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€5m for Orkney hydrogen

Community-owned renewable electricity generation in Orkney takes a massive step towards a local hydrogen future - thanks to a successful bid for European funding, built upon the Surf 'n' Turf hydrogen project that Community Energy Scotland is leading.

The new BIG HIT project will see five million euros of investment in hydrogen as a fuel for transport and heating. Making the hydrogen will absorb up to 1.5MW of community-owned renewable electricity that the local grid has too little capacity to use.

Orkney has been chosen as the only project across the whole of Europe.

Existing hydrogen development was one prerequisite to apply, so it was Surf 'n' Turf that opened the door for communities and energy technology partners to bid for the funding.

Surf 'n' Turf will work closely with BIG HIT. CES Project Manager in Kirkwall, Mark Hull, said:

"CES's Kirkwall team is looking forward to working with local partners and companies from across Europe to scale up hydrogen as a clean fuel that helps keep the value of Orkney's renewable energy close to home.

"In particular, it's great to welcome a second community generator – and another CES member – into the hydrogen network that Surf 'n' Turf has established."

Surf 'n' Turf is supported by Local Energy Scotland through its Local Energy Challenge Fund.

BIG HIT is supported by the European Commission Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.