Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) is collaborating with the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) to decarbonise heat and power at Kirkwell Airport in Orkney using green hydrogen technology.
The innovate project will see a novel hydrogen combustion engine, provided by Doosan Babcock, being installed and demonstrated at the airport this year. Doosan Babcock was contracted alongside its combined heat and power (CHP) manufacturer 2G, for the provision of the hydrogen combustion technology. 2G’s hydrogen-ready CHP system will be coupled with the airport’s existing heating system to meet the heating and power requirements of the main airport buildings. The CHP plant will use green hydrogen supplied by EMEC to generate electricity as well as recover and use by-product heat to deliver an efficient and comprehensive energy solution.
This is the first 2G 100% hydrogen CHP system installed in the UK and an important step in enabling HIAL to meet the Scottish Government’s target for the Highlands and Islands to be the world’s first net zero aviation region by 2040.
The decision to use green hydrogen technology is in response to an energy consumption study, delivered by EMEC through the ReFLeX Ornkey Project, which found that space and water heating demand in the airport terminal represented the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions after aircraft operations.
“Hydrogen is rapidly emerging as a sustainable solution for the decarbonisation of the economy and a key piece of the energy transition picture,” said Scottish Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse. “This exciting project, the first of its kind in the UK, demonstrates the introduction of hydrogen in novel ways, using innovative equipment from Doosan Babcock’s plant in Renfrewshire to decarbonise the airport at Kirkwall, and has the potential to be replicated by airports across Scotland as we seek to decarbonise the aviation sector in Scotland.”
HIAL’s Managing Director, Inglis Lyon described the project at Kirkwall Airport as “an exciting next step towards decarbonising our operations and enabling greener air services.”
He added: “HIAL aims to be a leader by implementing new, innovative technology to provide sustainable transport and carbon neutral travel options. We look forward to working with EMEC and other partners as move towards a greener future.”
In addition to decarbonising the airport itself, HIAL is leading a £3.7 million project to develop a sustainable aviation programme that will operate for an 18-month period and which could transform short flight travel between remote communities.
