Energy

50% of Shetland’s electricity is currently supplied by the diesel-fired Lerwick Power Station, 30% by the gas-fired Sullom Voe Terminal Power Station and around 20% small independent and community based renewable generators.  In 2022/23 there was 173,627,000 kilowatt hours of electricity generated through these sources, which was distributed through 1,656.93km of overhead lines and underground cables.

Shetland also has 1 district heating scheme supplying around 1,250 properties in Lerwick with 40,000 megawatt hours per year.

In 2022 there was a total of 395,407 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide emissions from the facilities supplying Shetland's electricity needs and district heating scheme.

The mean domestic consumption for Shetland in 2022 was 8,358 kWh per household.  This was the highest in the UK, with the Scottish average 3,374 and the UK average 3,387 kWh per household.  

In 2023, there were a total of 228 licensed plug in vehicles registered in Shetland, and 26 public electric vehicle charging points.

Shetland Islands Council set up a Climate change Programme in 2020, find more about the work being done here.