Find out more about the Brae rural energy hub

THE TEAM behind plans to establish a first rural energy hub in the Brae youth centre is hosting a drop-in session in the village early next month.

Funded by Innovation UK, the country’s innovation agency, the pilot project is a joint initiative by Shetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council, Aquatera, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), and Community Energy Scotland.

Five million pounds of funding to support decarbonisation efforts in Shetland and Orkney have come from Innovate UK.

The Brae rural energy hub pilot aims to make physical energy efficiency improvements to the youth centre, and seek to attract new community groups, individual users and businesses to demonstrate the concept of a rural energy hub.

These will include shared working spaces, rapid charging facilities, a car club, e-bikes, as well as services to support people to decarbonise their own homes and businesses.

SIC climate change strategy team leader Claire Ferguson said: “Since the project began in February, we have been collaborating with the Brae youth club committee to map the multiple existing uses of the Brae youth centre with the new activities that the rural energy hub will bring; and the improvements to the infrastructure of the Brae hall that will be put in place to support all the uses of the building.

“Progress is also being made on the wider elements of the project, including the transport connectivity review of the North Mainland, the Brae district heating scheme feasibility study and the electric bus pilot.

Aquatera project director Ian Johnstone added: “We’re really keen to encourage people from Brae and the wider Shetland community to drop into one of the information sessions.

“The plans for the Brae rural energy hub have been based on responses to a survey we did in spring 2023 across Shetland, asking what sort of services people would find useful.

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“Plans have advanced a lot since then and we will be starting work on the building soon.

“So we are keen to share plans again with the local community, answer any questions and gather feedback. We’re also keen to meet people who are interested in possibly getting involved with the hub too, so please come along.”

The two drop-in sessions will be held at the Brae youth centre on Friday 1 November from 4pm to 7pm and Saturday 2 November between 10.30am and 12.30pm. More information can be found here.