This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Euro funding for Hydrogen Office
28/04/2005
Plans for an office building powered by cutting edge
renewable energy technology will be awarded European
funding, it was announced today.
Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson said the
Hydrogen Office will receive £1.1 million as part of a
package worth more than £12 million for various projects
across the East of Scotland.
Developed by the Business Environment Partnership and
Scottish Enterprise, the Hydrogen Office will be powered by
Hydrogen Fuel Cells and will demonstrate the practical
applications of this rapidly developing technology.
It will be built in Midlothian although a final decision
on the intended site has not been taken.
Mr Wilson said:
"This is yet another exciting round of European funding
that will support cutting edge projects across the East of
Scotland. The money will create jobs and provide support
and facilities for several different communities. As Deputy
Enterprise Minister I am often reminded of the real
difference European funding can make and this latest round
of funding is no different.
"The Hydrogen Office is a particularly exciting project.
We are all aware that renewable energy has a vital role to
play in combating climate change and ensuring a secure
supply of power for generations to come. The Hydrogen
Office will be a practical, working example of how
renewable sources such as hydrogen can power whole
buildings in an efficient, clean and environmentally
friendly way."
Other projects supported during the latest round of
funding include:
- Arbroath Harbour Environmental
Enhancements project will receive £193,600 andaims to
improve the quality of the streetscape and environment
in and around the harbour.
- The Construction Centre at Lauder
College will receive £1 million. This centre will
provide enhanced training infrastructure for the
Construction industry which is a major and significant
contributor to the Scottish economy. The training
provided will include carpentry and joinery, painting
& decorating, gas engineering and future skills
training in new and alternative energy sources.
The resident population of the area supported by the
East of Scotland European Strutcural Funds (ESF) area is
1.2 million and ESF will provide £448 million worth of
support between 2000 and 2006. This will provide 17,000
jobs and safeguard a further 15,000 jobs. To date £162
million has been spent in the area.
Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in
the universe. It is an energy carrier, not an energy
source, meaning that it stores and delivers energy in a
usable form. Hydrogen can be derived from a range of
sources such as water, hydrocarbons and biomass and other
forms of renewable generated electricity.
Hyrdogen's chief benefit is that the only by product of
its combustion is water. The lack of toxic emissions mean
the environmental impact of hydrogen is benign.
A fuel cell is a device that uses hydrogen (or
hydrogen-rich fuel) and oxygen to create electricity by an
electrochemical process. Existing fuel cells can also use
other fuels - for example natural gas and methanol.Fuel
cells are cleaner and more efficient than traditional
combustion-based engines and power plants. When pure
hydrogen is used to power a fuel cell, the only by products
are water and heat.
Fuel cells have the potential to replace the internal
combustion engine in vehicles and provide power for
stationary and portable power applications. They can be
used in transportation applications, such as Fuel cells
powering automobiles, buses, cycles, and other
vehicles.