Fair Isle bairns add finishing touch as turbine turns again

Looking bright and freshly decorated, the newly-renovated aero-generator at Houll in Fair Isle is ready for action again.

Originally commissioned in 1982, the 60 kilowatt turbine had been showing signs of age. When built it was not only the first of its type in Shetland but formed part of the very first commercially-operated wind energy scheme in Europe.

Now though, thanks to extensive work by the Fair Isle Electrical Company and the collective efforts of islanders, who re-erected it manually when the winch that had been brought in broke down, it is ready once more to start producing energy.

This is an essential task as being far from the National Grid the island has to produce all of its own power.

While it was being repaired the pupils of Fair Isle Primary School, with the help of local artist Fiona Mitchell, took the opportunity to decorate the fan tails as part of their Eco-school renewable energy project.

The children proudly showed off their work prior to the re-erection of the mill on Saturday.