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Announcement
The Outer Hebrides’ membership of the European Regions and Municipalities Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (HyRaMP) was confirmed at the latest meeting of the HyRaMP Board in December 2008.
The Outer Hebrides joins 25 other European Regions and Municipalities active in hydrogen and fuel cell development.
Membership is recognition of the commitment of the regional authority, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, to developing a hydrogen economy in the Outer Hebrides. The Hebridean Hydrogen Park project has established a teaching and research facility in collaboration with Lews Castle College (a college of the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Project) and a renewable hydrogen production, storage and distribution facility that will provide the basis for demonstrating a wide variety of hydrogen based technologies.
HyRaMP is a representative body providing a coherent, distinguishable and influential voice for European Regions and Municipalities with a particular focus on the European Joint Technology Initiative for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH JTI). The Partnership allows its members to play a key role in the implementation of strategies that aim for the uptake of FCH technologies and particularly that of the FCH JTI.
Background to the Hebridean Hydrogen Park Project
The Outer Hebrides suffer 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).
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