BIG HIT
Building Innovative Green Hydrogen Systems in Isolated Territory: a pilot for Europe (BIG HIT) project has received €5m EU grant funding provided through the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCHJU) and expands on the work delivered through the Orkney Surf ’N’ Turf initiative. BIG HIT aims to demonstrate that Orkney Islands can become a replicable Hydrogen Territory, using curtailed renewable electricity generated locally can produce hydrogen to be used as clean energy for heat and transport. A major benefit of the project is to replicate further deployments of renewable energy with fuel cell and hydrogen technology in other isolated or constrained territories.
Hydrogen will be produced in Shapinsay by a hydrogen electrolyser using the curtailed energy generated from the Shapinsay Community Development Trusts (SDT) community wind turbine. Some of the hydrogen will be used to heat the Shapinsay primary school reducing the reliance on fossil fuels traditionally used for heat.
In addition to the local community projects BIG HIT will demonstrate that hydrogen has a wider value to the local economy and will be transported to the mainland of Orkney on the inter-isles ferries through the use of a specially designed hydrogen tube trailers, which can be transported by local hauliers. The end uses for the hydrogen on the mainland of Orkney will include auxiliary power and heat for ferries in Kirkwall harbour, fuelling a fleet of electric/hydrogen hybrid vehicles through a purpose built hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) and potential to heat additional buildings in Kirkwall. The use of the hydrogen will be managed through the establishment of an Orkney hydrogen trading group.
Summary of outcomes
Orkney
- Hydrogen tube trailer.
Shapinsay
- Hydrogen PEM electrolyser.
- Hydrogen Catalytic Boiler.
Kirkwall
- Hydrogen fuel cell.
- Hydrogen refuelling station.
- Hydrogen electric hybrid vans.
