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Hesta Head Wind Farm (20.4 MW)

Hesta Head Wind Farm is a 20.4 MW wind farm project in Orkney Islands, Scotland. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: approved on 18 April 2019, not yet built; the record was last updated on 5 August 2020.

Data: REPD July 2026 extract · calculated 7 November 2026 · Methodology and sources

20.4 MWwind farm
approved, not builtstatus in REPD
5 August 2020record last updated
Orkney Islandscouncil area

Planning timeline

DateStage
6 March 2017Application submitted
21 September 2018Refused by the planning authority
8 October 2018Appeal lodged
18 April 2019Planning permission granted
18 April 2019Appeal allowed
11 April 2027Permission due to expire (unless work starts)

Project details

Technology
wind farm
Capacity
20.4 MW
Status (REPD)
approved, not built
Record last updated
5 August 2020
Operator or applicant
Hoolan Energy/ Hesta Head Wind Farm
Planning authority
Orkney Islands
Planning application reference
17/083/TPPMAJ
Appeal reference
PPA-330-2023
Turbines
5
Turbine height
125 m
Address (REPD)
Hesta Head (Land Near), South Ronaldsay Windwick, Kirkwall, Orkney Isles
Council area (by location)
Orkney Islands
Time to decision
110 weeks
Contracts for Difference
AR3
REPD reference
5198

Who decides

ApplicationsOrkney IslandsUK
Decided applications (solar, wind, battery)2910,236
Refused5 (17%)19%
Onshore wind refused5 of 2945%
Median time from submission to decision26.9 weeks17.0 weeks
Appeals lodged / allowed2 / 2—

Status and dates as recorded in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract); the database is compiled from public sources and can lag behind council decisions. Location: REPD grid reference (58.7776, -2.9318).