Pricing Change
New pricing for orders of material from this site will come into place shortly. Charges for supply of digital images, digitisation on demand, prints and licensing will be altered.
Burgar Hill, Wind Electricity Generating Station
Wind Farm (Modern)
Site Name Burgar Hill, Wind Electricity Generating Station
Classification Wind Farm (Modern)
Alternative Name(s) The Wards
Canmore ID 298128
Site Number HY32NE 81
NGR HY 34483 25904
NGR Description HY 34179 36118 to HY 34836 25275
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/298128
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Birsay And Harray
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY32NE 81 34179 36118 to 34836 25275
Wind electriciy generating station on summit of Burgar Hill. Five wind turbines spread along the ridge.
Information from RCAHMS (DE), March 2009
Project (10 June 2021 - 31 August 2021)
Orkney Energy Landscapes explored the past, present and future of energy production and its role in shaping the identity of the islands. Orkney has a long history of energy testing and production, from the use of traditional fuels such as peat, to the more recent extraction of oil, exploration of uranium, and the current world-leading renewables industry (wind, wave and tidal). Taking these energy themes the project explored five main areas, undertaking walkover and measured survey, building recording, oral history, and school outreach, run as a series of community events.
Additional site details will be available in the project report.
The project is a collaboration between ORCA, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Archaeology Institute and the Department of Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews.
Archive: NRHE (intended)
Funder: National Lottery Heritage Fund, EMEC
Daniel Lee and Richard Irvine – ORCA, UHI Archaeological Institute and University of St Andrews
(Source: DES Vol 22)
Field Visit (10 June 2021 - 31 August 2021)
HY 34287 26083, HY 34159 26134, HY 34483 25901 Burgar
Hill Wind Farm (Modern) wind turbines (Canmore ID: 298128) On Burgar Hill the remains of three wind turbines from the 1980s were recorded. Burgar Hill hosted the next phase of experimental wind turbine development in Orkney with the MS1 and Howden turbines built in the early 1980s (c1983) and the huge LS1 3MW turbine with a concrete tower completed in 1987 (Wind Energy Group). At the time, the LS1 was the largest grid connected turbine in the world. It operated until 1997 and was demolished in 2000. The concrete bases for all three turbines survive at the site and two (3 and 4) were planned using plane table survey. Details of construction, layout and floor covering are evident. Walkover survey was conducted in the area around the turbines with 14 sites recorded in total, including a former visitor’s centre for the early devices and current turbines (Sites B1–14).
Additional site details will be available in the project report.
The project is a collaboration between ORCA, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Archaeology Institute and the Department of Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews.
Archive: NRHE (intended)
Funder: National Lottery Heritage Fund, EMEC
Daniel Lee and Richard Irvine – ORCA, UHI Archaeological Institute and University of St Andrews
(Source: DES Vol 22)
