Hydrogen Valleys are geographical areas where clean hydrogen is produced and locally used by households, local transportation and industrial plants. Hydrogen Valleys are the cornerstones of a viable hydrogen economy and are listed on the Mission Innovation Hydrogen Valley Platform that was launched in 2021, with 21 valleys in Europe. The counter currently stands at 98 valleys globally with 67 located in the EU. Out of the European Hydrogen Valleys, 17 have received support from the EU research and innovation programmes totalling EUR 262 million.

Mission Innovation map of Hydrogen Valleys (from https://h2v.eu/hydrogen-valleys)

The European Commission published Towards a roadmap for accelerating the deployment of Hydrogen Valleys across Europe: challenges and opportunities. This is a working document which outlines the strategic priorities and actions that are currently ongoing or planned to support the development of Hydrogen Valleys:

• The Commission will support a ‘Hydrogen Valley Facility’ through the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership under Horizon Europe, to help early-stage Hydrogen Valleys mature to the point where they can start construction.
• Building on the recently relaunched European Hydrogen Observatory, a new Clean Hydrogen Knowledge Hub will provide stakeholders with the information they require, allowing for automated data analysis and reporting to support knowledge-based decision making.
• Following the recent revision of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, the Commission will work closely with Member States and stakeholders to implement the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of the ERA Pilot on Green Hydrogen.
• The Commission has approved four successive waves of hydrogen Integrated Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs).
• Together, these initiatives aim to raise over EUR 43 billion from a blend of public and private funds, supporting more than 120 projects involving nearly 100 European companies.
• A European Hydrogen Academy has been launched in January 2024, with an EU contribution of EUR 3 million. The European Commission intends to transform it into a European Net-Zero Industry Academy as announced in the Net-Zero Industry Act, providing a broad portfolio of education, training and reskilling.
• The Commission will intensify the cooperation with international partners on clean hydrogen deployment and the development of hydrogen markets, in particular through the Clean Hydrogen Mission under Mission Innovation.
• REPowerEU, the EU scheme aiming to reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels, has topped up the contribution from Horizon Europe to the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking with EUR 200 million to accelerate the roll-out of Hydrogen Valleys across Europe. The additional EUR 200 million invested by the Commission in the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking is being used to boost the support to Hydrogen Valleys across Europe.

The proposed ‘Hydrogen Valley Facility’ is aimed at accelerating the number of Hydrogen Valleys in Europe. The facility, funded through Horizon Europe and implemented by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, will include project development assistance to support Hydrogen Valleys at various levels of maturity. Whilst the focus will be on EU Members States and countries associated to Horizon Europe, such project development assistance may inform also the support to renewable hydrogen development in partner countries. In addition, it will include activities aiming to ensure that the knowledge gathered, and the lessons learnt from Hydrogen Valleys (including skills) are retained, collected, analysed and widely disseminated and used in a structured and efficient way. The Facility will also be used to maintain and update the Hydrogen Valley Platform.

The working document highlights the need for training and education are to increase the number of skilled people to realise the development of the Hydrogen Valleys, including for regulators and local administrations implementing permitting rules. As part of the policy priorities of the Pact for Skills, the new European Hydrogen Academy has been set up, coordinated by the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. It will last for 54 months, having kicked-off last January 2024, and funded with an EU contribution of EUR 3 million from Horizon Europe. The consortium counts with 17 members and the project focuses on 200 occupational projects, aiming to produce university-type courses, facilitate the reskilling and upskilling of workers and create a network of schools and higher education institutions. National initiatives are also being set up to train workforce or scholars in the field of hydrogen technology.

While originally being a European research and innovation concept, Hydrogen Valleys are now spreading across the globe. The Clean Hydrogen Mission under Mission Innovation is a global cooperation forum for interested governments and that is co-led by the Commission, and has set the target of developing 100 Hydrogen Valleys across the globe by 2030. Given the closer interlink with deployment, they could be developed in cooperation with the Clean Energy Ministerial H2 initiative. As the global hydrogen market develops, it will be important to connect Hydrogen Valleys. Cooperation on Hydrogen Valleys outside the EU may take place with international partners on renewable hydrogen deployment and the development of hydrogen markets, in accordance with the EU policy priorities and legislation.

View Hydrogen Valleys working document here.

The Hydrogen Electric Integrated Drivetrain Initiative (HEIDI) £12.7m APC project led by Hydrogen Scotland member Bramble Energy has reached a significant milestone with the completion of concept designs for the hydrogen system and double-decker bus and is now moving into the manufacturing phase.

