The eco-warriors of the Orkney Islands

The Orkney Islands get the full force of nature – for good and bad. Photographer LUIGI AVANTAGGIATO went to investigate how they are embracing renewable energy.

The 20 islands of the Orkney archipelago lie in the North Sea, about 15 kilometres off the northeast coast of Scotland.

It can be a tough place to live. Violent storms hit throughout the year, the rain knocking down shacks and the wind tearing tiles from the roofs. Residents are known to say that you don’t need an umbrella; you need a riot shield.

There are some advantages, however. Forty years of experimenting with alternative energy from the wind, the sun and the sea has allowed Orkney residents to become totally self-reliant. Not only do they no longer need to bring power in via undersea cable from mainland Scotland, they are producing enough to start sending the excess back. The wind farms are owned by the community and generate energy for local villages.

Drive around the island – with an umbrella or a shield – and you’ll see plenty of signs of renewable energy at work.