A ground-breaking £4.7 million research and demonstration centre powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology at Methil in Fife has cemented Scotland’s position at the forefront of the world’s multi-billion pound renewable industry, said First Minister Alex Salmond.
The Hydrogen Office, which forms part of Fife’s flagship energy park, is expected to become one of the planet’s leading locations for innovation and development of renewable technology.
Hailing its opening as an “exciting breakthrough,” Mr Salmond said the facility proved that Scotland is now the “green energy power house” of Europe.
The new unit houses a novel hydrogen production system, which captures surplus energy from a wind turbine.
It then stores it as hydrogen for when the wind isn’t blowing, using a high efficiency hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity from the stored energy when required.
Billed as providing a renewables resource “unparalleled” in Europe, the technology is expected to have significant potential to further leverage Scotland’s renewable energy reserves.
“This is a hugely exciting development for Fife and for Scotland’s low-carbon industries as we work together to forge the new green economy,” Mr Salmond said.
“The Hydrogen Office is playing a leading role in the development of a range of carbon-cutting technologies from the provision of clean energy for electricity, heat and transport to storing renewable power from other sources such as wind, as demonstrated at the site.”
Mr Salmond described the centre as “world-leading.”Scotland’s competitive advantage”Scotland has a competitive advantage in renewable power sources,” he continued. “The development and deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies across the energy sector can help accelerate the achievement of a truly low-carbon economy-supporting skilled jobs in Scotland and helping protect the planet for generations to come.”
Over the course of a year, the on-site turbine will not only generate sufficient electricity and hydrogen for the heating and lighting requirements of the Hydrogen Office, but is also expected to export sufficient electricity to meet the annual energy demands of the Methil Docks Business Park.
Since commissioning in September, the turbine has exported more than 350,000kwh to the National Grid.
Mr Salmond said the ground-breaking facility would ultimately help reduce the impact of climate change and support the government’s ambitious renewable energy targets, which could see Scotland producing up to 10 times its own electricity requirements in a generation.
The fact Mr Salmond was in Fife to celebrate the opening of the new office just days after announcing online retailer Amazon was bringing 750 new jobs to the region was, the first minister said, a cause for celebration.
“It has not been a bad few days for the Kingdom of Fife,” he reflected. “The future is developing before our eyes. The Proclaimers once sang Methil No More, well now it is a case of Methil leading the way.”
The Hydrogen Office was constructed following an innovative partnership involving Scottish Enterprise, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Alsherra Investments Ltd, Fife Council, the Scottish Government and the Energy Saving Trust.
Through Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Government contributed £2.8 million toward the development costs.
Lena Wilson is Scottish Enterprise’s chief executive.
“The benefits which this highly innovative, low carbon energy facility presents are tremendous,” she said.
“For businesses, it offers high spec, energy efficient office space to encourage the development of renewable technologies.
“Environmentally, it will help to reduce carbon footprint by promoting cost effective energy saving measures, supporting the development and adoption of cleaner and more efficient technologies, and for Scotland’s economy it will boost the development of green jobs.”
Jim Keiller, director of developer Alsherra Investments Ltd, said, “The opening of the Hydrogen Office is a major focal point in the developments at Methil Docks and the energy park.”