A new investor has come aboard for the Eishken Windfarm,
meaning that construction can now start in 2013 and electricity
production in 2016. I refer to the linked article for further
information. Without rehashing my well-known position on the issue of
on-shore windfarms, I will only ask one question.
This windfarm is dependent on the interconnector, the subsea
electricity cable linking Lewis and Wester Ross, for exporting all that
electricity to the mainland. Is there any certainty that the
interconnector is going to be built? Because building a huge big
windfarm with attendant infrastructure (pylons, cables, substations) -
and then suddenly realising there is no way to get the power off to the
consumers in the National Grid, sounds to me like monumental folly.
However, I am equally aware that this could also be a method for accellerating the interconnector through the planning process.
Apart from the interconnector, there is also the minor matter of a
high-voltage powercable from Wester Ross to Beauly, for that National
Grid link-up. Because that link is not built or certain to be built
either.
