Northfish gets approval to develop Brae district heating scheme

Plans by marine company Northfish to develop a district heating scheme have been approved by Shetland Islands Council.

Members of the planning committee gave the green light for the development of a biomass heat cabin when they met today.

The approval leaves Northfish free to develop the 195kW wood-fuelled scheme near Brae. The scheme, which will use wooden pellets, will connect to both leisure and medical centres in the area.

Northfish also hopes to expand the network to the care home and the school and, potentially, residential areas. The development is the second of its kind in recent times – a similar project is already running in Mid Yell.

Earlier this month Northfish borrowed £220,000 from a Scottish government loan scheme to help develop the project. It is also in line for a further £150,000 to develop another biomass project at Blackhill Industrial Estate in Lerwick.