Innovate UK is providing a grant of £430,332 to design and integrate a hydrogen diesel dual fuel injection system onboard a commercial ferry in Orkney.
The hydrogen will be produced by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) from renewable energy sources available on the islands to power the ferry, which operates between Kirkwall and Shapinsay.
The 12-month HyDime (Hydrogen Diesel Injection in a Marine Environment) project, formally started on 1 August 2018, and aims to provide a stepping stone to de-risk and kick-start future hydrogen marine projects.
The project will be led by Ferguson Marine Engineering, and executed by a consortium consisting of Orkney Islands Council, High Speed Sustainable Manufacturing Institute, EMEC and Lloyds Register.
Ferguson Marine will work with Ultra Low Emission Mileage Company to develop the design of the technology in order for it to work in tandem with existing systems to power auxiliary units onboard vessels.
Ferguson Marine chief naval architect of Chris Dunn said: “Over recent years Ferguson Marine has been at the global forefront of green marine propulsion technology development.
“This exciting project is yet another positive step on that journey, joining up with world leading technology innovators to move us one step closer to our goal of delivering a zero-emission, hydrogen powered commercial ROPAX ferry by 2020.”
High Speed Sustainable Manufacturing Institute project manager Tristan Coats said: “We believe that developing a hydrogen economy within Scotland and the greater UK is essential for decarbonising transportation and energy production. HyDime is an exciting first step on this journey.”
EMEC hydrogen manager Jon Clipsham said: “Orkney has an abundance of renewable electricity which the local grid cannot cope with. This led EMEC to look into alternative ways to store and use electricity so that Orkney’s wind, tidal and wave power potential could be fully realised.
“Having invested in an electrolyser to generate hydrogen from Eday’s tidal and wind resources, EMEC has been exploring various opportunities to support the development of a hydrogen economy on the islands.
“The potential for developing hydrogen powered vessels is one of the most exciting prospects, particularly given the number of carbon-intensive inter-island ferries located here. We’re really excited to be part of this project to create a ferry run on a carbon neutral fuel.”
Orkney Island Ferries said: “Orkney islands council and the ferry services are very proud to be part of this ground-breaking project; which may lead the way to reducing the many form of pollutants released when using hydrocarbons and lead onto communities producing some of the energy for their own transport.”