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Background to the H2seed Project
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles Council) has a vision to establish a hydrogen economy within the Outer Hebrides. The Hebridean Hydrogen Seed (H2seed) Project, the second phase of the Hebridean Hydrogen Park, will establish a renewable hydrogen production, storage and distribution facility by summer 2008.
The region suffers from the highest fuel costs in the UK and yet is surrounded by the richest renewable energy resources in Europe. Exploitation of this resource for electrical generation is presently constrained by the weak nature of the region’s connection to the national grid.
These circumstances represent a unique opportunity, harnessing the rich renewable and sustainable energy resources for hydrogen generation and demonstrating pre-commercial hydrogen technologies on a near-commercial basis.
Details of the vision of the Hebridean Hydrogen Park may be found on the project web-site (www.hydrogenhebrides.com).
Opportunity
The Comhairle wishes to procure at least two hydrogen ICE vehicles as the first H2seed demonstration project. The vehicles will be used as employee pool vehicles.
We are seeking expressions of interest from companies or organisations that can undertake the either of the following:
- Supply road-legal hydrogen ICE vehicles; or,
- Convert ICE vehicles supplied by the Comhairle to run on hydrogen.
Benefits
The Hebridean Hydrogen Park vision is to deliver a hydrogen based economy in the Outer Hebrides. Establishing a renewable hydrogen production, storage and distribution facility provides the basis for demonstrating a wide variety of hydrogen based technologies. Involvement in this first demonstration project offers a high profile opportunity.
The H2seed Project will
- Produce clean hydrogen from sustainable resources.
- Raise awareness of the potential of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel.
- Tangibly reduce the Comhairle’s CO2 emissions thereby improving it’s carbon footprint.
- Enhance the image of the Outer Hebrides as an innovative, environmentally friendly and dynamic region.
- Developing an alternative to the higher than average local cost of energy.
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