06 October 2022

Neos Networks will provide crucial communications links between the Viking Energy Wind Farm, being constructed in Mainland Shetland and the headquarters of SSE Renewables, in Perth on the Scottish mainland, more than 300 miles away.

The Viking Energy Wind Farm is one of the largest projects of its type in the UK and when fully operational will power homes and businesses across the UK. It is expected to generate £2.2m annually in community benefit revenue for the islands for its expected 25-year operational lifetime.

Neos will provide a machine-to-machine (M2M) network, which will enable the energy provider to control and monitor the performance of the 103 wind turbines remotely – and provide links back from Shetland to SSE’s headquarters in Perth.

Performance data can be monitored locally and back at SSE Renewables headquarters to ensure the farm is operating at maximum efficiency, with the M2M comms across the entire site also highlighting any potential issues and enabling preventative maintenance.

“With any new facility of this size, scope and importance, deploying and provisioning first class communications links are critical to its operational performance,” said Andy Ainsley, head of energy and utilities at Neos Networks.

The provision of connectivity infrastructure, in tandem, of an undersea 600-megawatt high voltage power cable is vital to delivering the project, enabling the islands to generate wind power for the rest of the United Kingdom.