Early testing of the Bramble Energy fuel cell stack shows promising results for power output at bus level, paving the way for this innovative fuel cell design to be used in heavy duty transport applications. Bramble’s flexible fuel cell design has allowed the bus to maintain a capacity of 86 passengers, similar to current London double-deckers, without compromising service for system installation.

Dr. Vidal Bharath, CCO at Bramble Energy commented: “This new milestone for HEIDI brings us one step closer to revolutionising public transport with our innovative PCBFC™ technology providing a viable path to net-zero emissions for commercial vehicles. The ability to maintain passenger capacity whilst achieving significant range and rapid refuelling times showcases the practicality and scalability of our solution.”

Simulations carried out by Hydrogen Scotland member the University of Bath predict a range of up to 280 miles on UK bus routes using 350 bar hydrogen. This surpasses the typical daily distance of London buses (100-200 miles) and offers refuelling times similar to diesel or petrol alternatives (around 8 minutes). Bramble Energy, with its partners, will now move into the next phase of HEIDI, manufacturing key components, including the fuel cell stack, fuel cell system, and hydrogen storage.

Bramble Energy is the lead partner of the HEIDI project which has received £6.3m funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre, matched by industry to £12.7m. The UK-based consortium is developing a hydrogen-powered double-deck bus, using a first-of-its-kind fuel cell technology from Bramble Energy together with Aeristech’s high efficiency air compressor, and Equipmake’s motor power electronics and battery management system. The powertrain is being optimised through vehicle simulations carried out by the University of Bath.

Bramble PCBFC™ stacks optimised to fit available space (credit Bramble Energy)

The Bramble PCBFC™ fuel cell stacks can be produced in almost any size and arrangement according to the end customer’s needs. The result is an unparalleled cost-effective solution to supporting and accelerating the decarbonisation of public transport and to improve air quality in towns and cities around the world.

Bramble Energy was selected for this fuel cell bus project due to its revolutionised fuel cell design and manufacturing process. Using a patented-protected printed circuit board technology, it can create bespoke fuel cell stacks in a matter of days at scale and low-cost. Bramble’s PCB technology eliminates the requirement for a number of complex and costly components found in a typical electrochemical stack, which not only simplifies the supply chain but also does not require vast retooling for manufacture.

Dr Vidal Bharath, CCO at Bramble Energy added: “Fuel cell technology can deliver a viable net zero solution that lends itself to commercial vehicles where downtime needs to be limited. This consortium of partners means that we will be able to deliver a world-leading hybridized powertrain, utilising our innovative low cost PCBFC™ technology for the bus sector, where there needs to be a viable electrified solution that can deliver on cost and scalability.”

Automated production for high volume and low assembly costs (credit Bramble Energy)

The significant reduction in the cost of automotive fuel cells – by 70% since 2008 – mirrors the strides made by pioneering technology companies such as Bramble Energy and the wider industry towards more efficient and scalable production processes. This evolution from capital-intensive and slow production cycles to more economical and faster production methods enhances the viability of fuel cell technology. Bramble Energy has developed their unique printed circuit board (PCB) fuel cell – the PCBFC™ which can be manufactured in almost all printed circuit board (PCB) factories worldwide.

Visit here for further information.

HIAL Procurement Tenders for 2024

Between June and October 2024, 31 contracts for maintenance work at airports across the Highlands and Islands will be available for businesses to tender for, including Wick John O’Groats.

The contracts, with values of between £50k and £15 million include a range of services to support HIAL airports across a number of locations. A full list of the contracts and values is available by clicking here. Further information can also be found on the HIAL website by clicking here.

HIAL is encouraging all businesses with the skills and experience to apply for the contracts through the open tender process, with Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing at Barra, Campbeltown, Islay and Tiree competed through the invitation to quote process.

HIAL is committed to promoting and enabling sustainability outcomes to benefit not only HIAL but also society and supporting local economies while minimising damage to the environment. HIAL will be looking to ensure that bidders can provide sustainable benefits whilst also ensuring that response times are met to keep our airports operational.

Interested businesses must:

• Register as a supplier on Public Contracts Scotland (www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk)
• Note their interest by emailing procurement@hial.co.uk
• Attend the Information session on MS Teams.
• Wait to receive notification of tender opportunity via Public Contracts Scotland.

