Andrew Wade

First ever hydrogen from tidal power produced in Orkney

News

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has produced the world’s first ever tidal-powered hydrogen, using an electrolyser at its test facility in Orkney, Scotland.

hydrogen

(Credit: Colin-Keldie)

Using prototype tidal energy converters, the ITM Power electrolyser is able to split water into its constituent components of hydrogen and oxygen. According to EMEC, the 0.5MW ‘polymer electrolyte membrane’ (PEM) device is capable of producing up to 220kg of hydrogen gas (H2) every 24 hours, with the system also containing storage for up to 500kg.

“Whilst the initial driver behind buying an electrolyser was to provide a storage solution to circumvent local grid constraints, the purchase has sparked off other pioneering projects around Orkney looking to use hydrogen in various means,” said Neil Kermode, managing director of EMEC. “So we’re now looking towards the development of a hydrogen economy in Orkney.”

hydrogen

(Credit: Colin-Keldie)

“One of the most promising uses of hydrogen is as a fuel for transport as it emits no carbon when it is consumed and, providing it’s generated by clean renewable energy sources, it becomes a carbon neutral fuel source. Therefore, we could see green hydrogen, over time, replace polluting fuels in our cars, vans and ferries.

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