A second wind turbine which will reach almost 200m in height is being constructed at Hunterston.

The second wind farm turbine at Hunterston, the 7MW Mitsubishi SeaAngel, is currently being assembled with a tip height of 193.5 metres and a 167 metre rotor diameter.

Once assembled it will be commissioned and then begin long term operational testing and assessment while generating electricity to the local network.

The turbine is being seen as revolutionary in the industry because of its very high operating efficiency.

In November 2010, Mitsubishi acquired Scotland based Artemis Intelligent Power Ltd after recognising the huge potential of Digital Displacement technology.

The Digital Displacement Transmission (DDT) method consists of Digital Displacement Pump and Motor, which replaces a conventional gearbox.

A spokesman for Misubishi explained: “This enables a very high operating efficiency even in part load conditions, unprecedented controllability, and the use of highly reliable synchronous generators.” Fairlie community councillor John Riddell was enthused by the project which he descirbed as a ‘world first’ and a completely new way of transfering the rotor blades to the generator. He added that the the digital displacement process was invented in Edinburgh, built in Japan, and was now being fully tested at Hunterston.

If you have a concern about the Hunterston site, please call 0800 0726 456. The details will be passed to the Council who will decide if the concern is valid and, if it is, we will investigate and respond within 30 days to both you and the council.

Scottish Enterprise are believed to be still inviting expressions of interest for leasing of the last turbine berth at the Hunterston site, targeting switch-on by July 2015. Hunterston has a wind resource that mirrors offshore conditions, making it well-suited to testing offshore turbine prototypes while having easy 24-hour access for modifications and repairs.

North Ayrshire Council granted planning permission for the turbine test facility for a five year period. However, another community councillor, David Telford set up a North Ayrshire Vandalised our Villages group, campaigning against the turbines test facility site, suggesting that the threat of infrasound (low frequency) on the nearby populace had not been thoroughly investigated.