Information to inform and support businesses through the tender process is available to help as many companies as possible to participate. An online information session about the 31 contract opportunities has been organised and full details of this session is included within the PINs.

A video has been produced to help guide businesses through the process – click here to view.

Head of Procurement at HIAL, Sarah Shelley said, “These contracts are a fantastic opportunity for businesses to work with HIAL to provide day to day, routine and reactive maintenance services across our airports. We would encourage any company, small or large, to register their interest as a potential supplier and tender for relevant contracts as they become available on the Public Contracts Scotland website.”

More details are available by emailing procurement@hial.co.uk

GMG Energy, the rapidly expanding Highland timber products specialist which contributes significantly to the circular economy in the Highlands and the Northern Isles, has lent its support to the Royal Highland Educational Trust’s (RHET) first online Meet the Lambs initiative aimed primarily at early years schoolchildren throughout the Highlands and Islands.

The RHET “Year of Sheep” campaign, supported by the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (RNIC) has developed a range of teaching resources for use in schools aimed at educating children about food production in Scotland and the contribution made by farmers to the countryside.

Over four days, from 22 to 26 April, over 6000 youngsters from 257 schools met lambs online from five different farms across the region and had plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

Malcolm Morrison, Director of Halladale-based GMG Energy said: “As both a sheep farmer and business owner, I wanted to provide financial support to this RHET initiative since in my view it is important to give our young people an enjoyable opportunity to really understand how the rural community contributes to the welfare of us all.”

Fran Matheson, RHET Highland said: “It is so important we bring the farming story into the classroom and touch on talking points like animal welfare, the sustainable uses of wool, and cover off even the questions you just don’t expect from a young audience.

“Many of the Year of Sheep Farm Visits in the 2023/2024 school term would not have been possible without the support of our supporters like GMG Energy, NFU Mutual, QMS and many other agricultural businesses who have given generously and in kind.”

GMG Energy, the rapidly expanding Highland timber products specialist which contributes significantly to the circular economy in the Highlands and the Northern Isles, has recently invested £150,000 in state-of-the-art sawmill equipment which takes its larger timber and processes it into posts, rail, cladding and purlins, or structural roof members.

As a major plank of its business model, the company is committed to replacing every log of timber that it uses, and plants 10,000 new trees a year, which grow to maturity in 35 years. It far exceeded this target in 2021, planting in the region of 20,000 trees.

Norscot Joinery Ltd, a leading provider of high-quality timber frame kits, windows, and doors in the Highlands, is proud to announce a new charity partnership with Maggie’s, a renowned organisation dedicated to providing free cancer support and information to people living with cancer.

This partnership signifies a commitment by Norscot to give back to the community and support a cause that touches many lives. Over the next year, Norscot will be supporting Maggie’s through fundraising initiatives, volunteer efforts, and raising awareness of the exceptional cancer support services they provide.

To kick off this year’s donations, Norscot is thrilled to contribute £500, providing essential funding for a Cancer Specialist to listen, answer questions and guide people to the right information at the centre. Additionally, Norscot team members will participate in the ‘Paws for a Cause’ fundraising event in July, where they will aim to walk 60km, with or without their dogs, donating £1 for each kilometre walked. Prizes will be awarded to the Top Walker and the Best Furry Companion!

Jason Fraser, General Manager at Norscot comments:

“We are proud to partner with Maggie’s for the coming year. The work they do is incredibly important, and we are committed to supporting their mission in every way we can. This partnership reflects our values and dedication to making a positive impact in our community.”

Seonaid Green, Maggie’s Highlands Centre Head said:  “We are delighted to have been chosen as Norscot’s charity partner and so grateful to them for everything they have already done to help us provide vital psychological and emotional support to people living with cancer, as well as family and friends, across the whole of the Highlands. As a charity, the majority of our funding comes from voluntary donations so this kind of support is invaluable and we look forward to welcoming the Norscot team to our centre.”

Maggie’s offers free expert psychological, practical and emotional support to people with cancer and their families and friends in the Highlands through its centre at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and its other centres across the UK. Their network of warm and welcoming centres provides a full programme of support that has been shown to help people live better with cancer.

For 40 years Norscot has been manufacturing superior quality Timber Frame Kit Homes and replacement, made-to-measure windows and doors from its state-of-the-art factory and showroom in Bower, Caithness. It also owns a purpose-built showroom, sales office and storage facility on the Carse Industrial Estate in Inverness.

