“Powered by People”: A New Exhibition Celebrating Orkney’s Renewable Energy Story

Powered by People, a new exhibition at Stromness Museum, 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, Powered by People aims to engage visitors in conversations around energy fairness, innovation, and community impact.

“People often feel disconnected or even disillusioned about renewable energy due to rising energy costs,” said Katy Firth, Stromness Museum’s Climate Change Exhibitions and Outreach Officer: “This exhibition brings the conversation back to the people who have made and continue to make Orkney a remarkable place for renewables, from the small scale household level, to community level, to ‘world first’ pioneering projects.”

Powered by People 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 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, by the RAF, a powerful example of how one person can have a huge impact on energy innovation.

Powered by People also features some large-scale objects, in the Pilot’s House section of the museum. For instance, a Lucas Freelite, a turbine seen quite commonly on farms in Orkney in the first half of the 20th Century was restored with help from Orkney Men’s Shed volunteers. In contrast, it is displayed next to a modern test version of a tidal turbine blade, visually demonstrating a century of renewable energy development.

“We’ve partnered with scientists to bring in perspectives from marine research which gives us new insights into local natural history,” added Katy. “The renewables industry is helping us understand more about our environment as well.”

Powered by People 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 alongside its renowned archaeology and wartime legacy.

Powered by People runs until April 2026 and everyone is welcome to explore, reflect, and be inspired by the islands’ remarkable renewable energy journey.