ABSTRACT
The Board examined alternative sources of energy including peat, wave energy and wind energy. With the high and persistent wind levels experienced in the West of Scotland and particularly on the islands wind energy emerged as the most promising option for Shetland. The Board, encouraged also by the experience gained with medium sized wind turbines in Orkney, developed proposals with James Howden & Co Ltd for the installation of a 750 kW aerogenerator in Shetland. The objective of the proposal being to determine whether wind energy would
provide a cost effective means of reducing dependence on oil consumed at Lerwick diesel power station and to evaluate the potential for wind farms. The proposal was submitted to the Commission of European Communities and was awarded their financial support under the programme for wind demonstration projects.
