The NINES project aims to support Shetland’s sustainable energy future by developing and managing the electricity distribution network more effectively, to allow renewable energy to play a bigger part in meeting Shetland’s energy needs. The project is being developed by SSE in association with a range of local stakeholders, including Shetland Islands Council, Hjaltland Housing Association and Shetland Heat Energy and Power.

Key objectives of the project are to:

• replace old inefficient storage and water heaters in 1,000 homes with modern 'smart' storage heaters which help to balance the electricity network
• add a new electric boiler to the existing district heating system, which will be associated  with the proposed medium-scale Gremista wind farm
• deploy new technology on the network that will allow more small scale renewable generators to connect to the network
• introduce new commercial arrangements to encourage businesses to change the times at which they use most energy
• install a 1MW battery, part-funded by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, at Lerwick Power Station

NINES will help with the planning and development of energy infrastructures in the Northern Isles.