The demonstration was carried out at EMEC’s onshore site on the island of Eday. Multiple energy flow scenarios were trialled. During high generation periods, power from the O2 was used to charge the battery system, supply electricity directly to the electrolyser and export power to the grid. When tidal generation was low, the battery system discharged power to the electrolyser to keep the electrolyser operating.
This approach effectively smoothed out the cyclical nature of tidal energy, enabling on-demand electricity to power the electrolyser for hydrogen production. In addition, battery power was used to support operations at EMEC’s onshore Caldale site.
This is the first time globally that tidal power, vanadium flow battery storage and hydrogen production technologies have been integrated into a single energy system. This approach could help overcome future grid constraints and open up new offtake opportunities, paving the way for more resilient, responsive renewable energy systems.
All planned operational scenarios were completed, demonstrating the flexibility of the integrated system. Additional safety mitigation measures were put in place during the demonstration and proved effective. As an example, the team responded to an electrolyser trip within seconds to prevent a full site shutdown. The demonstration validated the 3-in-1 concept, highlighted areas for improvement such as battery management and electrolyser controls and underscored the value of increased automation to minimise human error and enhance system reliability.
The demonstration was part of the Interreg North-West Europe funded project, ITEG, which explored how tidal and hydrogen production could be combined as a solution in coastal areas to overcome grid constraints. It has also been supported with funding from Scottish Government via Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and by the EU-funded FORWARD2030 project which has completed detailed monitoring study into how to optimise the integration of tidal energy and battery storage with hydrogen and other offtake routes.
“HIE and Scottish Government are pleased to have supported the deployment of innovative technologies at EMEC which have combined in this ground-breaking demonstration” said Graeme Harrison, Head of Marine Energy at Highlands and Islands Enterprise. “The project illustrates how the highly predictable flows of power from tidal streams can be successfully harnessed in a variety of forms to meet the energy needs of business and communities throughout Scotland and beyond.”
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