OREANDA-NEWS. Orkney has produced more electricity from renewable sources over the last year than the islands consume, confirming their place among the greenest islands in the world.

Over the past 12 months around 500 small domestic generation sites and 28 larger renewable energy sites have output more than 100% of the islands' electricity needs.

This is made possible by the Orkney Active Networks Management (ANM) system which helps renewable generation connect to the electricity network on a managed basis and monitors power flows to tell generators when to reduce their output.

Stewart Reid, Future Networks & Innovation Manager at SSEPD said: “These latest figures are fantastic news for the Islands. We have invested extensively in the electricity network, initially providing a secure supply to the islands and then by introducing the ANM system we have enabled additional renewable generation to connect too.”

The Orkney (ANM) system has provided over 40% of the islands' demand and brought in an additional ?4.1million to the local economy.

Councillor James Stockan, Chair of Orkney Islands Council's Development and Infrastructure Committee, said: “Active network management has allowed developers to connect much more renewable energy generation than would otherwise have been possible and SSEPD should be congratulated on this.

“The Orkney community has embraced renewables, but there is an urgent need for further grid links to the Scottish mainland. This would enable us to export more power, removing constraints on current generation and allowing considerably more renewable energy to be harnessed from our abundant wind, wave and tidal resources.

“We look forward to continued working with SSE as we seek ways for Orkney to fully unlock it vast energy potential.”

Michael Rieley, Senior Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “The diversity of renewable generation in Orkney provides a snapshot of the future. The islands' contrasting landscapes and scattered population, with a range of technologies operating side-by-side, perfectly highlight both the feasibility and benefits of mixed renewables generation.”