News: Hydrogen mini-grid project begins in Rotherham

New Energy Focus reports on details of the revolutionary "hydrogen mini-grid" system at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham. The new Environmental Energy Technology Centre (EETC) should see all its power provided by a 225kW turbine and even when the wind does not blow, the turbine should be able to provide the building's power needs through a hydrogen fuel cell system. The pioneering development is set to be largest wind-to-hydrogen power system in the UK and, if successful, could pave the way for the use of hydrogen as an alternative power source to fossil fuels. Work on the foundations for the turbine started on August 4, with Wigan firm Allenbuild preparing the site for delivery of the turbine from Danish manufacturers Vestas next month. Newcastle-based consultancy TNEI is leading the hydrogen mini-grid project on behalf of Yorkshire Forward and the building should be producing its own power from January. Dr Stoyel of TNEI told New Energy Focus: "The foundations for the turbine have been laid, so that will be going up in the next few weeks, with the 225kW turbine supplying all the electricity over and above the building's needs. The excess will be turned into hydrogen and stored for use at a later date." The AMP already has two wind turbines operational, powering the AMRC and the new centre will house LIFE-IC, a "business accelerator" focused on new energy products and services.
AMP website
New Energy Focus article

UKTI article
Low Carbon Economy article
Greentech article
Rotherham