SSE Renewables have announced the pouring of concrete on the first wind turbine base at the Viking Energy Wind Farm.

Eight ready-mix lorries carried the concrete to the turbine site from two batching plants set up nearby, each of which can mix 50 cubic metres an hour.

Once complete, Viking will be able to meet the needs of 475,000 homes and save half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. It will provide around 440 megawatts of power.

Derek Hastings, Head Of Onshore Wind Farm Development, said: "It is really fantastic to get to this point in the project. This moment is one that the project team and all of our contractors can be proud of.

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"While there is still a way to go until the completion of the Viking Wind Farm, we have come so far in a relatively short time – one which included the challenges of the pandemic and unusually prolonged winter weather in Shetland.

"We're another step closer to realising SSE Renewables' own wind energy targets and the net zero ambitions of both Scotland and the UK."

Aaron Priest, Stakeholder Manager For The Viking Project, added: "This is literally a concrete landmark for the Viking project. The logistics ran like clockwork and the teams from RJ McLeod and its sub-contractors have done a tremendous job. Now they just have to repeat their skill and precision another 102 times!"

Shetland contractors and suppliers are playing a key part in wind farm construction. The concreting operation involved two ready-mix lorries from Garriock Bros and high-grade aggregates from the company's quarry at Vatster.

Once the concrete has cured, the base is backfilled with materials excavated from the site, leaving only the centre ring showing, ready for the turbine tower to be bolted on. The Vestas turbines will arrive on site for erection in early 2023.

Viking Energy Wind Farm is on course to go into renewable energy production in late 2024. It is expected to be the most productive onshore wind farm in the UK.