Powered by People: Orkney's Renewable Energy Story
Powered by People showcases Orkney's rich and evolving renewable energy heritage. The exhibition explores the county's pioneering role in clean energy innovation, while also highlighting the human stories behind this.
Recognising a growing need for accessible information about Orkney's renewable energy journey - both past and present - the exhibition aims to engage visitors in conversations around energy fairness, innovation, and community impact.
The exhibition features a fascinating array of artefacts, many generously loaned by members of the Orkney Renewable Energy Forum. These include rare and historically significant items, such as the first subsea cable that connected Burray and South Ronaldsay to the public electricity supply in 1954.
A highlight of the exhibit is the story of the late Pete Oswald, whose groundbreaking work led to the creation of a synthetic aviation fuel using green hydrogen produced in Orkney. This fuel powered the world's first ever flight using synthetic fuel, supported by the RAF, a powerful example of how one person can have a huge impact on energy innovation.
Powered by People also features large-scale objects, displayed in the Pilot's House section of the Museum. This display contrasts a Lucas Freelite, a turbine seen quite commonly on farms in Orkney in the first half of the 20th century, with a modern test version of a tidal turbine blade - visually demonstrating a century of renewable energy development.
The exhibition highlights Stromness's central role in this story. For a town of just 2,000 residents, its impact is enormous—it's home to the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Heriot-Watt's Orkney campus, and is where the new interconnector cable makes landfall at Warebeth, with the wave test site just around the coast at Billia Croo.
Though the exhibition is not an exhaustive history, it serves as a significant step in recognising Orkney's energy heritage along ide its renowned archaeology and wartime legacy.
Powered by People runs until April 2026 and all are welcome to locals and visitors - to explore, reflect, and be inspired by the land's remarkable renewable energy journey.
