THE giant turbines at Hunterston have been delayed while negotiations go on over how they can be connected to the national grid.

The ‘News’ has discovered that Scottish Southern Energy (SSE) need to draw up a legal agreement which will let them use the adjoining Hunterston nuclear power station to lay the cables.

EDF who operate the nuclear site indicated this week that they would agree to the use of their land.

A spokeswoman said: “EDF Energy’s Hunterston B power station is content to have the connection cable running across its land so the wind turbine can connect to the grid. Before this can happen there needs to be a legal agreement in place and this is going through due process.” It seems that the construction and operation of the proposed second and third turbines, which all reach about 500 feet in height, will now be delayed until it is settled.

A spokesman for SSE said: The first turbine at SSE’s Hunterston Offshore Wind Turbine Test Facility is currently being commissioned, this is a longer process as it is a prototype Siemens turbine. The local network operator has encountered some delays in providing the grid connection for the facility. However, the grid connection is progressing and will be available in early 2014 to allow completion of the commissioning phase and the generation of electricity.

“SSE is working closely with supply chain partners Siemens and Mitsubishi to construct and test their latest turbine technology on the first two berths at the site. The foundation for the Mitsubishi turbine, which will use the second berth, is due to be completed in early spring next year and the turbine will be delivered in May 2014. The third berth (available from 2015) will be operated by Scottish Enterprise and will be leased to a turbine manufacturer which has firm plans to invest in the Scottish offshore wind supply chain. “