Orkney island: What might a green future look like?

Now for decades, Orkney has been a testing ground for energy innovation - a place that generates around 120 percent of its electricity needs through renewables.

So trials on the islands have provided useful lessons in the battle to decarbonise the UK's power systems.

We’ve been to the Scottish archipelago to see what our green energy future could look like.

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[JonathanPorterfield]

Great to have the channel 4 guys here in Orkney 😊

[foxisq]

The pv panels and battery is a tried and tested system. Have it myself and depending on your power company the pay back can be about 5 years....that's in Republic of Ireland. The system will last for over 25 years so the savings are huge.

[briangriffiths]

Good to see Jonathan on national news as he knows his subject and is the kind of person that should be advising government due to his practical experience with domestic renewables and BEVs.

[bilpat]

MPs who get 'donations' from fossil fuel providers wont allow this to happen

[beyondfossil]

That homeowner should start his own YouTube channel showing how to buy and setup all that! My hat off to him!

Excellent report by the way and Orkney Island has some really smart ingenious people living there!

[anthonysaunders]

My energy bill for the last two months has been £7 and £5 respectively, until you add the £60 standing charge.

[adrianaspalinky]

But so good to see Johnathan Porterfield🎉 see you at Everything Electric

[Julian_Wang-pai]

Wonderful - a lovely bright moment in my day, thank you C4 🙂

[squee]

Could have started this 15 years ago.. great to see the tech finally getting off the ground..

[tom]

Here’s old 70 year old me trying to reduce my bills and save the planet so I install solar panels. Next thing electricity prices go through the roof. I’m pleased I have done so. What do they do, they more than double the standing charge. So now they charge me more for not using electricity than I paid when I used it. The standing charge is more than 50% of my bill. Can’t win can we.

[Keithlfpieterse]

Always interesting and hopeful when individuals take steps in areas where GOVERNMENTS FEAR TO TREAD! Thanks for a positive tale about LIVING GREEN!

[nobotshere]

Had solar and batteries for three years now, no paid for any energy since March.

[garetteasdale]

I have 2 pv panels and solar hot water on my roof, my usual bill about 18 euros per month in portugal

[abulfaiz]

Interesting report really enjoyed watching, informative

[PaulSavage-cp]

I love my solar/battery setup. I put nearly3.7Mwh into the grid and that nearly paid my gas bill. Last month my total energy bill (gas and electric) was £19.92!

[chrysalis]

My energy use was also just over £15 last month but the standing charge was £27!

[damonchampion]

Great video. Would be great to see the empty landscape rewilded as well 💚

[asmallsectionoflife]

Technology really is incredible nowadays!

[salient]

Experimentation, great to see, only way we find a path forward

[trsu]

And he still says "decarbonise" at the end. Like the man says at 2:41, we don't need to do it, if the carbon is obtained renewably from the atmosphere - to where it returns. Everything can be NetZero if we 'recarbonise' 'retrochemicals'. Decarbonisation has always been a red herring.