Leading the way with community wind power
Far from the National Grid, Fair Isle must
make its own electricity and does so mainly by the power of the wind - which is usually in good
The first 60kw wind turbine was commissioned in 1982 as a community effort, supported
by council and government development agencies. As the first commercially-operated wind
energy scheme in Europe, it proved an extremely successful alternative to expensive
The Fair Isle Electricity Committee wisely set charges
that encouraged consumers to use wind generated rather than the more expensive
diesel generated electricity. With a very attractive pricing structure
customers are also encouraged to use the 'dump' electricity for heating.
As a result FIEC was able to build up a reserve fund which in 1996 helped
pay for a second, 100kw turbine, aided by the National Trust for Scotland,
Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Enterprise and the European Union. The old
machine was also rebuilt and upgraded, control systems
and cabling renewed to provide a unique grid independent
wind/diesel generating system.
In May 1999 the "Fair Isle Electricity Committee"
became the community run Fair Isle Electricity Company Limited - probably the
smallest electricity utility in the British Isles!
Generating some 85% of our winter and around 50% of our
summer energy requirements from wind power Fair Isle continues to lead the way
in the use of renewable energy. This, together with a programme to improve insulation in the Fair Isle houses,
has helped reduce significantly energy
imports into an island where
the cost of importing carbon based fuels is extremely high.
With fewer barrels of diesel and heating paraffin being
transported to the island the risk of pollution is also significantly reduced.
The 60kW wind turbine in calm conditions.
In 1981 we even tried a battery vehicle
- an ex-Edinburgh milk-float!