Renewable energy projects in Orkney Islands
38 solar, wind or battery projects of 150 kW or more are located in Orkney Islands (REPD, July 2026 extract): 5 pending, 10 approved but not running, 14 operational and 2 refused. The council refused 5 of 29 decided applications (17%; UK 19%), with a median 27 weeks from submission to decision.
38projects in the council area
5awaiting a decision
10approved, not running
17%of decisions refused
How Orkney Islands decides
| Applications | Orkney Islands | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Decided applications (solar, wind, battery) | 29 | 10,236 |
| Refused | 5 (17%) | 19% |
| Onshore wind refused | 5 of 29 | 45% |
| Median time from submission to decision | 26.9 weeks | 17.0 weeks |
| Appeals lodged / allowed | 2 / 2 | — |
Projects in Orkney Islands
Projects of 1 MW and more (33)
| Project | Type | MW | Status (REPD) | Submitted | Decision | Record updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project - Qanternesswind farm | wind farm | 28.8 | approved, not builtupdated Oct 2022 | Feb 2020 | granted Dec 2021 | Oct 2022 |
| Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project - Hoywind farm | wind farm | 28.8 | approved, not builtupdated Jul 2024 | Sep 2020 | granted Dec 2021 | Jul 2024 |
| Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project - Faraywind farm | wind farm | 28.8 | application submitted may be out of dateupdated Oct 2022 | Jun 2021 | — | Oct 2022 |
| Nitshill Wind Farm, Hundland Hillwind farm | wind farm | 26.4 | application submitted may be out of dateupdated Mar 2022 | Sep 2022 | — | Mar 2022 |
| Greentoft, Neven Point, Eday Wind Turbines & BESSwind farm | wind farm | 24 | application submittedupdated Aug 2025 | Jun 2025 | — | Aug 2025 |
| Hesta Head Wind Farmwind farm | wind farm | 20.4 | approved, not builtupdated Aug 2020 | Mar 2017 | granted Apr 2019 | Aug 2020 |
| Costa Head Wind Farmwind farm | wind farm | 16.3 | approved, not builtupdated Aug 2020 | Dec 2016 | granted Apr 2019 | Aug 2020 |
| Spurness Wind Farmwind farm | wind farm | 11 | decommissionedupdated Jan 2015 | Sep 2002 | granted Jan 2003 | Jan 2015 |
| Spurness Wind Farm Repoweringwind farm | wind farm | 10 | operationalupdated Feb 2013 | Mar 2011 | granted Jul 2011 | Feb 2013 |
| Greentoft, Neven Point, Eday Wind Turbines & BESSbattery storage | battery storage | 10 | application submittedupdated Aug 2025 | Jun 2025 | — | Aug 2025 |
| Hammars Hill Wind Farm Extensionwind farm | wind farm | 8.4 | permission expiredupdated Sep 2024 | Apr 2020 | granted Sep 2021 | Sep 2024 |
| Gruf Hillwind farm | wind farm | 7.5 | refusedupdated Jul 2009 | Oct 2002 | refused Mar 2003 | Jul 2009 |
| Enyas Hillwind farm | wind farm | 6 | refusedupdated Dec 2010 | Jul 2004 | refused Jan 2005 | Dec 2010 |
| Burgar Hillwind farm | wind farm | 5 | operationalupdated Oct 2009 | Feb 1997 | granted Jul 1997 | Oct 2009 |
| Hammar's Hillwind farm | wind farm | 4.3 | operationalupdated Oct 2010 | Mar 2008 | granted Jan 2009 | Oct 2010 |
| Rothiesholmwind farm | wind farm | 2.7 | operationalupdated Feb 2010 | Jan 2001 | granted May 2001 | Feb 2010 |
| Aklawind farm | wind farm | 2.7 | approved, not built may be out of dateupdated Sep 2022 | Dec 2010 | granted Dec 2012 | Sep 2022 |
