Council / Delight as Brae energy hub secures over £100k to cover staffing costs
A RURAL energy hub project in Brae has expressed its delight after receiving over £100k in funding to cover its staffing costs for the next four years.
The Brae Rural Energy Hub – which will offer electric vehicle charging stations, e-bike rentals and energy advice to locals – has been granted £114,349 through the Viking Community Fund.
The money will be used to staff the hub, which will operate from the former Brae Youth and Community Centre, from November 2025 to October 2029.
The hub’s directors said they were thrilled by the funding boost, which will help ensure the project provides comprehensive support to the community in reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.
Work has already begun at the site in a “significant milestone” for the project, which will see insulation, new heating and solar and batteries installed to create a warm, energy efficient facility for the community.
The renovation is expected to be completed in August, with the community groups who met in the youth centre set to return once it reopens.
Hub engagement and development officer Jade Wilson said they were “absolutely delighted” to receive this “significant funding” boost.
“We are so excited about the future of the hub and seeing how our services can benefit the community,” she said.
“With this support, we’ll be able to host more events like our upcoming bike day inMay, which will bring together local organisations and residents to promote sustainable transport.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to make a real difference in people’s lives and help them live more sustainably.”
Shetland Islands Council has also commissioned a feasibility study to see if a district heating scheme, potentially powered by a wind turbine, could be used to heat homes in Brae.
The Brae energy hub is a first for Shetland and forms part of a larger rural energy hubs project, funded by Innovate UK’s £25 million Net Zero Living Programme.
It aims to inspire and support a climate-conscious community in Shetland by making decarbonisation easier, more affordable, and an integral part of everyday life.
Brae Rural Energy Hub said the Viking funding was a “crucial step forward” for the project, and would allow staff to provide daily support at the hub.
It is set to announce its directors shortly, which it added would “further enhance its leadership and community engagement.
For more information about the project people can contact Jade Wilson at jade.wilson@aquatera.co.uk, or reach out via the hub’s social media channels.
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