Major funding for Eday energy project

A community renewables project in Orkney has received £1.35 million from the Scottish Government’s Local Energy Challenge Fund.

Orkney Surf ‘n’ Turf will combine electricity from two tidal turbines and a wind turbine on Eday – which often produce more power than can be used in the area. The excess electricity will be used to produce compressed hydrogen, which will be transported to Kirkwall, where a specially designed fuel cell will convert the hydrogen to electrical power for buildings and berthed ferries at the harbour.

This will not only reduce harbour costs, but will also bring new employment opportunities to local communities, as well as an additional source of revenue to be invested in local projects.

Surf ‘n’ Turf is the sixth project to be supported by the Local Energy Challenge Fund, which has already offered funding of over £20 million to initiatives that will reshape how energy is delivered and used in communities throughout the country.

Further details in The Orcadian next week.