Featured in Treasure Islands – 08-2024

Orcadian sea power

The North Sea was once the oil capital of Europe but as onshore and offshore wind grows, the Orkney Islands are emerging as a renewables hub at the cutting edge of R&D. Experiments abound in green hydrogen and demand-side flexibility as researchers seek solutions to curtailment.

By

Matthew Lynas

12 Aug 2024

The Orkney Islands have generated more electricity than the community consumes since 2013. | Photo: Pixabay

Net-zero by 2030? Scotland’s Orkney Islands have been a net exporter of electricity since 2013. While the new UK government aims to eliminate fossil fuels from the electricity generation mix by 2030, the Orkneys already have enough renewables to exceed local demand.Perched off the north coast of mainland Scotland, relatively close to the North Sea’s …

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