The Hydrogen Office project aims to raise the profile of renewable energy and energy efficiency in reducing climate change and guaranteeing energy security. The project also showcases the huge possibilities of the renewable energy industry in Scotland.
- 25 November 2013
The project promotes the potential of renewable energy sources, such as hydrogen, by storing surplus renewable energy. This surplus will later be made available during periods when such energy may not usually be available, such as peak demand times. The result is a guaranteed renewable energy supply, which is a low carbon alternative to oil and gas; thereby reducing greenhouse emissions, and reliance on those countries rich in oil and gas.
Innovative, energy-efficient building design
The Hydrogen Office itself is made up of a renewable and hydrogen energy system, which includes a 750 kW wind turbine, a 30 kW electrolyser, a 10 kW hydrogen fuel cell and a geothermal source heat pump. The office is powered directly by renewable energy and it stores any excess energy as hydrogen, for those periods when there is not enough renewable energy available.
The building also includes other features that foster energy efficiency, such as; increased insulation to minimise heat loss, natural ventilation so air conditioning is not required, the building receives a maximum amount of sunlight reducing the need for artificial lighting, and a ground source heat pump that maintains most of the heating and hot water in the building.
The wind turbine alone has already attracted attention, it is being nicknamed “Poppy” by local school children, and creates enough energy each day to power a four bedroom home for a year.
Realising Scotland’s renewable energy potential
In order to meet its goals, the project is working to improve access to, and understanding of, renewable energy technologies by key stakeholder groups. Through independent verification and testing of these technologies it aims to boost confidence in their reliability and robustness. It is also encouraging the future take-up of technologies by promoting its benefits and supporting initiatives aimed at skills development and education.
The project also has a more local element as it aims to give Scotland a competitive advantage in the area of renewable energy in order to secure its wealth of resources, of which only one sixth of its current potential is used annually.
“With emphasis on securing reliable clean energy to meet our future energy needs; The Hydrogen Office provides an ideal facility for the test and demonstration of innovative technologies that will help meet the challenge.”
Brian Nixon, Director of Energy, Scottish Enterprise Fife
The project itself has so far created four jobs. However as work continues it is expected to help attract investment and thereby create green jobs in Scotland in a field that caters to an increasingly expanding market.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “The Scotland Hydrogen Office – building a sustainable future” is GBP 915 433 (EUR 1 088 858), with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 600 000 through priority 1 “Research and innovation” of the “Lowlands and Uplands of Scotland” Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period.