A PACKED auditorium attended a talk about renewable energy at Lerwick’s Muesum and Archives this week.

Around 100 people turned out on Tuesday night to hear the Chemistry, Energy and Climate Change pre­sent­ation, given by Dr Richard Pike.

The former commissioning engi­n­eer at Sullom Voe had returned to the islands to give his views on renewables, as well as a world overview on energy consumption.

Although he did not directly mention Shetland in his presentation, he warned against focussing on one renewable source over others.

Speaking before the presentation, he said a windfarm proposal should not be seen as the sole solution.

“It’s not enough just to look at the amount of energy it could produce, the carbon offset needs to be considered as well.

“There are lots of calculations that need to be made into the total impact of something on this scale.

“It would include things like disrupting peats and the decom­missioning of a concrete power station in 15 or 20 years’ time.”

Dr Pike, who is the chief executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, was the first and only person to swim across Yell Sound when he undertook a fundraising challenge for the British Heart Foundation in 1982.

Knowing the power of the waters around the islands, he also suggested utilising this to benefit the popu­lation.

“It is known that there are strong tides around Shetland and I would have thought there was some option for tidal energy here.

“There are other ways including solar, which can be stored, and using waste materials which is already happening.”

The presentation was well received by the audience, which included a group of advanced higher chemistry pupils from Anderson High School.

Source: Shetland Today 

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