The WTE plant was built with Danish expertise and came on line in 2000 and was owned and operated by the council. SHEAP was formed as a separate organisation and was financed and owned by the Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT) which uses funds derived from the Oil and Gas industry in Shetland to benefit the local community. Over the years the charitable trust gradually stepped back from having a hands-on role in the business. Whilst SCT is still the full share holder SHEAP now operates independently and as a separate commercial entity. This created an unusual industry model. Most WTE companies own the means of production and the mode of delivery and supply of the heat produced. Many will also be producing electricity as well. In Shetland SHEAP and the Energy Recovery Plant WTE (owned by the council) are very much community facing and therefore work very closely together to ensure maximum community benefit.
This manifests itself in low carbon/emission disposal of municipal waste and affordable and low emission energy for supply to the community in the form of heat and hot water.
Shetland is 200miles away from the nearest city in Scotlandwhich is Aberdeen, somany of the developments or initiatives that take place in the islands are not visible or recognised in mainland Scotland or at a national central government level. SHEAP has worked away for over 20 years now providing low cost, low emission heat and being a major part of the solution in diverting Shetland’s waste away from land fill. However this has gone mostly under the national political radar. As governments around the world take increasing accelerated action to prevent catastrophic climate change, heating networks are suddenly being seen as a really positive weapon in the move away from fossil fuel based energy. Recent legislation at Scottish government level is now recognising and supporting the creation and development of heating networks across Scotland and the waste to energy infrastructure that exists in Shetland is at last being seen as a leader in this field and as the positive force for good that it is.
There is also the famous fire festivals called Up Helly Aa’s, held to celebrate the end of winter and ostensibly to celebrate Viking heritage but in reality more to do with the Shetlanders love of a good party. However the craft and skill that goes into producing hundreds of authentic Viking outfits each year with replica armour and weaponry creates a nostalgic impression of our Scandinavian past that maintains the connection to this present day.
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