North Sea wind farm developers spending more than £1 billion on new projects are being urged to invest in the future of Shetland’s fishing industry too.
Ocean Winds, Mainstream Renewable Power (MRP) and ESB Asset Development UK were recently awarded offshore leases to develop 2.8 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind east of Shetland.
It took the total number of projects kick-started by the landmark ScotWind offshore wind auction earlier this year to 20, with an estimated generating capacity of 27.6GW.
Spanish firm Ocean Winds has been selected as the preferred bidder for a 500-megawatt project.
International group MRP was given the go-ahead for a 1.8GW scheme and ESB Asset Development, part of Irish company ESB Energy, is behind a new 500MW wind farm.
Representatives from all three companies are visiting the Northern Isles tomorrow.
Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) is calling for them to make a series of commitments to ensure one of the isles’ most vital industries is not crowded out of important fishing grounds.
SFA executive officer Daniel Lawson said: “Offshore wind farm developers have vast resources at their disposal to develop these sites.
“Given the importance of the industry to Shetland, they have an obligation to commit to these principles.
“This is a fishing community, and we want to work with developers.”
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