Grid reps look into the future of energy . . .

Representatives from the National Grid are due in Orkney today to present some of their work, at an event sponsored by the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum (OREF), at the Orkney Theatre, this evening, Thursday.

Lilian MacLeod, power supply manager, National Grid, said: “We have heard about the pioneering energy initiatives happening in Orkney and we welcome the opportunity to visit some of the projects.

“It is likely that some of the energy issues and initiatives happening in Orkney will be encountered by other parts of the country as the energy landscape evolves within the UK. We are keen to find out what this means and how it is working in Orkney.”

Before the evening event, the team from National Grid will tour several representative sites in the county including Hatston Pier, Hammars Hill, EMEC, St Ola and the battery at the power station to get a picture of the grid in Orkney.

“We are keen to show how it all works here,” said Neil Kermode, chairman of OREF.

“Orkney is a living laboratory for a sustainable energy system. We aren’t there yet, but we are a lot closer than most, and we have valuable insight into what works and what doesn’t.”

OREF will present the results of an energy audit recently undertaken in the county, and show Orkney’s present position.

“It is pretty widely known that last year Orkney produced the equivalent of more than 100 per cent of the electricity it used from renewables. But it is often not realised that it has the highest number of small-scale wind turbines in the UK, one of the only grid-scale batteries, and is pressing on with other ways of dealing with the grid inadequacies,” said Mr Kermode.

“The audit brings all the pieces together for the first time in years and is a really interesting insight into where we are.”