Energy transition in Shetland Islands towards net zero: development, challenges and opportunities

The radical changes are expected in energy systems globally. Shetland Island is a special area in UK in terms of energy system circumstances. Currently, Shetland power system is primarily characterised by its isolation from the GB power system and the reliance on fossil fuel, which introduces challenges related to power system management and emission stresses within the islands. To utilise the rich wind resources in Shetland region, large-scale wind farms will be developed, and a high voltage direct current (HVDC) system and an onshore transmission network will be installed; whereas massive local baseloads (mainly including oil and gas asset electrification and massive hydrogen production) are expected to be deployed on Shetland. This paper reviews the current system structure and circumstances of the Shetland power system, and presents the vision and expectation of the future integrated energy system, with key technical barriers and enablers identified with regard to the system development and operation. Besides, major challenges and opportunities of different system parties are outlined, as essential considerations for system developers and/or operators.