Costa Head wind turbine

Standing on the windswept cliffs of Costa Head, overlooking Rousay, Westray and the Atlantic Ocean beyond, it’s easy to see why this exposed headland became the site of a pioneering renewable energy experiment. In 1949, long before wind turbines became a familiar sight, Costa Head was chosen to host one of the UK’s earliest grid-connected wind generators.

Although modest by modern standards, the 100kW turbine was a remarkable achievement for its time. Built in Glasgow by John Brown Engineering for the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, it represented cutting-edge technology and a bold vision of harnessing Orkney’s abundant natural resources. At a time when wind power was little more than an ambitious idea,

The prototype worked but encountered technical challenges. Over the years of experimentation, it proved that wind energy generation was feasible in Orkney and further afield. The harsh conditions endured by these wind energy pioneers are captured in Pathe and BBC films at the time. Eventually the project was closed around 1955 and the generator re-used in a further wind project on the Isle of Man. The site became derelict and parts were salvaged for local use in farms in the area and the control building was turned into a sheep and cattle shelter.

The foundations of the turbine and anemometer mast survive along with the shell of the building. Poignant reminders of the UK’s first foray into sustainable grid generation.