The Hydrogen Office Project (2008-2014)

The building was powered by a novel renewable and hydrogen energy system, using renewable energy directly when available, whilst storing surplus energy as hydrogen to meet a proportion of the building’s needs during periods when renewables were unable to meet demand.

The Hydrogen Office energy system included a 750kW wind turbine, 30kw electrolyser, 10kW hydrogen fuel cell and a geothermal source heat pump. The Hydrogen Office also housed a 5kW hydrogen boiler, which provided space heating in the nearby Fife Renewables Innovation Centre. A public electric vehicle charging station is still available onsite today.

The project demonstrated and promoted the potential of storing surplus renewable energy as hydrogen, for a range of on-demand applications that require reliable, quiet, and very clean energy sources. The project raised the profile of renewable, hydrogen and fuel cell technology by storing surplus renewable energy for times when renewable energy may not be available (i.e. insufficient renewable energy supply or peak demand), or for an application for which renewable energy may not be suitable (i.e. transport or uninterruptible power supply).

This ability to guarantee an energy supply enables renewably-generated hydrogen to be used for higher-value applications, creating a locally-generated and low carbon alternative to oil and gas; reducing future green house gas emissions and our reliance on imported energy from countries like Iraq, Libya and Russia.

To achieve its aims the project  worked to: improve access to and understanding of the technology by key stakeholder groups; improve confidence in the reliability and robustness of emerging technologies through independent verification and testing; encourage future take-up of the technology by promoting its benefits and support initiatives aimed at skills development and education.

Hydrogen Office Project Funders