Scottish civil engineering contractor RJ McLeod has been awarded the civils contract to build the 103-turbine Viking Wind Farm, which Viking Energy said was one of the largest contracts of this type ever awarded in Scotland.
The appointment follows SSE Renewables’ decision last month to invest £580 million in the 443MW wind farm project.
As part of its contract, RJ McLeod’s team will build the network of access tracks through the wind farm site as well as the new Sandwater road towards the site, construction compounds, and the bases and crane pads for the turbines.
Viking said RJ McLeod would bring local opportunities to Shetland, ranging from direct employment to plant hire and the supply of materials and other services to support its work.
SSE Renewables director of development Mike Seaton said: “We are delighted to announce RJ McLeod as the civil contractor for our Viking Wind Farm. We have a strong track record of delivering onshore wind farms successfully together.
“SSE Renewables and RJ McLeod are committed to maximising opportunities for the local, Shetland, and wider Scottish supply chain from Viking’s construction and to creating significant employment opportunities while we build this excellent flagship onshore wind project.”
The Viking Energy partnership, which also has limited investment from the Shetland Charitable Trust and developers of the Burradale Wind Farm near Lerwick, expects peak construction will support around 400 jobs.
During the operational lifetime, the project is estimated to support 35 local jobs.
RJ McLeod joint managing director Bruce Clark said: “We are very pleased to secure this high-profile contract.”
“RJ McLeod has a wealth of experience of constructing windfarms and contracting successfully for SSE Renewables. We are used to working in remote locations, including historic experience of delivering projects in Shetland.
“As a business, we’re committed to approaching this contract in a way which seeks to maximise the opportunities for Shetland businesses.”
Viking Wind Farm will be the UK’s largest onshore wind farm in terms of annual electricity output, estimated to reach almost 1.9 terawatt-hours a year.
Construction of the project is programmed to begin in August and to be completed in 2024.