Surf ’n’ Turf

The Surf ’n‘ Turf initiative was the first of its kind in Europe and the pioneering being carried out within the project led the way to additional funding for hydrogen feasibility to continue in Orkney by means of the BIGHIT project. The Surf ’n’ Turf project received in total £1.46 million through the local energy Scotland Local Energy Challenge Fund for heat and transport.

The project has been instrumental in the initial investment in the infrastructure required in establishing a hydrogen economy in Orkney that is replicable in other locations around the world. For the first time, Surf ’n’ Turf is bringing together renewable energy from tidal resources and locally curtailed wind energy to produce hydrogen on Eday. The hydrogen produced can potentially be used to heat the local school or it can be transported or stored in the specifically designed hydrogen trailers, developed as part of the project. Local hauliers have been trained to transport the hydrogen trailers between the isles using the local inter-isles ferry services.

As Surf ’n’ Turf aims to establish hydrogen as part of Orkney’s energy mix a hydrogen fuel cell has been situated on Kirkwall pier which has been designed to fulfil training needs for transportation of hydrogen by or at sea. Orkney College UHI has designed a hydrogen safety awareness course to provide necessary training on island as the project will maintain management of shipments of hydrogen as part of the ongoing hydrogen economy in Orkney. Establishing end uses for the hydrogen produced will be instrumental in creating a healthy hydrogen economy on Orkney.

A link to the Surf 'n' Turf website is available from the 'Related Sites' section of this page.