultaneously lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). As part of the long-term service agreement for the Viking project, Vestas has the ambition to establish a Shetland Island-based service organization providing high-quality employment opportunities supported 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 optimized 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 U.K. by output and will bring significant economic opportunities to Shetland and beyond,” says 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 U.K. and beyond,” adds Nils de Baar, president of Vestas Northern and Central Europe. “It is an honor for us to contribute to the success of this landmark wind project.”

Vestas notes that Viking wind farm will harness the excellent wind conditions on the Shetland Island to produce almost two Terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy each year — enough to power almost half a million homes annually and reduce carbon emissions by half a million metric tonnes each year. When complete, it is said it will be the U.K.’s largest and most productive onshore wind farm in terms of annual electricity output.

The order includes supply, installation and commissioning of the wind turbines, as well as a 30-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement. The project will feature a VestasOnline Business SCADA solution, which will lower turbine downtime and thereby optimizing energy output.

Deliveries and commissioning are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2023.