The Orkney isles and Community Energy Scotland (CES) are taking the lead for the whole UK as the European Union explores ways for islands to capitalise upon their energy resources with a new £14 million smart grid project. The SMILE project (SMart IsLand Energy systems) sees Orkney collaborate with technical, grid and academic partners across Europe and fellow island communities of Samso in Denmark and Portuguese Madeira, to investigate how electricity producers, consumers and the grid that links them, should tackle energy storage and other challenges raised by renewables and electric transport. In light of Scottish and UK government proposals for significant moves away from petrol and diesel vehicles, SMILE helps to address how battery-powered vehicles (BPVs) will be re-charged in future to maximise electricity generation from renewable sources and not over-burden the grid.
Scottish Energy News 20th Oct 2017 read more »