Reports and findings
SIC Annual Climate Change Report 2024-25
The 2024/25 SIC Annual Climate Change Report is the second annual progress report following the development and approval of the Council’s Net Zero Route Map, Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. It details how we have progressed towards our climate targets set within our Net Zero Route Map, how we have progressed activity set out in the action plan within the report year, and assesses the progress made towards the recommendations included in the 2023/24 SIC Annual Climate Change Report. It also sets out our priority areas for climate related activity for the following report year, 2025/26.
Follow the links below to read or download the 2024/25 SIC Annual Climate Change Report and Appendices.
- SIC Annual Climate Change Progress Report 2024/25
- Appendix A.1 – Climate Change Programme Priorities for 2025/26
- Appendix A.2 – Progress Report – CCS Action Plan – Sept 2025
- These documents are refreshed weekly and can be accessed from the following link: Climate Change Programme Priorities for 2025/26
- Appendix B.1 – Emissions Breakdown – Data Source
- Appendix B.2 – Emissions Breakdown – Emissions Factors
- Appendix B.3 – Emissions Breakdown – Calculated Emissions
SIC Annual Climate Change Report 2023-24
The 2023/24 SIC Annual Climate Change Report is the first progress report following the development and approval of the Council’s Net Zero Route Map, Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. It details how we have progressed towards our climate targets set within our Net Zero Route Map, and how we have progressed activity set out in the action plan, within the report year. It also sets out our priority areas for climate related activity for the following report year, 2024/25.
You can watch our information video to learn more about the report and its key findings or download the full report and appendices below:
- SIC Annual Climate Change Report – 2023-2024
- Appendix A – A Closer Look At Progress and Future Plans
- Appendix B – SIC Climate Change Programme Management and Governance
- Appendix C – 2023-2024 Emissions Breakdown
Rural Energy Hubs Project
The Rural Energy Hubs Project aims to use the pilot hub to develop a model for establishing a wider network of rural energy hubs across Orkney and Shetland, and to demonstrate how decarbonisation can be developed, embedded and accelerated locally.
Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Reporting
The Sustainable Scotland Network is "Scotland's public sector network on sustainability and climate change" and was established to support the public sector in developing sectoral collaboration and reporting processes. All public bodies in Scotland have duties to report on and demonstrate efforts to achieving net zero status by 2045. Shetland Islands Council contributes regularly to this network and the reporting efforts.
Shetland's Climate Change Reports are available to view on the SSN website, as is the latest Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Reporting: Analysis Report 2023/24.
Shetland's Net Zero Route Map
In November 2022, the Council approved the Shetland Net Zero Route Map produced by Ricardo Energy & Environment.
The Route Map provides two possible pathways for Shetland to mitigate its emissions. It details the measures most appropriate for reducing Shetland's emissions and models their impacts, graphically showing how they change over time.
Shetland Islands Council's Net Zero Route Map
The Shetland Islands Council Net Zero Route Map provides a framework and plan for the Council as an organisation to reach the Scottish Government's target of becoming net zero by 2045.
The Route Map details what measures are needed and when, and models the impacts of these measures on emissions on three possible pathways.
Assessment of Shetland Islands Council Land Carbon Sequestration
In response to the high emissions from land that the Net Zero Route Maps discovered, the Council commissioned an Assessment of SIC's Land Carbon Sequestration to understand the offsetting potential of its holdings and operating area.
As well as the final report a number supporting appendices are also available for download:
- Appendix A: Methodology
- Appendix B: Carbon Stock and Flux Coefficients
- Appendix C: Baseline Carbon Flux Summary Reports
Shetland Community Conversations on Climate Change
In early 2022, the Council and Ricardo held a number of online workshops to gain insight into the communities' main priorities and concerns around climate change, how to become a low carbon society and, how best communities could help and be helped to achieve this.
The Shetland Community Conversations on Climate Change Report summarises the key discussion points, observations and reflections from these conversations.
Climate Conversation 2021 Survey
In May 2021, we ran our first survey to better understand just what Shetlanders thought about climate change.
We also produced a Survey Results Infographic as well as our Climate Conversation 2021 Survey Findings report.
ORION
ORION stands for Opportunity for Renewable Integration with Offshore Networks. This was a strategic framework connecting organisations with a common ambition: To transform the Shetland region into a centre for secure and affordable clean energy.
ORION’s first strategic partnership was signed in April 2020 with Shetland Islands Council and the Net Zero Technology Centre joining forces to work on an energy hub concept. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) was brought in later that year, adding further skills and resources to the strategic partnership, including access to HIE’s network of renewable energy expertise. In March 2021, The University of Strathclyde joined the partnership bringing extensive expertise, especially in the areas of power systems and marine, as well as links with other universities and industry. SIC created a dedicated Future Energy team working on ORION along with representatives from the Net Zero Technology Centre, HIE and the University of Strathclyde. Together they formed the core of the ORION team, and its board and project governance structure.
ORION’s key aims have been to encourage collaboration with Shetland stakeholders and projects with a net zero focus. This was to help generate clean and affordable power, help eradicate fuel poverty, protect the environment and provide job opportunities throughout the isles’ supply chain. A significant part of ORION involved exploring ways of storing and transporting hydrogen to markets in the UK and elsewhere in the world. This included looking at the development of port facilities at Sullom Voe and other sites including Dales Voe and Lerwick. ORION has been nationally recognised in key Scottish Government policy documents, such as in National Planning Framework Four which you can access here. The Council and other partners continue to build on the successes of ORION.
The Neptune Programme
The Neptune Project was a feasibility study that aimed to develop a desk-based decision modelling and support system digital tool to help analyse, scope and develop ORION marine opportunities.
The findings and reports are available at the ORION website.
Electric Bus Trial
Shetland Islands Council has published findings from its first electric bus trial – which shows the vehicles are viable in Shetland.
The 27-seater Sigma bus was used on routes across mainland Shetland from February to June 2025.
The £120,000 trial has been fully funded by UK Government agency Innovate UK and aimed to see how the technology works on the ground, considering our climate, roads, and topography.
The report finds electric bus operation is feasible, but several barriers remain. These include the high up-front cost of the vehicles, constrained electricity grid access for charging, and a lack of space or capacity for charging vehicles in bus depots.
You can read the full report here.