Edinburgh-based Logan Energy (www.loganenergy.com), a hydrogen energy systems specialist, recently welcomed a delegation from Spain to see its technology operating at the Levenmouth Community Energy Project in Fife.

A renewable energy balancing system and two mobile hydrogen refuelling stations (HRSs) provide fuel for the project’s fleet of 17 hydrogen vehicles and balance the ‘private wire grid’ for the Methil Docks Business Park.

The lessons learned from this real-life application over the past six months for both energy storage and transport have given Logan Energy an insight into designing, supplying and installing hydrogen energy systems.

The visit by the Aragon Hydrogen Foundation and Calvera (a high-pressure compressed-gas transport and storage systems company) was intended to develop collaboration for opportunities in the UK, Spain and throughout Europe.

It also cemented relationships formed during an SDI trade mission earlier this year to Zaragoza — organised by the Aragon Hydrogen Foundation and the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association.

Bill Ireland, CEO of Logan Energy, said: “It was fantastic to welcome these two leading organisations to Scotland and showcase the real-life application of hydrogen technology at the Levenmouth Community Energy Project.

“Collaboration is key, as we increase the role of hydrogen in the clean-energy revolution.

“What we have achieved during the first six months at Levenmouth demonstrates the huge potential of hydrogen as a stand-alone multi-sector energy resource that also supports existing energy networks.”

The systems generate and store hydrogen when there is excess renewable energy available.

The hydrogen is then used to power a fuel cell to provide power to the private wire network when there is insufficient renewable energy being generated.

The two HRSs provide fuel to Europe’s largest fleet of hydrogen hybrid vehicles, which includes vans and refuse collection lorries.

The energy-balancing system designed, built and commissioned by Logan Energy comprises a 250kW Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolyser, a gas storage arrangement, a 100kW PEM fuel cell and a smart control system.

The relocatable HRSs are self-contained modules, based on ISO shipping-container dimensions, so they can be readily transported and easily relocated from site to site.