Arcola Energy powers UK hydrogen fuel cell project

Arcola Energy has completed delivery and installation of a unique hydrogen fuel cell system, as part of an innovative energy storage project in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. Arcola Energy and its German partner Proton Motor joined forces to design, build and install a 75kW hydrogen fuel cell system as part of the island’s innovative Surf ‘n’ Turf project. The project sees excess renewable electricity converted into hydrogen on the island of Eday, which is then stored and transported to Kirkwall on the Or
September 29, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Arcola Energy has completed delivery and installation of a unique hydrogen fuel cell system, as part of an innovative energy storage project in the Orkney Islands, Scotland.


Arcola Energy and its German partner 6861 Proton Motor joined forces to design, build and install a 75kW hydrogen fuel cell system as part of the island’s innovative Surf ‘n’ Turf project. The project sees excess renewable electricity converted into hydrogen on the island of Eday, which is then stored and transported to Kirkwall on the Orkney mainland. Here the fuel cell converts the hydrogen back into electricity to provide renewable power to ferries while they are in port and heat to buildings on the harbour, with zero local emissions.

Later in the year a fleet of hydrogen-powered vans, supplied by Arcola Energy, will also use Orkney’s new hydrogen supply.

 The ‘walk-in’ hydrogen fuel cell system is configured as a training facility, allowing local people to develop the skills required the future operation and maintenance of hydrogen fuel cells on boats. Arcola Energy will initially provide training to the operators of the fuel cell and later support the training of local maintenance staff and crews of marine vessels.

Related Content

  • March 13, 2014
    Aberdeen opts for APT EV charging
    Aberdeen City Council in Scotland has chosen electric vehicle (EV) charging from APT Technologies to support its aim to reduce air and noise pollution through encouraging the use of more sustainable and quieter transport modes. The contract also includes a three-year maintenance package. The first installation saw eight double 7kW units, two wall-mounted 7kW units and one double mixer post with 7kW and 3kW power supplies installed into local authority premises to service fleet vehicles and give council e
    Read More
  • January 7, 2022
    Maryland targets 2030 e-bus transition
    Maryland DoT MTA to change 50% of diesel/hybrid buses to zero-emission in next eight years
    Read More
  • March 17, 2016
    Inland waterways can de-stress city roads
    David Crawford looks at an under-utilised solution for city-centre deliveries. The use of rivers and canals for moving freight is a well-established mode in North Western Europe, where it can take advantage of an intensively developed network. In the Netherlands, 40% of the total volume of goods transported internally goes by water; the figure for Flanders (the neighbouring Dutch-speaking region of Belgium) is 11.5%.
    Read More
  • April 23, 2012
    VW presents electric mobility research
    Volkswagen, in cooperation with six project partners and the German Ministry of the Environment, is presenting the current status of the ‘Fleet study in electric mobility’ that was initiated in July 2008. The primary goal of the project, which runs until June 2012, is to consistently utilise renewable energy sources for electrically powered vehicles. Within the framework of the fleet study, Volkswagen is using a total of 20 of the latest generation Golf Variant TwinDrive cars as research vehicles.
    Read More

Highlighted Content