Shetlands to get new cable links as part of energy scheme

Date: 30/11/2010

The Shetland Islands will get new electricity cables as part of a funding initiative to connect the region to the national infrastructure.

Plans from Ofgem were welcomed by Scottish and Southern Energy today (November 30th), with Shetland set to be given new technologies to allow small-scale renewable generators to connect with the country-wide network.

The initiative, known as the Northern Isles New Energy Solutions (Nines) project, will also include installing smart storage heaters in up to 1,000 homes, introducing new incentives for businesses to change the times they use the most energy and installing a one mega-watt battery at Lerwick Power Station, part-funded by the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Nines project director Stewart Reid said: "We will work closely with Ofgem and our project partners to finalise details of funding so that we can begin the Nines project on Shetland early in the new year."

Earlier this month, UK Power Networks announced that the Essex town of Billericay will be getting a £1.5 million electricity upgrade.

Posted by Ronnie Gray