The Lerwick District Heating Scheme serves the capital of Shetland. The islands are exposed to the winds from the North Atlantic and North Sea resulting in high heating demands. The local authority saw an opportunity to develop an energy recovery plant solving its waste problems whilst also providing an energy source under local control. The scheme started in 1998 during a period of falling oil prices and uncertainty. After a slow start the scheme started gaining a positive reputation and sold itself by word of mouth. Over the next 8 years the scheme expanded into new areas and could justify the addition of a thermal storage tank. It has become one of the largest schemes in the UK where district heating schemes are rare. By 2007 the waiting list and demand for heat had grown so large that no new applications were connected unless for social needs. By 2011 the scheme has reached a critical stage. To maintain the momentum of adding on more customers, new heat sources have to be developed. The scheme is owned by Shetland Charitable Trust and operated by Shetland Heat Energy and Power (SHEAP), a company wholly owned by the Trust.