With the need for culture organisations to diversify and expand their skills more acute than ever, Culture & Business Scotland have unveiled a series of training opportunities and events designed to help the nation’s creative professionals equip themselves with new knowledge.

The charity, which works to facilitate mutually beneficial connections between the culture and business sectors, will host a series of upcoming events giving organisations well-rounded education in a range of subjects including fundraising through storytelling, legacy giving and the principles of board membership.

Next week, a short course on board membership taking place on Tuesday 4th June will give new trustees and board members access to two informative, hands-on sessions introducing them to their new roles and responsibilities.

On Tuesday 4th and Tuesday 11th June two sessions will explore the five stages of the copywriting process, while additional training courses will help participants to deeper their understanding of corporate sponsorship and discover the benefits and possibilities of legacy giving campaigns.

Along with full-length courses, Culture & Business Scotland run a series of Insights Webinars designed to empower individuals and organisations in the culture sector with knowledge and expertise from industry experts, and networking events, allowing attendees the chance to connect and collaborate with like-minded professionals in the culture sector.

David Watt, Chief Executive of Culture & Business Scotland said: ‘Our programme of events is designed to help both members and non-members to expand their skillsets and knowledge and empower them to feel confident in all aspects of their work. Thanks to expert guidance and structured, practical sessions, participants will gain a solid foundation in skills that are crucial in the evolving landscape of Scotland’s culture environment’.

Individuals and organisations interested in attending an event can find further information here: https://www.cultureandbusiness.scot/training-events/

Businesses and apprentices in the north Highlands can look forward to developing new skills for a greener future, thanks to additional support from the West of Orkney Windfarm.

The windfarm developer – which is planning a major offshore windfarm 25km off the Sutherland coast – has donated £50,000 to support a new apprenticeship programme.

The funds will go to FutureSkills, an apprenticeship grant scheme designed to tackle skills shortages and drive investment in new opportunities for businesses and young people in Caithness and north Sutherland.

The initiative is being led by the Caithness Business Fund and will offer eligible businesses the opportunity to access grant support of up to £24,500 over a maximum period of three years, towards employment and associated training costs of an apprentice.

It was established in March this year with initial funding from NRS Dounreay and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

The announcement was made last week (May 22) as members of the West of Orkney Windfarm team visited Caithness for a series of meetings including Scrabster Harbour Trust, Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Wick John O’Groats Airport and JGC Engineering and Technical Services.

Stuart McAuley, Project Director, West of Orkney Windfarm, said:

“The West of Orkney Windfarm has an ambition to deliver a world-leading energy project which will create long term social and economic benefits for businesses and communities in the north of Scotland.

“This will include employment opportunities through the construction phase and for many years of operation, and we would like as many of these jobs as possible to go to local firms. It is terrific to see local businesses already embracing this exciting new world.

“This donation is an investment in this future and will help up-skill young workers so they can participate in Scotland’s offshore wind energy industry – which will become a major force in the years ahead.”

In addition to the apprentice scheme support, West of Orkney Windfarm has kick-started a number of other initiatives in Caithness, Sutherland and Orkney including a £1 million research and innovation programme at EMEC, a £900,000 pan-industry programme to support ten new STEM coordinators across the UHI partnership, and £125,000 to enable up to seven local companies to take part in the rigorous 12-18 month Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) development programme.

Trudy Morris, Executive Director of the Caithness Business Fund and CEO of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, managing agent of the Fund, said:

“Caithness Chamber has been engaged with the West of Orkney Windfarm for a number of years now and we are delighted they are able to support this excellent apprenticeship scheme.

“It’s open to businesses that can demonstrate a strong commitment to hosting a modern apprenticeship and targets SMEs with the aim of facilitating new apprenticeship opportunities to stimulate business growth and overcome potential financial barriers.

“I’d encourage local firms to apply.”

For more details, please visit the fund’s website here: www.caithnessbusinessfund.com

Farr North Community Development Trust and Caithness Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to reach out to businesses in the northern Highlands to raise awareness of opportunities for receiving support when hiring apprentices.

The Farr North Apprenticeship Scheme is managed by the Trust and is supported by a grant of around £100,000 from the SSE Renewables Strathy North Community Fund.  The scheme offers eligible businesses up to £15,000 over a three-year period towards the costs associated with employing and training an apprentice.  In some cases this can be combined with the Caithness Business Fund to bring the overall level of support to over £24,000.

