Stars and a glow we don't want in Shetland

Increased Light Pollution?

Viking Energy has received approval to increase the size of the proposed 103 Turbines it hopes to erect across the  central mainland. Instead of 145 m it plans to increase them to 155 m tall and also increase the height of the rotas by 5 m to keep within the 35 m ground clearance. The rota diameter will also increase by 10 m to 155 m. The M.O.D have made an objection to this increase but I am not sure whether they have followed this up.

This is bad enough for any landscape photographers but for astrophotographers in Shetland it will mean a red glow from the warning lights at the top of the turbines so an increase in light pollution. You can see this from the 2 photos showing Burradale wind farm just outside Lerwick.

If  the Viking wind farm gets the ok with the next bids, (confirmation due out soon) the floodgates will open and we will see 180 + new turbines erected in Shetland, which will all add to the red glow in our skies. So not just the  central mainland but also in Yell, and down to Cunningsburgh in the south mainland.

The glow from the flares at Sullom Voe has already destroyed the dark site in the north mainland, its glow even can be seen from Eshaness on the west coast.

I have spoken to many visitors who come to Shetland to escape the turbines that blight the landscape in the south, they come north to see un-spoilt landscapes, wildlife and the chance of an Aurora or seeing the milky.

Wind Turbines , its a big no from me on so many counts. We don't want too loose our chance to see or photograph the stars or Aurora. There is every indication the red glow from the warning lights on the  turbines in the central mainland will spoil the view north from Tingwall, in fact they will be seen around 25 miles away

Here is the full list of turbines so far, erected (in place) and the rest proposed

• 5 above Burradale (in place)
• 103 Viking  Central mainland (155m) 13.3% of the mainland
• 29   Energy Isles , Yell North West (200m) 10.5% of Yell
• 17   Peel Energy   Yell Beaw Fields (145m)  5.3% of Yell
•   5   Nth Yell Council, Yell , Garth (In place)
• 12   Peel Energy  Mossyhill (Lerwick- Scalloway)(145m) 1% of the mainland
• 15  Bridge end, Burra

This is virtually a 70km unbroken chain of wind turbines. Total wind farm footprint area(On active peat bog) 172.42 Sq Km, total area of Shetland 1468km, that's 11.7 % of the total land area of Shetland. (Allen Fraser)

with more to come

EIA Report Viking Energy November 2018

4.8.1 A review of the proposed varied development has found that there would be no changes to the degree of landscape and visual effects (including cumulative landscape and visual effects) between the consented Viking Wind Farm and the proposed varied development excluding the effects of turbine lighting.

Effects of Turbine Lighting •

An assessment of turbine lighting undertaken for 13 viewpoints identified that the visual effect of a medium intensity light on every turbine, as required by CAA guidelines, would be significant from all but one of the VPs considered. Those VPs receiving significant effects are within 10 km of the proposed varied development with VP5 (Knab Road, Lerwick), located over 15 km from the proposed varied development, being the only VP likely to be not significant. It was therefore concluded that when taking turbine lighting into consideration, the inclusion of a medium intensity light on every turbine would result in significant effects during low light and night time conditions. 

However, the Applicant proposes to engage with aviation stakeholders to agree a lighting solution which may result in a reduced visual effect.  Discussions would include consideration of the following: Potential reduction of lighting intensity during good meteorological visibility; (No update as yet)

• Radar activated lighting (should this be approved for use); and

• Potential for cardinal or strategic lighting on selected turbines.

(VP Viewpoint )

Work on the Viking Wind farm started on 18 July 2019 with  (https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2019/07/18/wind-farm-ground-investigation-work-gets-underway/) with ground investigations , however construction type activities have taken place (Roads ) without full planning permission.

If they get the Government funding and the inter connector goes ahead they expect to finish by 30 June 2024.

The Yell Wind Farm will have turbines 200m high to the blade tip, that's higher than the cliffs of Noss. Again these will have red aircraft warning lights fitted.

So viewing the Aurora, milky way or stars might become a thing of the past in these areas and to areas where the red light spreads, which is about 25 miles away.

Some of the spots I use will be affected and you have to feel sorry for Aurora Hunters in the north Mainland and in Yell.

Further reading:

Swedish view point http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:949225/FULLTEXT01.pdf

http://www.reuk.co.uk/600MW-Shetland-Wind-Farm.htm

https://www.pagerpower.com/news/determining-uk-wind-turbine-aeronautical-lighting-requirements/

https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/what-is-the-purpose-of-wind-farm-lighting   (Migrating Birds)

There should be a call for on demand lighting which only turns on when an aircraft approaches 

Become a Citizen Scientist.

Why not participate in the Globe at Night campaign, its a great way to help our understanding of Sky glow and its impact. No special tools required and observations can be easily reported by Smartphone or computer.

Its also possible to use a smartphone to make night sky measurements. The Dark Meter App makes use of the iPhone camera to record the brightness of the night sky, while Loss of the Night app walks the user through the sky as measurements are made.

Full details at

https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/measuring-light-pollution/

Looking south from Tingwall Church towards the turbines at Burradale

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Green and Purple Aurora

Its always good to see the Aurora, but many nights are full of cloud. A few nights ago the cloud cleared allowing the green then purple shin through.

Tingwall is always a good spot, wide open with the water allowing for good reflections. Its a busy road both for cars north and south

Its a pity about the LED outside light up the valley which has only recently gone up. It is distracting and many more houses and barns now have permanent outside lighting. This site may well be lost if the Viking Energy wind farm goes ahead. The red beacon lights on top of the turbines will show up here even though the will be 10 miles further north

Looking south towards Scalloway and here on the left two large LED lights near the fire station and further along the streetlight which are also LED produce a bluer light. The council are just in the process of replacing all 4000 streetlight with LED lights

Orion showing about the boatshed

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Aurora Sandwick, Shetland

The Wednesday night forecast was looking good for an Aurora and even the weather looked promising. I went out at 9pm just as an Orange alert came through but by the time I go to Sandsayre, only 5mins away it had dropped back

The moon was always going to be a problem, virtually a full moon causing a lot of light pollution and washing out the Aurora. However the camera can pick up the Aurora better than our eyes and green was showing low down just above the clouds

It was also the first time I had taken night photos with the new LED streetlights at Cunningsburgh. In the past two weeks an extra 29 had been replaced , so now over 50% are the brighter, bluer LEDs.

The small boats always make an interesting foreground and these seem to change on a regular basis.

You can tell how bright the moon was with the camera settings, ISO1600 F4 at 10 seconds, so less noise generated.

We shall soon know whether the monstrous Wind Turbines will be erected across the central mainland, the red lights on top of the turbines will block off the Aurora and will be seen as far down as Scalloway.

For the Aurora Hunters on Yell, it will be worse as two wind farms, one in the north and south will also cause excessive light pollution.

Having a dark site is so important and on a small island like Shetland it may prove even more difficult to find one. Even out to sea the Oil rig lights can be seen at many places.

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