A new electricity system has gone live in Fair Isle, between Orkney and Shetland.

The Scottish Government invested £1.5 million in the project and the community is benefiting from around the clock electricity provision for the first time.

A total of 55 people live at Fair Isle and they previously only had access to power between 7.30am and 11.30pm each day.

The new system combines three wind turbine generators, a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system and battery storage.

The £3.5 million project, led by Fair Isle Electricity Company (FIEC), secured £1.5 million funding from the Scottish Government's Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) and £250,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

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Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse said: "Those of us living on the mainland of Scotland can often take reliable supplies of electricity for granted. This has never been possible for the islanders of Fair Isle. The reality of having, for the first time in their history, 24-hour supplies of electricity presents exciting prospects for the Fair Isle community, who will not only benefit from access to a reliable electricity supply around the clock, but also now have in place a new cleaner, greener energy system.

"This development is yet another example of Scotland's ability to harness its renewables potential to build a sustainable energy future which will play a significant role in powering our future, and I am proud of the role that the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have been able to play in providing 50% of the funding for this much needed project taken forward by Fair Isle Electricity Company. I wish FIEC every success and hope our investment has a truly transformational impact in improving the quality of life and economic prospects for all on Fair Isle."

(CD/CM)