Orkney Islands residents are being invited to submit their views on the council's Sustainable Energy Strategy.

First published in 2009, the draft 2017 – 2025 Strategy sets out four ambitions for Orkney's energy future;

• The achievement of ambitious carbon reduction targets

• The reduction and eradication of fuel poverty in Orkney

• Positioning Orkney as the globally recognised innovation region to develop solutions for the world's energy systems challenges

• Ensure a secure energy supply during transition to a low carbon future.

An action plan based around five key themes has also been established to achieve these goals;

• Maximum Local Value and Efficiency (from local resources).

• Smart Low Carbon Transport and Heat.

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• Secure transition to renewable and low carbon energy systems.

• Smart, supportive infrastructure investment.

• Develop and influence policy: delivering access to energy markets

The council's Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, Gavin Barr, said: "There's been considerable progress on a lot of the aims sets out in the 2009 Strategy.

"At the same time however we've seen significant changes in policy and regulation, and delays to ambitions for a better grid connection for the county.

"This grid constraint remains a target, but it has meanwhile created opportunity out of necessity, with exciting developments in recent years in energy storage and other smart infrastructure ideas.

"This revised Strategy aims to reflect all of this, and to give the Orkney community the opportunity to be proactively involved in helping shape the development of local energy resources.

"Orkney has the potential to forge its own unique sustainable future and lead the way in transforming communities from reliance on fossil fuels to a sustainable energy network.

"But to do this, we need to have a clear plan for tackling the bottlenecks and obstacles and work together."

To view the draft strategy, visit here.

The deadline for comments is 30 April.

(LM/MH)