Marine renewable powerhouse

The PowerHouse, a Scottish global centre of excellence launched earlier this year by Opportunity Cromarty Firth is joining forces with the Port of Cromarty Firth, the University of St Andrews, ZEM Fuel Systems and Low Emissions Resources Global to examine ways of decarbonising the maritime transport sector.

The project will test how green hydrogen technologies can be used to minimise the maritime industry’s environmental footprint, with the aim of developing a cleaner fuel to be used out at sea.

“The opportunities presented by green hydrogen are vast and its importance to not only the future of the maritime industry but the UK as a whole cannot be underestimated,” said Bob Buskie, chief executive of the Port of Cromarty Firth.

“Together with our partners, we hope this project can change the face of the maritime industry and make it an exemplar of clean, green transportation methods for decades to come.”

Hydrogen potential

Hydrogen is seen as a clean alternative fuel, but hydrogen gas has low volumetric energy density under standard conditions. Therefore, an efficient liquid hydrogen carrier is needed such as ammonia, which could act as the perfect “hydrogen derivative fuel” due to its sufficient energy density and availability of existing large infrastructure.

The project aims to develop a novel Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) system to efficiently convert ammonia as a liquid hydrogen carrier directly into water and nitrogen, yielding electric power. Over seven months, project partners will conduct trials to monitor performance at scale of the SOFCs system and establish longer-term durability testing.

If successful, this system will lead to major advances towards decarbonising the maritime sector in a bid to help Scotland and the UK meet its net-zero climate targets.

This initial project is set to last until March 2022. It is being funded by the UK Department for Transport’s flagship Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, delivered in partnership with innovation agency, Innovate UK.

The Powerhouse, based at Tern House, in Alness Point Business Park, Easter Ross, was launched with the ambition of ensuring Scotland becomes a world leader in future renewable energy technologies by bringing together the foremost specialist groups in the country and beyond.