Hydrogen Unst

Unst: a smart on/off grid solution

An application submitted by Unst Partnership Ltd was approved in April 2015 by CARES Infrastructure and Innovation Fund for £25,000 to undertake a groundbreaking project in the renewable energy field.

Project progress

FEB 215
Application Submitted

APRIL 2015
Application approved, grant awarded.

APRIL 2015
Meeting with Ross Jones, Local Development Officer for CARES, and PURE Energy Center to discuss initial project plans.

JUNE 2015
Meeting between Unst Partnership and Pure Energy Centre to draw up final decisions and direction for project.
Project due to get underway near the end of the month.

JULY 2015
Project underway.

NOVEMBER 2015
Progress meetings with PEC and works to date reports.

Working in partnership with Pure Energy Centre, the grant will fund a feasibility study. The project proposes to assess the feasibility of producing hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen gases on Unst using renewable energy in a constrained geographical location. Not only will the production of these gases on Unst be investigated, but methods in which these gases can be directly and positively applied to industries and markets present on Unst will also be identified. This project is also supported by Shetland Islands Council.

This study looks to take advantage of energy storage technologies and deploy large scale renewable generation with the production of nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen gases for potential users, thereby unlocking the grid.

The outcomes from this feasibility study will not only provide reliable and viable information to Unst, but will also provide a foundation to similar communities throughout Shetland and small communities worldwide who experience difficulties in renewable energy projects due to grid restrictions and geographical barriers.

On completion, a strategic plan will be put in place with the Unst community at the forefront of forward planning for renewable energy on Unst.