Comhairle looks to a green future

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar hosted a seminar last week looking at the opportunities that hydrogen could offer the islands.

The manufacture of hydrogen is extremely energy intensive but, with the best wind resource in the northern hemisphere, the Outer Hebrides are well positioned to manufacture hydrogen from renewable energy.

As the comhairle continues to build on its hydrogen and wider energy strategies, a study has been commissioned, supported by Community Energy Scotland, to look at where additional hydrogen opportunities may lie and how they can be accessed.

This work will run in parallel with the comhairle’s ground-breaking hydrogen project – Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub (OHLEH) – which has been shortlisted for an award at this year’s VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.

OHLEH is a partnership between the comhairle, Scottish Salmon Company, Pure Energy Centre and Community Energy Scotland that generates green hydrogen and oxygen from fish farm waste at the Creed Park Recycling Centre in a true, circular economy.

Councillor Uisdean Robertson, chairman of the comhairle’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, commented: ‘The comhairle has been active in hydrogen since 2010 when an electrolyser was installed at Creed Park Recycling Centre.

‘Now we are powering our own hydrogen refuse collection vehicle, one of only five in Scotland, from electrolyser hydrogen and hydrogen produced by the innovative OHLEH project.

‘In addition, over the past few months, the comhairle has engaged with commercial partners to explore the use of hydrogen produced in the islands in local heat networks.’