Remote Fair Isle gets round-the-clock electricity supply for the first time

A REMOTE Scottish island has been given 24-hour electricity for the first time.

Fair Isle, which lies around halfway between Orkney and Shetland, had previously only had access to power only between 7.30am and 11.30pm via a wind turbine and diesel generators.

Now, a £3.5 million new renewable electricity system which goes live today means that the 55 islanders on the 5km long, 3km wide island will have a round-the-clock supply.

Fair Isle Electricity Company (FIEC), which led the project, hopes it will attract more residents and businesses to the remote location.

The energy boost comes from a combination of three wind turbine generators, ground-mounted solar panels and battery storage.

FIEC director Robert Mitchell said: “As an important project in a fragile rural area, having reliable renewable power will make a huge difference now and in the future, and we hope that it will encourage more people to come and live on the island.

“It also provides a great opportunity for more businesses to start here.

“The new energy system will be cleaner and greener and will reduce reliance on expensive diesel, hence making living costs more sustainable.

“It’s an ambitious project and is another step in ensuring that the community of Fair Isle continues to thrive.”

The new system was backed by £1.5 million from the Scottish Government and £250,000 from development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Scottish Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse said: “Those of us living on the mainland of Scotland can often take reliable supplies of electricity for granted.

“This has never been possible for the islanders of Fair Isle.

“The reality of having, for the first time in their history, 24-hour supplies of electricity presents exciting prospects for the Fair Isle community, who will not only benefit from access to a reliable electricity supply around the clock, but also now have in place a new cleaner, greener energy system.”

Remote Fair Isle



Famed for its wildlife and knitwear, Fair Isle is owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

For 55 years, the Fair Isle Bird Observatory has researched bird migration and seabird breeding colonies in the area.

Keen birdwatchers even come to the island and stay at the Observatory Lodge to spend a break spotting the wide variety of species on the cliffs.

The island is the only source of genuine Fair Isle knitting, with a small croft still producing contemporary and traditional knitwear.

Travel to the island is by a small ferry or 8-seater plane from Shetland.