Sprint95m Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/2847385/aberdeen-hydrogen-double-decker-buses1/ The trial has proved it to be viable. Not far from me as the crow flies, so to speak, Orkney Islands council are looking at hydrogen powered ferries (as well as motor vehicles). Also on Orkney, a prototype hydrogen powered passenger plane is being developed. Interesting times. Ian. Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Jones Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Bit light on technical detail, but seem to be electric buses with hydrogen fuel cells rather than batteries. Interesting technology. Though hydrogen is rather low energy density and somewhat scary stuff being very inclined to sneak out of small gaps and very easy to light! I appreciate the irony of Aberdeen - UK capital of the oil industry...... Link to post Share on other sites
thebrookster Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Yeah, Orkney were pretty much forced into it. They produce far more power than they require from wind, and in addition they are also one of the main wave power testing hubs (and some of the test rigs are massive!) However they only have a small interconnector back to the mainland so they were left with the question as to what to do with all the excess. Until last year (I think) residents who owned electric vehicles could charge them for free, and this is partly why they have moved to building hydrogen powered ferries etc. I believe a chunk of Kirkwall is already powered via hydrogen, they started production a while back and needed somewhere to use it. I am following with interest, I discovered this several years ago when I was lassoed into the current relationship, herself's father is heavily involved in one of the wave power projects. Phil Link to post Share on other sites
2.5piman Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 Hello Phil, that is repeated in Scotland itself as they have more wind power capacity than the grid can carry when wind is strong. This means that Scottish wind farms are paid to not generate (At a higher cost than if they were paid for their power). Alec Link to post Share on other sites
Sprint95m Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 2 hours ago, 2.5piman said: Hello Phil, that is repeated in Scotland itself as they have more wind power capacity than the grid can carry when wind is strong. This means that Scottish wind farms are paid to not generate (At a higher cost than if they were paid for their power). Alec To expand to your comment Alec, if I may.... The links to the national grid are being upgraded (the subsea link from Wick to Blackhillock(near Keith) cost £1.1 billion. The Beatrice Offshore Windfarm creates so much electricity that it has it's own subsea link. BOWL cost £4.5 billion). There is currently work going ahead to connect Shetland to Wick via a subsea cable to permit the export of electricity from Shetland). Scotland has over 90% of the UK's freshwater, hence the huge hydroelectric production. There are projects under way to expand on this. As these come into use, the requirement to switch off wind farms is reduced because the wind generated electricity is used to pump the water back to the hydro schemes' upper reservoirs. Banking. Ian. Link to post Share on other sites
zetecspit Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 I like the fact technologies are being trialled. Hydrogen has a few issues, as Nick points out it is a true escape artist, but it should be possible to build leak-free systems. And teh energy density is indeed low, something people forget. But teh most troubling one is the inefficiency of the electricity-hydrogen-electricity or indeed heat process. 20% (that is the very best figure, most are worse) is lost by electrolysis. 40-60% efficiency of a fuel cell, or 25% or so with ICE. Those figures are terrible compared to batteries. But then the batteries are another heap of pain. I am hopeful that a good solution can be found. And good to see Mr Biden is taking climate change seriously. Though any good work he does could easily be undone in 4 years time if he pushes the American people too far too fast. But getting the worlds largest economy on track would be great news. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
spitfire6 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 I assume all the Subsea links are two cable DC? Link to post Share on other sites
Sprint95m Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 6 hours ago, spitfire6 said: I assume all the Subsea links are two cable DC? The ones from Wick are DC, yes Ian Link to post Share on other sites
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