Orkney Renewable Energy Forum

Orkney has considerable potential for renewable energy development, with abundant wind, wave and tidal resources. Orkney is already leading marine energy developments with the world’s first full-scale grid-connected wave and tidal test centre, EMEC. Wind energy is also being exploited with a number of ground-breaking developments, such as those at Burgar Hill, Stronsay, Sanday and Burray.

The Orkney Renewable Energy Forum (OREF) was set up in 1999 with the principal aim to promote all forms of renewable energy and energy efficiency and to encourage such activities to be of benefit to the Orkney community.

The purpose of OREF is to stimulate discussion on renewable and wider energy issues and to engage in activities to support appropriate energy developments when required.

OREF's aims and objectives are:

• To encourage the preferential use of renewable energy in Orkney;
• To debate the best technical and sustainable options for increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency in Orkney;
• To facilitate research and development in renewable energy and energy efficiency;
• To disseminate information on renewable energy and energy efficiency;
• To lobby on the strategic issues affecting the development of a renewable energy sector in Orkney; and
• To act as a consultative body on issues related to connecting Orkney to renewable energy markets.

Members of OREF include representatives of the local authority, renewable energy generators, energy experts, civil engineers, environmental consultants and electrical engineering companies. In addition to the local members, links are maintained with a number of companies and consultants nationally.

For further information about OREF, see the Key Links section to the right.

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