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Local Energy Storage : |
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The two projects geared towards the storage of renewable energy in Shetland are the PURE Project and SCORE, both based in the North Isles. PURE aims to store wind generated electricity in the form of hydrogen. It will then be used either as an alternative fuel for a range of hydrogen applications, or in the form of a dry fuel cell to produce electricity. The timescale for implementation of the hydrogen storage component of the PURE Project is summer of 2004.
SCORE intends to use a large quantity of electrolyte charged from a renewable energy source (e-fuel) to provide effectively a large battery reserve for stored electrical power. The timescale for the implementation of this project is still unknown. |
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In the light of planned commercial renewable energy developments, and in the absence of an inter-connector cable to Shetland, embedded generation offers the only productive means in the foreseeable future of establishing new renewable energy schemes in Shetland. The principal purpose of the embedded energy scheme is to supply a specific user, set of users, or distributed network, as opposed to merely contributing to the overall demand from the high voltage grid.
In Shetland examples of the opportunities which exist for embedded generation are renewable energy schemes which aim to meet the power requirements of schools, leisure centres, industrial estates, commercial premises or even single domestic properties. Such embedded generation systems can extract a higher return from the sale of electricity to their dedicated customers than from the sale of a limited amount of power to the Shetland grid. These embedded generation schemes are also eligible for ROCS |
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Inter-Connector to the National Grid |
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| Strategically, the main means Shetland can gain significant income, jobs and stimulus for economic development as a renewable energy producer, will be through export of electricity through an undersea cable linked to the UK mainland. As this is an extremely expensive option, it is only likely though a partnership between Orkney and Shetland. The Shetland Renewable Energy Forum has a shared interest with the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum in making this partnership aspiration a reality. |
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Energy Conservation & Heat Recovery |
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| An integral part of any embedded renewable energy scheme should be an investment in energy saving measures which reduce the overall energy demand. This then reduces the scale of investment in the renewable energy generation plant, and ensures a much greater level of efficiency in the use of the energy which is generated. The Scottish Energy Efficiency Office provide advice and support to individuals, community groups and businesses who wish to undertake energy saving measures. |
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Green Island |
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| The “Green Island” represents the concept of a geographically defined area in which the community are actively engaged in minimising any damage to the environment caused by their economic and social activities. By definition the “Green Island” community is committed to reducing its dependency on fossil fuels. The “Green Island” makes a positive contribution to global sustainability based on a responsible use of natural resources, and conscious stewardship of the environment. In practice this includes energy-efficient buildings, organic agriculture and aquaculture, environmentally friendly transport, eco-tourism and renewable energy supply and consumption. The Shetland island communities of Unst and Fair Isle are already committed to achieving “Green Island” status. |
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