CASE STUDY // LEVENMOUTH COMMUNITY ENERGY PROJECT
Fuel for thought Hydrogen technology is at the heart of the revolutionary Levenmouth community energy project in Fife, which is addressing the provision of low-carbon transport and energy storage By Andrew Brister
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here’s a quiet revolution taking place in the historic county of Fife. The region is busy positioning itself as a leader in the energy sources of the future. Fife became a centre of heavy industry in the 19th century, with coal mining fuelling its success. Today, it’s no longer coal that’s driving the county: it’s a combination of renewable and hydrogen energy. Fife’s Levenmouth community energy project aims to shape the future prosperity of local communities through several green hydrogen schemes. The project receives £4 million from the Scottish Government’s allocation of the Local Energy Challenge Fund, and is said to be the world’s foremost demonstrator of innovative applications of hydrogen derived from renewable sources. The project is a partnership between Bright Green Hydrogen, Fife Council, Toshiba, Leven Valley Development Trust, Fife College, BOC, Green Business Fife, Community Energy Scotland and the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA). The community energy project builds upon the development of the Hydrogen Office in Methil (see box) to make Levenmouth the home of Europe’s largest mixed fleet of 6
hydrogen dual-fuel vehicles (up to 17) and refuse-collection vehicles. Hydrogen refuelling is to be installed at both the Hydrogen Office and at the Fife Council vehicle depot at Bankhead in Glenrothes. The visionary project positions Levenmouth at the heart of the next generation of clean energy evolution. This not only brings economic benefits to the area but is a demonstration of how hydrogen can decarbonise energy in Scotland and help secure future energy supplies for generations to come. Renewable partner Hydrogen is stored at the Methil site and reconverted to electricity at times when onsite wind and solar generation is low. This pattern will help offset the intermittency of
‘It’s not just a demonstrator project for hydrogen technology. It’s also about energy storage and the commercial supply of hydrogen for use in vehicles’
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