Kier and the Environment Agency have announced “positive results” for the early months of a trial of solar and green hydrogen in Somerset.
The purpose of the minimum 12-month trial is to see if solar power with a green hydrogen back-up can prove to be a viable primary power supply for a construction site without access to mains electricity. It is taking place at the onsite welfare and office facilities at the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier scheme, with the hope it will help inform if the approach is feasible and scalable for the demands of a large-scale construction site.
Between January and April, 16,047kWh was used at the site – 6,588kWh from solar, 9,171kWh from green hydrogen, and 287kWh from battery back-up. Comparing it to a diesel generator, the trial has paved the way for savings of around 53,000kgCO2e already.
Jo Driffield, Senior Engineer in the Environment Agency’s Innovation Team, explained: “Conducting trials like this will demonstrate the demand for hydrogen, especially green hydrogen, which is needed to help support the investment into the production and supply to the construction industry and other uses.”