Apprenticeships provide a cost-effective way to upskill and expand the workforce. Taking on an apprentice can be a smart investment, benefiting both the business and the local skills base.  But as a business in the north, where do you begin?

A good place to start would be Caithness Chamber of Commerce.  The Chamber offers a huge range of help and advice to businesses across the north (not just in Caithness!) and they have links and contacts with agencies that could help you.  Through this network the Chamber can help you to decide if an apprenticeship would be right for your business, help to identify suitable training opportunities for your apprentice and help you find the right person for your company.

Find out more on about The Farr North Apprenticeship Scheme on the Caithness Business Fund website.

David Shearer, SSE Renewables Community Investment Manager commented:

“Investing in young people is a particular focus for our community funds and we have a number of apprenticeship programmes available in Sutherland.  The apprenticeship programmes ensure that there are viable employment opportunities to retain young people in the local area and also helps to ensure that the local economy benefits from thriving local businesses.”

Simon Lee, Manager of Farr North Community Development Trust commented:

“Farr North is working to develop vibrant and resilient communities.  We are delighted to be able to work with the other SSE apprenticeship programmes in Sutherland and working with Caithness Chamber of Commerce brings even more opportunities to support local businesses, develop workforce skills, and encourage our young people to stay in the area.”

CASE STUDY

GMG Energy and Finlay Mackay Modern Engineering Apprentice.

Nestling in the Strath of the river Halladale, GMG Energy is an ambitious timber processing company established by Malcolm Morrison in 2016.

Finlay began his apprenticeship with the company in 2022 whilst studying at the Engineering Maintenance framework at UHI.  He is now working towards his SVQ3 work-based qualification.  Malcolm is delighted with his apprentice:

“He’s a bright kid, learns quickly and is a great asset to the company.” He enthused recently.

Finlay is equally enthusiastic about the experience:

“I feel I’ve really landed on my feet.  GMG Energy has given me a huge range of opportunities to apply the knowledge I get from college.  I’m gaining experience, I’m learning and I’m earning!  What could be better?”

Businesses in the region have opportunities to thrive by investing wisely, upskilling their workforce, and embracing apprenticeships. It’s heartening to see the positive impact on both businesses and individuals

Local businesses have united to back the Highland Historic Commercial Vehicle Road Run. Scheduled for Saturday, 4th May 2024, this annual event will showcase a procession of 80 vintage commercial vehicles, raising funds in support of the Scottish Air Ambulance[1].An ode to the rich history of commercial automotive heritage, the Highland Historic Commercial Vehicle Road Run has traversed the Highlands for the past 14 years, gathering support and raising funds for charitable causes and organisations such as the Blood Bikers and Marie Curie.

This year, the road run will embark on a picturesque expedition through the North Highlands. Starting from Dingwall Mart and journeying towards Bonar Bridge, Lairg, Tongue and finally along the North Coast before arriving in Thurso[2]. Participants hailing from across the Highlands and the wider UK, including as far as the Netherlands, will showcase their classic and vintage haulage vehicles. This will be followed by a social gathering, charity auction and raffle at the Weigh Inn.

When HHCVRR organiser John Mackenzie sought help from the Chamber regarding parking arrangements, he found swift support from the local business community. Chamber members, Thurso-based enterprises Lionvolt and Denchi Power stepped in ensuring ample parking space at Thurso Business Park to help with seamless execution of the event.

Caithness Chamber CEO Trudy Morris commented “This collaborative endeavour underscores the strength of the chamber network. Thank you to Lionvolt and Denchi Power who have generously provided parking space to facilitate the smooth flow of the event.

We are pleased that the Chamber could play a role in facilitating these connections and extend our best wishes to John and all participants of the Highland Historic Commercial Vehicle Road Run for a successful event. Undoubtedly, the arrival of the fleet will spark immense interest and excitement among the Caithness community.”

John Mackenzie commented “Thank you very much to Trudy for all of her help. We were faced with the momentous task of securing a new parking space for our vehicles and are delighted by the support of the local business community.”

The first lorries are expected to arrive in Thurso at around 4pm on Saturday 4^th May 2024. Photographers are welcome to set up along the route to capture the rally in action.

Further information on the Highland Historic Commercial Vehicle Road Run can be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hhcvrr

 

[1] After running costs, all surplus funds will be donated to the Scottish Air Ambulance.

[2] Vehicles will arrive from the west into Thurso, a map of the route can be found on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=948494473646755&set=a.561474995682040