ITM Power has won the tender to deliver an integrated hydrogen system for use at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) tidal test site on Eday, Orkney, Scotland.
The total contract value of the project is GBP 1.79 mln, ITM Power’s press release reads.
The system’s principal component is a 0.5 MW polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser with integrated compression and up to 500 kg of storage.
The 0.5 MW electrolyser will be used to absorb excess power generated by the tidal turbines testing at EMEC.
The hydrogen gas generated will be compressed and stored, with some of the gas being used in hydrogen fuel cell to provide backup power to critical EMEC systems.
According to ITM Power, the remainder of the hydrogen gas will be used off-site by a further project being developed separately which plans to absorb output of a local community wind turbine operated by Eday Renewable Energy Ltd.
Neil Kermode , Managing Director at EMEC, said: “This is an innovative way to tackle the shortcomings of the local grid which is holding back marine energy in Orkney. It will allow us to not only pilot the production of hydrogen fuel from tidal energy, but will allow surplus renewable energy on the island to be used without having to rely upon the inadequate grid.”
ITM Power is a UK-based company that specializes in the manufacture of integrated hydrogen energy systems.
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Image: EMEC