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ITM Power hails landmark Orkney hydrogen vehicle refuelling
ITM Power on Thursday welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association that the first hydrogen vehicle refueling in Orkney has taken place at ITM's refuelling station in Hatston.
The refueling, part of the 'building innovative green hydrogen systems in an isolated territory project' (BIG HIT), utilised locally produced and renewable hydrogen for a fleet of five, zero emission, Renault Kangoo vans equipped with the Symbio hydrogen range extender.
The AIM traded company has heralded the event as a "major first step towards creating a genuine hydrogen territory in the Orkney Islands".
Graham Cooley, chief executive of ITM Power said: "The Orkney Islands are the ideal test bed for the creation of a fully-fledged hydrogen territory with hydrogen produced and used sustainably. We are pleased to have helped develop the project and that ITM Power's equipment is part of this important European initiative."
BIG HIT is a five year project comprised of 12 participants, including ITM Power and Symbio, based across six EU countries.
Fabio Ferrari, chief executive of Symbio, said: "BIG HIT is demonstrating the huge value of a full 'Hydrogen Valley' ecosystem, a comprehensive environmental-friendly value chain that provides energy independence, cogeneration of renewable heat and electricity, as well as zero emission solutions for sustainable mobility and transportation."
Orkney was selected for the development due to its need to store excess renewable energy for use in local transport and heat, thus acting as a "blueprint" for renewable hydrogen deployment according to ITM Power.
The hydrogen is produced using excess energy from the island's over 50 MW of installed wind, wave and tidal capacity which generates over 46 GWhr per year of renewable power.
As of 1248 BST, ITM Power's shares were up 6.25% at 33.80p.