‘As a community, we have a right battle ahead’ | Shetland News

Saturday 3 January 2026

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‘As a community, we have a right battle ahead’

This is an updated version of a feature originally prepared to set the scene for the national Power Shift project, a partnership of ten local news outlets investigating the green power boom. With 2025 coming to an end, it is worth once more to get a handle on the multitude of projects that are currently proposed for Shetland.

31 December 2025

Updated

Power back on after hundreds of homes left in the dark

23 December 2025

Map showing three potential routes for a project, labeled as Route Option 1 (green), Route Option 2 (red), and Route Option 3 (blue) in a region of the Shetland Islands.

Anger at SSEN’s failure to seriously consider community requests

15 December 2025

Map showing three potential routes for a project, labeled as Route Option 1 (green), Route Option 2 (red), and Route Option 3 (blue) in a region of the Shetland Islands.

Voe anti-pylon petition goes island wide

12 December 2025

A helicopter carries a long pole suspended below it near a tall utility pole with power lines under a cloudy sky.

Council to request SSEN provides cumulative impact assessment for future projects

10 December 2025

Petition against pylon plans launched at Voe community meeting

10 December 2025

Sn letters - letter at Shetlandnews.

Energy poverty is only going to get worse

3 December 2025

Three adults stand indoors holding documents, with informational display boards about route options, consent process, and project timeline in the background.

Outrage in Voe – community gives thumbs down to pylons and new substation

28 November 2025

The front of the Sella Ness accommodation block.

‘Underutilised’ hotel and accommodation camp both in mix to house SSEN workers during energy projects

Energy giant also defends potential use of pylons as better for the environment

8 October 2025

SSEN to hold series of consultation events over future energy projects

24 September 2025

A group of wind turbines on a hill.

‘Planned outage’ of HVDC cable blamed for wind farm shutdown

31 July 2025

SSEN Transmission's lead project manager Alan Kelly in the Brae hall on Tuesday. Photo: Shetland News

‘Come and talk to us’ SSEN manager urges local people as company embarks on major infrastructure project

New ‘Shetland hub’ will have significant footprint
Construction likely to commence in 2028/29
SSEN acknowledges consultation fatigue

25 June 2025

Three workers in high-visibility clothing and helmets walk on a wooden path next to a large underground cable in a trench at a construction site.

Consultation events on second HVDC cable and Yell transmission project

20 June 2025

Cable community benefit fund to deliver £338k to isles

16 June 2025

Transformers arrive at Gremista site in latest milestone for SSEN project

7 March 2025

A group of people, some in high-visibility clothing, gather around a wooden outdoor exercise structure by a river. Some are using the equipment, while others stand nearby.

Lunnasting primary playground given mini makeover by power project volunteers

28 October 2024

Social housing properties owned by the SIC and Hjaltland Housing are benefiting from government energy efficiency funds.

SSEN could build homes for workers before giving them to SIC

22 October 2024

Wind turbines in the scottish highlands.

SSEN denies Kergord fault speculation

17 October 2024

SSEN Transmission outlines plans for second subsea cable

2 October 2024

Construction site with signs for the Kiergoed to Gremista Underground Cables project. Wind turbines and construction equipment visible in the background.

SSEN determined to ‘do the right thing’ after key contractor goes out of business

23 September 2024

Three workers in high-visibility clothing and helmets walk on a wooden path next to a large underground cable in a trench at a construction site.

SSEN consulting community councils on future energy projects

17 September 2024

Four men are rowing a blue boat labeled "NRC" in the water. They are wearing life jackets and are focused on rowing.

Nesting shows good strength, peat slide data, JUHA shortlisted, new exhibition and Star Wars at the museum

3 June 2024

•Also in the news

Sn letters - letter at Shetlandnews.

Spiralling out of control

17 May 2024

Map showing temporary road closure on b9075 sandwater to kergord road in shetland islands, including surrounding geographical features and roads.

B9075 to stay open after SSEN withdraws road closure application

1 May 2024

A road with a hill on it.

Impact on landscape will be minimal, SSEN assures community as major engineering works stop for Christmas

22 December 2023

Sn letters - letter at Shetlandnews.

The dirty little secret of the renewables industry

15 September 2023

A group of people wearing matching t-shirts pose for a photo outdoors in front of a stone wall. They are surrounded by colorful flowers and flags, and are seated on and around picnic tables.

MND fundraising, court trial, vaccination programme and more…

1 September 2023

•Also in the news

A helicopter hovers above a grassy hill, transporting materials with a long rope. Construction workers and equipment are visible below, with a dirt path leading towards the site.

Kergord to Gremista electricity link moves to next phase

Work on 12km section of overhead line to begin this week

21 August 2023

A deep-sea fishing vessel with the identification number LK 44, fitted with various antennas and equipment, sails on a calm sea under an overcast sky.

Fishing industry less than impressed by SSE’s community spirit

Transmission company has agreed to review its processes

30 March 2023

Patient travel, exhibition, subsea cable, Loganair partnership and much more …

1 November 2022

Sn letters - letter at Shetlandnews.

Windfall profits should be used to bury overhead lines

30 August 2022

Application submitted to connect local electricity network to national grid

1 March 2022

Ofgem decides ‘efficient cost’ of interconnector project

1 December 2021

Sn letters - letter at Shetlandnews.

Another meaningless waste of everyone’s time?

29 October 2021

Sn letters - letter at Shetlandnews.

Galling

17 September 2021

Electricity transmission company presents ‘narrowed down’ options for connecting wind farms to network

SSE’s consultation event in Lerwick on Tuesday was met with a small-scale protest

8 September 2021

SSEN Transmission responds to subsea cable concerns

25 August 2021

Feedback sought as project to connect other wind farms gathers speed

25 May 2021

Activity suspended at Kergord construction site as mark of respect after death of contractor

19 January 2021

Sn letters - letter at Shetlandnews.

PR statements at odds with reality?

14 August 2020

Community council calls for Covid testing of construction workers

13 August 2020

Sn letters - letter at Shetlandnews.

Not testing construction workers a ‘huge risk’

13 August 2020

Strict Covid-19 measures will be in place, SSEN insists

5 August 2020

In pictures: excavating peats at Kergord

24 July 2020

SSEN Transmission wants feedback on connecting wind farms

22 July 2020

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