Lerwick Port Authority is participating in the ambitious ORION Project, established to provide Shetland with clean, affordable energy by developing the islands’ potential for renewable generation, including from windfarms onshore and offshore and wave power.

Led by Shetland Islands Council, it involves a range of partners, from the public and private sectors and community interests. Objectives also include creating and sustaining skilled jobs and a buoyant, diversified economy.

Lerwick Harbour, with its Dales Voe and Greenhead facilities, is among the potential sites for the development of port facilities supporting the lifecycle of energy transition projects, from installation to decommissioning.

Membership of ORION is a logical extension of the Port Authority’s own initiatives driven by a commitment and actions to reduce carbon emissions in its operations, to facilitate access to clean energy and protect the environment.

Working with the strategic partners, the Port Authority seeks to make a major contribution to securing Shetland’s transition to Net Zero, develop related infrastructure and encourage a strong supply chain.

Among direct actions to be taken is the decarbonisation of port operations through initiatives including larger scale projects, for example, future shore power for vessels and systems for clean bunkering.

The Authority’s range of measures to protect the environment includes supporting marine waste recovery (138,840kg in 2021) and waste oil (32,295 litres), emissions reductions and electrification of plant and equipment, and planting trees to offset paper usage through annual rewilding projects.

Read more on our Renewables page

We are a strategic partner in:

ORION - Opportunity for Renewable Integration with Offshore Networks - is a strategic framework connecting organisations with a common ambition: to transform the Shetland region into a centre for secure and affordable clean energy.

Find out more

More in Energy