Knowledge, Innovation and Shared Thinking in Orkney
In 2020 Orkney Renewable Energy Forum (OREF) ran the Sustainable Orkney Conference online over a series of 6 weekly meetings, with the aim of bringing together local experts and interested and motivated local people to map out what Orkney is already doing to decarbonise and be sustainable.
The event was … Read More “Sustainable Orkney Conference”
Presentation given at an OREF open meeting in November 2016 by Mark Hull of Community Energy Scotland, explaining Orkney’s responses to grid constraint.
https://www.oref.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/20161110-Leading-from-the-bleeding-edge-MH.pdf… Read More “Leading from the Bleeding Edge”
An innovative community project in Orkney that uses surplus electricity
generated from renewable energy to split water, making hydrogen gas as a fuel.
Project website:
Community Energy Scotland provides independent and ongoing practical & technical support for community project development.
https://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/
Find out more about their work in Orkney:
Community Power Orkney
https://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/projects-innovations/community-power-orkney/
Heat Smart Orkney
https://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/projects-innovations/heat-smart-orkney/
Surf ‘n’ Turf
https://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/projects-innovations/surf-n-turf/
SMILE
https://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/projects-innovations/smile/
ReFLEX
https://www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk/projects-innovations/reflex/
This session represents a collaboration between the Virtual Islands Summit, Orkney International Science Festival, Orkney Renewable Energy Forum and Community Energy Scotland, presenting the following community energy projects to an international audience:
– The development of
THAW is a charity set up to tackle the issue of fuel poverty in Orkney.
http://www.thaworkney.co.uk/… Read More “Tackling Household Affordable Warmth (THAW) Orkney”
Link to the Scottish Government SHCS website where you can access an archive of reports.
https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-house-condition-survey/… Read More “Scottish Household Condition Survey SHCS”
Short video about the community interest company (CIC) Orkney Micro-Renewables.… Read More “Orkney Micro- Renewables video”
Orkney Islands Council (OIC) published the Orkney Local Development Plan 2017- 2022 in April 2017. The plan and associated documents are available to download from the OIC website.
https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/O/Orkney-Local-Development-Plan.htm
The Orkney Cloud project is looking at how to use the islands rich energy resources and thick social networks to address issues of connectivity at the edge of the communications network.
The project magazine, available to read online, explores the possibility for what an Orkney Cloud could be, both in … Read More “Orkney Cloud Magazine”
Understanding community benefit payments from renewable energy development – Sandy Kerr, Kate Johnson, Stephanie Weir
Energy Policy 105:202-211 · June 2017
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2017.02.034
Abstract
It is increasingly common for renewable energy projects to make financial, or in kind, payments to local communities. These arrangements are variously described as ‘benefits payments’ or … Read More “Understanding community benefit payments from renewable energy development”
Scottish Energy Strategy documents and response from OREF to the initial consultation available from OREF website.
http://www.oref.co.uk/scottish-energy-strategy/… Read More “Scottish Energy Strategy”
The Orkney Energy Audit was commissioned by OREF and Community Energy Scotland, and carried out by local consultancy Aquatera. Documents available from the OREF website:
http://www.oref.co.uk/resources/orkney-energy-audit/… Read More “Orkney Energy Audit 2014”
Link to the Orkney Sustainable Energy Strategy available from the OREF website.
http://www.oref.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Orkney-Sustainable-Energy-Strategy-2017-2025-1.pdf… Read More “Orkney Sustainable Energy Strategy 2017-2025”
Orkney Islands Council is currently investigating three sites for potential community wind farms.
https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Council/C/orkneys-community-wind-farm-project.htm
https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Council/C/orkneys-community-wind-farm-project-the-rojects.htm
The three sites being investigated are:
The Virtual Island Summit 2019 was a free and entirely online event designed to connect global islands to share their common experiences through a digital platform. Almost 5,000 islanders from 500 islands took part. Learn more: www.islandinnovation.co/summit
Energy At The End Of The World: An Orkney Islands Saga – … Read More “Energy at the End of the World – Virtual Island Summit presentation”
Winds of change: Legitimacy, withdrawal, and interdependency from a decentralized wind-to-hydrogen regime in Orkney, Scotland – by Michael Westrom
Energy Research & Social Science
Volume 60, February 2020, 101332
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2019.101332
Abstract:
Community-owned renewable energy facilities support decentralized low-carbon energy and community development by empowering local political organizations; however, the consequences … Read More “Journal Article: Winds of Change – Michael Westrom”
Orkney Renewable Energy Forum (OREF) is a membership organisation made up of individuals and businesses. Its aims and objectives are:
Video from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) about the Sanday Development Trusts shared ownership project in the Spurness Wind Farm with Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSE).… Read More “Sanday shared ownership project – Spurness Wind Farm”