Wärtsilä will supply a 68 MW battery energy storage system in Lerwick, Shetland. The project is called The Shetland Standby Project. It will boost energy security and cut emissions. The system will help Shetland switch to cleaner power. The project will launch in 2026.
Firstly, the battery will let Lerwick Power Station go into standby mode. This will reduce fossil fuel use. It will also help add more wind energy from Shetland’s wind farms. If the transmission line to mainland Scotland fails or is under maintenance, the battery will keep power flowing. Also, homes and businesses on the islands will have no interruptions.
”As European grids grow increasingly interconnected and interdependent, projects like this signal the importance of energy storage for grid stability,” said Tamara De Gruyter, President, Wärtsilä Energy Storage and EVP, Wärtsilä.
The battery system uses new technologies. It offers Distribution Fault Ride Through (DFRT) and standby services. These features keep the grid stable during faults. Wärtsilä’s GEMS Digital Energy Platform will manage the battery. It will react quickly to changes in supply and demand. The system’s power output is higher than Shetland’s local demand. This makes the grid more stable and reliable.
”This project combines a battery with an AC chopper in Shetland and will maintain security of supply, ensuring homes and businesses continue to receive the power they need in the event of a transmission system outage, while reducing emissions and utilising more renewables in Shetland,” stated James Basden, Founder Director, Zenobē.
This is Wärtsilä’s third big battery project with Zenobē. Their 200 MW project in Blackhillock started in March 2025. It is one of Europe’s largest battery systems. Additionally, it provides synthetic inertia services, a world first. Another 300 MW project is in progress in Kilmarnock.
The Shetland Standby Project will use Wärtsilä’s Quantum storage technology. Wärtsilä will also provide a 15-year service agreement. This ensures the system runs efficiently and reliably for years.
