Lewis Wind Power has been working with its partners to take forward wind development on Lewis since 2003. However, a series of changes to government policy and challenges around the interconnector with the mainland mean that no wind projects of scale have been built on the Western Isles.
The UK Government has confirmed that projects on the UK’s remote islands which are not currently connected to the main GB transmission network will be able to participate in the next auction for the long-term contracts required to underpin investment in construction, which is expected to commence in May 2019.
LWP’s project is ready to bid, with planning consent and grid a connection agreement in place.
Development Timeline
| 2010 | Public exhibitions and meetings commence for Stornoway Wind Farm |
| 2012 | Stornoway Wind Farm consented |
| 2015 | Application for variation to consent to increase size and capacity of project |
| 2016 | Variation to consent granted |
| 2017 | UK Government commits to allowing ‘Remote Islands Wind’ projects to bid for Contracts for Difference |
| 2018 | Lewis Wind Power office opening |
| Government announces timetable and budget for Contract for Difference auction | |
| LWP commences scoping exercise at Stornoway Wind Farm to look at the potential to use larger turbines and revise the layout of the project to improve its competitiveness | |
| 2019 | Next auction for Contracts for Difference |
If successful in auction: |
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| Autumn 2019 | Energy regulator Ofgem makes formal decision on investment in new interconnector between Lewis and the mainland |
| LWP starts procurement processes for the Stornoway Wind Farm | |
| Mid-2020 | SSE starts work on delivery of interconnector |
| Late-2023 | Interconnector complete Stornoway Wind Farm to start generating |
