Burgar Hill on Orkney Mainland was deliberately chosen as a test site for wind turbines because it is one of the windiest onshore sites in Europe!
The earliest onshore wind turbines were tested here in the early 1980s in a variety of guises. One of the earliest was built with the lower part of the tower constructed of concrete - a design which didn't survive developments in the industry.
Today, Thrive Renewables operate a single wind turbine here, alongside a selection of other discrete projects, harnessing the amazing wind resource and exporting it to the national grid for distribution to wherever it is needed. The turbine we chose for this site was a Class I turbine which is specifically designed to maximise the potential from consistently high and turbulent winds. The name "Sigurd" is that of a legendary hero from the ancient Norse stories which are renowned on the islands.
| Turbines | Nordex N60 |
|---|---|
| Number of turbines | 1 |
| Maximum tip height | 76 metres |
| Site capacity | 1.3 MW |
| Operational since | 2002 |
| Annual forecast output | 5.1 GWh |
| UK homes equivalent | 1,292 |
Press Releases
Solar trains company, Riding Sunbeams, has received its first commercial funding from Thrive Renewables and Friends Provident Foundation This will enable the team to develop community owned renewable energy projects to directly power the rail network at a commercial scale for the first time
Posted: 18 Sep 2020
Blog
The United Downs geothermal project will use heat from the rock, around 5km beneath the ground, to generate renewable electricity.
Posted: 12 Aug 2020
Blog
2019 was a record breaking year for renewables, generating more electricity than fossil fuels during the third quarter, for the first time ever. And 2020’s looking even better!
Posted: 29 Jul 2020
There are a variety of methods to work out your own carbon footprint including a simple to use calculator at www.carboncalculator.co.uk
The number of shares you own is printed on your Thrive Renewables share certificate(s)