| Rysa Wind Energy Projectwind farm | wind farm | 2.7 | application withdrawnupdated Jun 2014 | Feb 2013 | — | Jun 2014 |
| Bu Farmwind farm | wind farm | 2.7 | operationalupdated Nov 2013 | — | — | Nov 2013 |
| Bu Wind Farm Repoweringwind farm | wind farm | 2.6 | abandonedupdated Nov 2013 | Nov 2012 | granted Apr 2013 | Nov 2013 |
| Thorfinn Wind Farm - NM2000wind farm | wind farm | 2.3 | operationalupdated Oct 2009 | Oct 1998 | granted Nov 1999 | Oct 2009 |
| Burgar Hill (land Near), Eviewind turbine | wind turbine | 2.3 | operationalupdated May 2010 | Jul 2007 | granted Dec 2008 | May 2010 |
| Evie Wind Energy Projectwind turbine | wind turbine | 2.3 | permission expiredupdated Aug 2018 | Jan 2009 | granted Jan 2015 | Aug 2018 |
| West Hill, Flottawind turbine | wind turbine | 2 | operationalupdated Jun 2011 | Apr 2004 | granted Dec 2007 | Jun 2011 |
| Orkney Storage Park Projectbattery storage | battery storage | 2 | operationalupdated Oct 2018 | — | — | Oct 2018 |
| Wind Turbine at Ward Hillwind turbine | wind turbine | 2 | application submittedupdated May 2025 | Apr 2025 | — | May 2025 |
| Gallowhillwind farm | wind farm | 1.8 | operationalupdated Apr 2013 | Oct 2008 | granted Mar 2009 | Apr 2013 |
| Barns of Ayre Wind Turbines (2)wind farm | wind farm | 1.8 | operationalupdated May 2014 | Nov 2010 | granted Mar 2011 | May 2014 |
| Flottawind turbine | wind turbine | 1.8 | operationalupdated Feb 2012 | May 2002 | granted Sep 2002 | Feb 2012 |
| Work Farm, Work Roadwind farm | wind farm | 1.8 | application withdrawnupdated Feb 2024 | May 2023 | — | Feb 2024 |
| Skeabrae Wind Energy Projectwind farm | wind farm | 1.5 | application withdrawnupdated Oct 2013 | Aug 2012 | — | Oct 2013 |
| Thorfinn Wind Farm - NM1500wind turbine | wind turbine | 1.5 | operationalupdated Oct 2009 | Oct 1998 | granted Nov 1999 | Oct 2009 |
| New Hollandwind farm | wind farm | 1 | operationalupdated Jan 2015 | Jul 2013 | granted Nov 2013 | Jan 2015 |
Smaller schemes under 1 MW, mostly rooftop solar (5)
| Project | Type | MW | Status (REPD) | Submitted | Decision | Record updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammer, Skelwickwind turbine | wind turbine | 0.5 | approved, not builtupdated Jun 2023 | May 2023 | granted Dec 2023 | Jun 2023 |
| Ludenhill, Lochside Roadwind turbine | wind turbine | 0.5 | approved, not builtupdated Apr 2024 | Aug 2023 | granted Mar 2024 | Apr 2024 |
| New Holland, Stratheast Road -Wind Turbinewind turbine | wind turbine | 0.5 | approved, not builtupdated Mar 2025 | Sep 2024 | granted Feb 2025 | Mar 2025 |
| Newark, Skelwickwind turbine | wind turbine | — | approved, not builtupdated Feb 2025 | Sep 2024 | granted Feb 2025 | Feb 2025 |
| Harbour Authority Building, St Olawind farm | wind farm | — | approved, not builtupdated Mar 2025 | Oct 2024 | granted Feb 2025 | Mar 2025 |
Postcode districts in Orkney Islands
32% of applications still shown as pending in REPD were submitted more than two years ago, and only 37% of pending records were updated in the last 12 months, so some of them may already have been decided. Projects belong to Orkney Islands by location (nearest postcode to the REPD grid reference); decisions are counted by the planning authority named in REPD.