The Scottish government has granted GBP 1.35 mln in funding to Orkney Surf ‘n’ Turf community renewables project.
Orkney Surf ‘n’ Turf project will combine electricity from 2 tidal turbines and a wind turbine on Eday, which at times produce more power than can be used in the area.
The excess electricity will be used to produce compressed hydrogen, which will be transported to Kirkwall.
There, the fuel cell will be used to convert the hydrogen back to electricity that will power buildings and berthed ferries at the Kirkwall harbor, it is stated in the Scottish government’s press release.
The funding comes from the Local Energy Challenge Fund, and Surf ‘n’ Turf represents the sixth project to be supported by the Fund that has, so far, offered funding of over GBP 20 mln to the similar energy efficiency projects.
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “This project will have the only training facility in the UK with a programme to support the use of hydrogen in marine vessels. It will help Kirkwall harbour operate from a green energy source which will help reduce the costs.”
Mark Hull , Community Energy Scotland, commented: “This project reflects a huge amount of hard work, cooperation and community will and will be the start of making a real difference for energy use and benefit in Orkney.”
A second round on the Local Energy Challenge Fund has been launched and the Scottish government encourages the next wave of innovative projects to come forward.
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Image: EMEC/Illustration