The wind turbines planned for Eday are proposed to be 180 m in height (to the tip of the blades). This easily surpasses the height of Big Ben and the Statue of Liberty. The current plan proposes five of these turbines to be installed only on the south side of Eday—one of the smallest Orkney islands at 10 square miles and with 31 residences in close proximity.These turbines are twice the size of those on Sanday which is double the size of Eday at 19.50 square miles and has no residences in the immediate area.

The transport routes currently proposed by Green Power (Route 1 in blue and Route 2 in Green) are shown in the image to the left. These small roads run directly past residences and access roads, with a weight limit of 25 tons. A single wind turbine blade can weigh 40 tons, together with the transport vehicle, the total weight could exceed 70 tons. A significant risk of damage exists for the infrastructure of Eday, which was never designed for such large-scale industrial loads.

This is Verness Road, marked green in the map above. The blue route has since been deemed unsuitable due to the trucks not being able to navigate the sharp turn at Roadside. I have place a picture below - for scale - of the size of the loads that are supposed to use this route. With drainage ditches on both sides and a 25 ton limit, I think it safe to say that this seems to be the product of wishful thinking not a feasible reality.

Eday pier has previously been damaged by storms. The damaged portion in this photo is where the temporary pier and floating jetty will tie in to the existing pier.The strain of transporting enormous wind turbine components on an already compromised structure carries a high level of risk. The pier is simply not fit-for-purpose for such an ambitious infrastructure project. The pictures above have been inserted to show the scale of the loads that will be unloaded at this small island pier.

Various financial incentives have been suggested for Eday, to compensate for the presence and risks associated with the wind turbines. It should be noted that the developer has not offered community benefits as an incentive, it is compulsory. The proposals remain vague and questions surround how the funds will be managed, with no workable solutions found. A real risk exists that the incentives do not materialise, or are not managed in a way that fairly compensates Eday's islanders. Particularly those situated on the Southside of the island and in close proximity to the turbines. It is interesting to note that the developer will still make money when requested to turn the turbines off - constraint payments - they will therefore notice little or no difference to the amount of money flowing into their account. In contrast, the community account only receives funding when the turbines are running 

Eday, like many of the Orkney islands, is home to various historical sites and artefacts. The discovery and preservation of artefacts is an ongoing process. The Stone of Setter is one of the largest monoliths in Orkney, standing at around four metres tall. It’s covered in lichen and moss, with thousands of years of Orcadian weather giving it a well-worn appearance. There is also the Vinquoy Chambered Cairn situated on Vinquoy Hill. With its fabulous panoramic views, this Neolithic cairn was first excavated in the 1850s. It’s a smaller version of Maeshowe and is made from Eday’s distinctive red sandstone. 

The highly destructive excavations required to install 180m wind turbine foundations could destroy myriads of undiscovered treasures related to Eday's history and heritage. It will also deter tourists from visiting these sites in the peaceful rural setting that is currently our main attraction.

Eday is a significant location for birdlife, particularly seabirds. The island's rocky coastline and surrounding waters offer breeding habitats and foraging grounds for a variety of bird species, including seabirds like puffins, guillemots, and razorbills. Additionally, Eday is a breeding ground for other birds, such as red-throated divers and Arctic skuas. Wind turbines can negatively impact bird populations through several mechanisms, including direct mortality from collisions, habitat loss and disturbance, and barrier effects that restrict movement and foraging. Studies show that their are concerns about the effects on certain species and the potential for cumulative impacts.