The Outer Hebrides have prepared for the hydrogen transition since 2001 through the Hebridean Hydrogen Strategy (H2S).  Phase 1 established Scotland’s first Hydrogen teaching and research lab – a collaboration between the local municipal authority (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) and the local university (Lews Castle College).  The Hydrogen Lab, which consists of 25 fuel cells and a combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell system, trains students in the application and integration of fuel cells.  Facilities continue to be enhanced – a recent addition being an off-grid renewable energy powered electrolyser to enable training and research into the integration of renewable and H2 technologies with electrical networks. This was funded through the “Scottish Renewable Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Support Programme” and designed and supplied by project partners Pure Energy^TM Centre.

The H2SEED project, phase 2 of the H2S, aims to establish the infrastructure required to support commercial scale use of hydrogen in the remote island community that is the Outer Hebrides.  The scheme produces hydrogen from renewable electricity sources and provides an innovative solution to the local problem of excess electrical power of a grid constrained biogas engine at the recently commissioned municipal waste treatment plant.  Demonstration applications are also being developed.  The project is supported by both national and local government - the Scottish Government has invested $500,000 and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has invested just under $1,000,000 - and the local research establishment, Lews Castle College.  An emphasis for H2SEED has been the selection of technologies that are available on the market and have been previously proven.

The paper will describe the impetus for, and aims of, the project, share our experience of the technology selection process, and show how H2SEED is helping to build capacity just before the commercialization of hydrogen.  Also we will show why and investment by local authorities in remote islands and communities can provide a simple and quick route for early commercialization of hydrogen technologies.