Hans J Marter

1 month ago | shetnews.co.uk | Hans J Marter

CLOSER relationships between Shetland and Faroe may be on the horizon after a three-day visit by a large Faroese delegation last month. Led by the islands’ justice minister Bjarni Kárason Petersen, the group met with Shetland councillors and council officials, as well as representatives from industry. They toured the SaxaVord Spaceport, Sullom Voe Terminal, renewable energy developments, harbour facilities in Lerwick and Scalloway as well as the fisheries department of UHI Shetland.

1 month ago | shetnews.co.uk | Hans J Marter

SHETLAND Central councillor Moraig Lyall has confirmed that she has put her name forward to be considered as the isles’ Liberal Democrat candidate at the forthcoming Holyrood elections. Sitting MSP Beatrice Wishart announced earlier this year that she would not be seeking re-election for in May 2026. Lyall, an independent councillor who chairs the SIC’s environment and transport committee, issued a short statement on Monday confirming that she was seeking to become the Lib Dem candidate.

1 month ago | shetnews.co.uk | Hans J Marter

WHAT was promoted as the UK’s “most productive onshore wind farm” is turning out to be one of the country’s most poorly performing. Rather than producing electricity at a load factor of around 50 per cent, as forecast and promoted by owner SSE Renewables, the Viking Energy wind farm has so far been churning out electricity at a rate of just 17 per cent of what is potentially possible. The 103-turbine project became operational in summer last year.

1 month ago | shetnews.co.uk | Hans J Marter

AN ANNOUNCEMENT on a 400MW ammonia and hydrogen plant planned by energy giant Statkraft on council land around the former Scatsta airport site is now not expected before Easter. Councillors agreed in principle to lease the land to the Norwegian state-owned energy firm during a meeting behind closed doors at the end of last month. While an announcement was initially planned for last week and then for Wednesday this week, it now appears that this will now only happen later this month.

1 month ago | shetnews.co.uk | Hans J Marter

SSE RENEWABLES has re-iterated it takes complaints about noise from the Viking Energy wind farm seriously but has not responded to calls to switch some turbines off in certain weather conditions. It comes after a well-attended meeting last week about low frequency noise from the 103 turbine wind farm.