Brae Rural Energy Hub
Transforming an ageing building into a sustainable community energy hub
Brae Rural Energy Hub (BREH) is one of seven Innovate UK-backed pilot projects in the Net Zero Living programme. It is testing a place-based approach to overcoming non-technical barriers to decarbonisation, centred on transforming Brae Youth Centre into a more efficient and sustainable community hub.
The original building was nearing the end of its lifespan and was expensive to run because of high energy costs. The scale of refurbishment needed was beyond the budgets of the organisations using it. Brae Youth Centre and the Brae Hall Committee were therefore central to planning the improvements, with regular meetings throughout the project to help ensure the building would remain sustainable, fit for purpose and available to the local community.
The wider pilot brought together the building refurbishment, an electric bus trial, e-bike hire, electric car hire through the Shetland Car Club and new electric vehicle charging infrastructure, alongside a district heating feasibility study for Brae. It also built collaborative relationships with the Living Well Hub, Northmavine Community Development Company, the Bike Project and Bressay Development Trust.
The project established Brae Rural Energy Hub Community Interest Company, led by eight locally based volunteer directors and supported by two employed staff. This created a local organisation able to take the work forward beyond the initial pilot.
Before refurbishment
After refurbishment
Impact
The refurbished hub now brings several community and low-carbon services together in one place. These include energy advice, Shetland Car Club services, electric vehicle charging and e-bike hire, alongside a cafe, co-working space and rooms that other organisations can use. The project has created two employment opportunities in Brae and given the community a more efficient building from which services can continue to develop. See before and after refurbishment images above.
E-bike hire provides a tangible example of the model in practice: a locally available service that helps people try lower-carbon transport while connecting the energy hub's environmental aims with practical community benefit.
"We are really pleased to receive the news of this funding award for the Rural Energy Hubs Project, that will address 'non-technical' barriers to decarbonisation, with a clear focus on community benefit. This funding is an opportunity to pilot and demonstrate new sustainable ways of living and working in a rural setting based on strategic planning. Local projects like this will have many benefits for the Shetland community as well as helping to reach Shetland's net zero targets."
Moraig Lyall, Chair of Shetland Islands Council's Environment and Transport Committee
Learning and next steps
Installing the rapid charger and connecting the renewable energy upgrades took longer than expected because of metering issues. Although these delays were difficult for the project to control, the experience highlights the need for energy infrastructure and metering requirements to be addressed as early as possible. Sharing this learning with the distribution network operator can help show where current processes create barriers for similar community-led projects.
Contribution to the Shetland Partnership
- Participation: Local committees and community organisations helped shape the refurbishment and the wider energy hub model.
- People: The hub protects valued community facilities, provides new services and has created two local employment opportunities.
- Place: The project tests practical ways of supporting lower-carbon living in a rural Shetland community.
- Money: Energy-efficiency improvements address high running costs and support the longer-term sustainability of the building and local organisation.