20 October 2026
Senior representatives from Great British Energy will visit Shetland from 20 to 22 October to meet local leaders, businesses and community organisations and hear directly about the islands’ energy opportunities and challenges.
The visit, led by CEO Dan McGrail and Chair Juergen Maier, will explore community ownership, local energy systems, workforce transition and ways to ensure island communities benefit from renewable energy. This is an opportunity for Great British Energy to better understand constraints including grid connectivity and energy affordability, while identifying opportunities for collaboration.
Highlights from the trip will include:
- Visits to Garth Wind Farm in Yell, Viking Wind Farm in Catfirth, and Brae Rural Energy Hub
- A visit to Sullom Voe Terminal
- A meeting with Shetland Islands Council to discuss the energy landscape and community power
CEO of Great British Energy Dan McGrail said:
“Shetland has played a role in the UK’s energy story for decades and has the skills, infrastructure, natural resources and community ambition to remain at its heart in the future.
"This visit is about listening to the people who understand Shetland best. We're particularly interested in understanding how communities can benefit from the energy they help produce, how local energy solutions can be scaled up, and how we can support a transition that creates opportunities while building on the incredible skills that already exist here.
"Great British Energy is for every part of the country. By spending time in Shetland, seeing projects firsthand and understanding both opportunities and challenges, we'll gain valuable insights that will help shape how we work with communities and partners across the UK."
Chair of Great British Energy Juergen Maier said:
“Shetland is a powerful example of how Britain can turn its clean energy potential into lasting industrial strength, combining exceptional natural resources with deep engineering expertise, significant infrastructure and a highly skilled workforce.
“But the opportunity is not simply to generate more clean power. It is to use that power to support new industries, strengthen domestic supply chains and create good, skilled jobs, while ensuring communities share in the benefits.
“Shetland already has strong foundations. By building on its existing capabilities, the islands can help show how the energy transition delivers real economic value for local people and the wider country."