It’s 100 years since Kirkwall Town Council took the initiative to bring mains power to the town. The subsequent decades saw the establishment of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board which built the power station of today and gradually extended the electric network around the islands. The vital work of keeping the power going through all weathers, from the machinery in the station to the hydro poles in sometimes hurricane-force winds or drifting snow, has been respected and appreciated by the whole community.

Today, with the Orkney grid carrying electricity from a mix of sources, local and national, and the Kirkwall power station providing back-up in standby mode, the achievements of 100 years are marked by the unveiling of a plaque funded by SSE Transmission. The plaque will be unveiled by Jimmy Grant, former station manager in Kirkwall, who retired in 2017 after 40 years’ service

Everyone is warmly welcome. Please note the change of date and time.